Wide Open Alberta Albertans
There’s somethign about the word ‘Albertan’ that just cracks me up. It’s just such a strange sounding name that makes me think of 1950′s SCi-Fi writers, Monaco Royalty, and icecream biscuit sandwiches. Chomp!
Inspired by your NZ, Brisbane, and Vegas experience marketing TVCs, I thought I’d share this little conversational accented gem with you. This is not the very worst tourist genre advertisement out there (feel free to post your suggestions in) but gee it would have to be in contention. And this also serves as a good example of why a musical soundtrack or in this case the almost virtual absence of one can be so mission critical. By comparison the 100% Pure NZ ad is a masterpiece. Go on… en-joy.
I kinda don’t really get it. Is the ad trying to attract tourists? Business investment? Convince Albertans it’s good to be Albertans? Where is Alberta? You’ll find a handy map here but just think Edmonton or even better Calgary – they are full of Albertans. Think the middle of Canada and bang! you’re pretty much on the money… think of this ad… and your not.
And since we are talking about money – the non-conformer’s Canadian weblog last post back in Feb this year chronicles the mass media response to the “once golden goose of the Canadian economy, Alberta is now shedding jobs like feathers, Albtertains were hit last week with…(yada yada yada)” The thing is… during this time of economic recession, this is not Alberta specific… everyone is posting a deficit.
But let’s not go there today. Today it is all about being in a state of Alberta. And a quirky thing that screams Alberta to me is this giant roadside billboard (below) advertising the Naval Museum of Alberta. Which is really cool and very creative in terms of using the periscope… and yet so very very Albertarianly odd.
You see the thing that unhinges me here is that Alberta is landlocked. Between the Rocky Mountains and foothils, and a huge spread of forested plains – covering almost 90% of the area I’m so told. Sure. That’s what I was thinking – where the heck are the oceans for these Albertan submarines… ‘eh?
And now that I have settled a little, it just occurred to me that I have been referring to Alberta as a state within Canada but perhaps they prefer being called a province? After all some refer to it as the Princess Province – named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria… ummm… Princess.. Alberta. Any ideas. State or Province? And where are the subs?
I don’t get the Alberta piece either Greg – I mean other than it is a land ‘wide open’ and the copywriter for the ad got too much hand in the production. Nice words but the static photo album vision and no music other than a flacid closing sting – youch!
albertan. al-ber-tan. from al-ber-ta.
yup. don’t get it either. it seems to be a brochure to be inserted into a weekend newspaper supplement and accidentally went to the video production guys instead, whoops.
i think your right but in the context of a naval musuem without an ocean i’d say it is all very albertan.
I so don’t feel compelled to go to Alberta despite it being wide open although I am sure Albertans are just lovely. Perhaps they should get the agency that works for NZ to do some pro bono work for them…. pretty please.