Monday, June 27, 2011

8939: Michael Wolff, The Accidental Tourist.


Adweek Editorial Director Michael Wolff published a wordy and rambling perspective on the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, ultimately showing once again that the man really needs to find another line of work.

As previously mentioned, one major problem with Wolff is his seeming disinterest with the advertising industry. And it appears the disinterest is actually evolving into disdain. Oh, and let’s not forget it’s all rooted in industry ignorance.

Wolff opens his column by announcing, “This has been my first year at the Cannes Lions festival”—and he even admits to feeling embarrassed about being there (the soiree isn’t as prestigious as the Festival de Cannes, doggone it). He then proceeds to blather on like a tourist who accidentally booked a vacation during the event, and only realized the mistake upon arriving at the scene. It’s easy to imagine Wolff in Bermuda shorts, lathered with sunscreen, clutching a crumpled map and wandering aimlessly along the beach.

The accidental tourist wrote, “A discordant note here for any outsider is the constant use of the word ‘creative’ in a world where no one else thinks of advertising as a creative act. Movies are creative, advertising… well, hardly.” Ouch. Wonder if there was an awkward moment where Wolff bumped into ex-Adweek columnist Barbara Lippert, who spent most of her career writing about advertising creativity.

Oddly enough, Wolff closes by declaring, “For sure, I am coming back next year.” Hopefully, it won’t be as the Adweek Editorial Director.

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