If had I known a little less, I would have enjoyed the flyer more
INSATIABLE CURIOSITY is a must to be a good ad writer. Or, for that matter, a good writer of any sort. Uninformed writers, who abound, are doomed to spin trivialities and clichés. Still, even I admit that there are times when insatiable curiosity can spoil all the fun. Take, for instance, a flyer I received today from the American Advertising Federation-Utah (that’s the flyer on the right), inviting me to view Gold Pencil award-winning work. The flyer is a delightful parody of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s well-known Five Stages of Grief. I enjoyed the flyer, but I would have enjoyed it a good deal more were it not for damned, insatiable curiosity. You see, some years ago said curiosity led me to stumble upon the fact that the whole Five Stages of Grief thing was pure speculation on Kubler-Ross’s part, and is not at all supported by evidence. Lucky thing it wasn’t my job to write the flyer. I’d have felt compelled to reject the idea. Or to add a joy-killing footnote. The One Club touts the Gold Pencil as “the ultimate symbol of creative excellence.” I suppose that relegates the Clio, Cannes Lion, Communication Arts Annual, and ADDY to no better than penultimate. Tough luck if one of those is all that graces your shelf. —Steve Cuno |