Body Paint – What will they think of next?
July 3, 2009 in Uncategorized
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Mq9HAE62Y&hl=en&fs=1&]Air New Zealand has just released a new safety video to be played at the beginning of their flights. While news like this usually wouldn’t be considered important, these videos use Air New Zealand staff without any clothing on. The reason for this radical move is apparently due to people not listening to the current safety messages. Therefore, in order to make people more attentive to this important message, the current videos include people with their Air New Zealand uniforms painted on.
What concerned me as I watched the video was the reason and implications for this innovative approach to communicating a message. As I have mentioned Air New Zealand felt it was necessary to use this technique because people were not listening to the safety message. I fly every so often and I know this is the case. People read the paper, play their game boy or read a book. They do everthing but watch the safety message. However, Air New Zealand must realise this apathetic approach to life invades all society.
I am a school teacher. Everyday I face and attempt to teach a group of 27, 12 year olds. Everyday I face a group of people who couldn’t be bothered listening to me. Now readers are probably getting a feel for where this blog is going. My fear is that if this new campaign by Air NZ is a success I will be asked to do something similar in my own class. I can see it now. Teachers will be asked to turn up 20minutes earlier than usually, strip to their birthday suit and then paint themselves all to get a little bit of concentration for their students. Most concerning for me is if our 65 year old Principal thinks it is a good idea and decides to do the same for assemblies.
I fear that if this latest communication technique works in the aviaton and teaching spheres, it will be the tip of the ‘paint body suit’ iceberg. My father in law is a minister of religion. Ever week he battles people falling asleep in their pews as they listen to his inspiring message. I am sure if he got his kit off, painted himself with some left over semi gloss from his garage, people wouldn’t fall asleep during his sermons. In fact I would go as far as saying his church would become the most talked about church in the Bay of Plenty.
Another concerning thing for me about the ad is its informal nature. Being informal is all the rage at the moment. Sadly though infromality has its place and it is with the plebs of society. I don’t want to go to my docter and him to come up with some ganster “yo homie” introduction. I want the Queen’s English with perfect pitch.
Now I live in New Zealand and know about Air New Zealand and understand it is a respected company. But imagine you are a forigner and you have never heard of Air New Zealand. You jump on one of our planes and then have your pilot turn up halfway through the safety message, with his kit off, covered in paint, speaking like you are down at the pub, it would hardly instill confidence in his ability.
The stark reality is that even with the best visual stimulus people won’t listen to the message. If my father in-law painted himself on Saturday evening and preaching his Sunday sermon in a painted suit they wouldn’t remember what he said.
Sure the people would be awake, sure they would be interested, but I doubt if they would remember anything he said. So it is with the plane video. I have watched the video but I am no wiser as to what to do in an emergency. I was watching but I wasn’t listening and that for me is why the painted body suit will be just a one season wonder.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elD38pJX7iE&hl=en&fs=1&]
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