Signs ~ Pico Boulevard

Check out this cool video by Omar Sarsour. It's a quick trip down Pico Boulevard with all of the signs whited out. It's surprising how aggressive commercial advertising has become the wallpaper of our daily lives in a modern megalopolis.

Omar says of the project: Here's a short clip I made of Pico Blvd in Los Angeles. Planet Earth has become one giant commercial. Inspired by & featuring "Kill Your Co-Workers" by Flying Lotus.

Some commenters have noted that the video blocks out all signs, and not just ads. This is a good point, but I'd like to place it in context a little bit. The reason billboards routinely win court challenges in the United States is that billboards rest on the freedom of speech principal that if it's legal to advertise a business with a sign, it should be legal to advertise any business with a sign, even one that isn't in that physical location. Signage can be informative without becoming an explicit advertisement itself, although this would also become a freedom of speech issue in the United States. Omar's video reminded me of what São Paulo did in 2007, when they banned all forms of outdoor advertising. This included signage for stores, which became much more regulated and controlled.