Peskett’s Ponderings: artist or felon?
July 14, 2009 by Karl Peskett
The world, or more specifically, Australia, has gone mad. No, I don’t think you understand me. It really has. You live in the wrong country if you’re a car enthusiast.
I mean these days we can have swearing on the radio. We can watch people doing all manner of unthinkable things to others as entertainment on television.
Yet here, Down Under, two people out of 22 million (yes, only two) complain to the Advertising Standards Bureau about art, and all hell breaks loose.
You know what I’m talking about – the BMW Z4 Art of Driving advertisement. The one where the guy paints the MDF boards with a Z4’s tyres. See above, if you’re not offended by a car going sideways.
Here’s what staggers me. I can understand if 10 per cent of the population got upset over the ad, even five per cent. I’m stretching it if I say even two per cent, but it wasn’t even one per cent.
Not even half a percent of the population. In fact it was 0.0000091 per cent of Australia that complained, which is basically, well two people.
So, virtually no-one complained, and the ASB pulls the advert. I mean, seriously?
I don’t know about you, but as soon as I saw the advert, I headed out to an abandoned warehouse, stole 100 litres of paint, ripped off 30 MDF boards, and broke into someone’s house and took the keys to their Z4.
Then, I arranged a world famous artist, made sure the place was completely closed off to the public, and went ballistic.
Oh yes, that advert made me do horrible, horrible things.
Now the strange thing is, there’s currently an advertisement for Nurofen Zavance, which shows two cars racing dangerously close to each other, the speedo clearly shows them doing at least 190km/h, which is WAY over the speed limit here, and no-one says a thing.
Isn’t that the same? It’s also under controlled conditions. It’s also hooning. I guess that’s next on the chopping block.
It kills me that the Z4 shown was going so slow it’s not funny – even when it was drifting. It also was in an environment where the car could not hurt anyone.
Programs like Underbelly which glorifies hooning during a car chase are happily shown. I had a chat to BMW’s spokesperson, Toni Andreevski, about the whole issue.
“We’re really disappointed. I mean, you can show V8 Supercars, drifting series, Top Gear and the like, but who would have thought our advert would be caught up in Victoria’s hoon legislation. We believe most viewers can distinguish between fantasy and reality. It’s about getting the balance right.”
Hear, hear, Toni. The funniest thing is, though, that in a way, the ban has actually been good for BMW.
Traffic to that advert on the BMW Australia website tripled on the day the ban was enforced. Which means that it suddenly became an underground hit. YouTube traffic also increased that day.
If you go to the BMW Australia headquarters in Mulgrave, Melbourne, you can see some of the actual boards that were ‘painted’ by the Z4.
It’s interesting to note that BMW is Australia’s longest term provider of manufacturer-based driver training. Yet Australia is the only country in the world that banned the ad.
You live in the wrong country if you’re a car enthusiast. Excuse me while I breathe deeply.
“Count backwards from 10, Karl. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6…”
Print it: 
Isn’t this old news? I’m quite disappointed at the decision too. The general population should be offended that they are assumed to be too stupid to distinguish the differences between an artistic advertisement and hooning.
It wouldn’t be a clever bit of brand advertising by BMW would it???? Not the first time someone has done it mind you…….
I whole-heartedly agree with your comments.
When you consider all of the rubbish that appears on tv nowadays that we (and our children) witness e.g. swearing, nudity, violence etc etc…and yet a car going sideways in a controlled manner gets banned.
Ludicrous.
I still can’t get over this. I’m not sure if it was quite art, mainly because it was done for an ad campaign that related directly to the product, but it was certainly not hoon driving. I think it was probably just people who don’t like BMWs and thought of a way that they could take what was one of the best car ads in a long time (anybody else getting sick of rolling hills and peaceful roads? Not very realistic) off the air.
Especially when you consider that the car in the ad was going at about three kilometres an hour tops, it just doesn’t make sense. If kids in supermarket car parks were going at that speed I think a lot of people would be a lot happier whilst trying to sleep on Saturday nights.
This is ridiculous i can’t believe they axed it because of 2 morons. I dont get how it compares to ‘hooning’ at all. 100% agree with your comments.
Yes we do live in the wrong country and for more than just being a car owner.
I find the Cancer Council advert “Everybody knows” far more offensive and graphic (though I despise smoking) and yet several complaints against the advertisment were dismissed by the ASB!
I don’t object to the two people who complained – it’s a free country and they have the right to make a complaint, the absolute Braindead ASB are the ones out of touch here.
please can the people whio complained names be released!
Can I get a piece of the floor? No, really, can I?
I’d love to decorate my office with a panel or two… God know’s it’s the closest I’ll get to owning the car itself!
I was very dispointed that the add was taken off the box. I thought it the best automotive add in some time. It clearly pushed the art of driving in an aesthetic presentation.
I am not a BMW enthusiast at all; the demographic I endure driving their machines in Melbourne generally present as MB wantabies or drug dealers. Dare I state it this add made me look at BMW as not only participant in the art of driving, but also design (oh spank me).
Yeah better to show depictions of people being mutilated than a car driving through paint in a controlled environment.
Whatever happened to commonsense?
Quote” I am not a BMW enthusiast at all; the demographic I endure driving their machines in Melbourne generally present as MB wantabies or drug dealers.”
mmmmmmmmm people that drive BMW dont aspire to MBs just for future reference :) , as far as the drug dealers go I guess that depends on where you seem to do your driving in Melbourne that gives you that impression Im guessing .
To hear the ban has been good for BMW is great news, but doest take away the fact some idiot allowed this add to be removed due to 2 brain dead cardigan wearers Im guessing!
Just watched the offending clip and I’m staggered. Shite, I thought we had the nanny-state culture well and truly nailed here in NZ but you guys are the world leaders in boring if you allow some life-deprived whacko to get this harmless thing off TV.
What’s next – a ban on V8 sounds coming out the exhaust?
Will, how exactly do you know they are drug dealers? Black paint and chrome wheels doesn’t necessarily mean cocaine and heroin. Unless of course you actually know them. I’m not saying anything…
And BM’s right. BMW drivers don’t usually aspire to own a Mercedes. They’ve made their choice. Once again, how can you tell this about a person from seeing them sitting in their car? Or do you actually know everybody in Melbourne?
I agree Will, here in Australia BMWs also tend to attract the pretentious rich-wannabe types, much more then any other brand. You can usually identify those people by their constant reference to the badge they drive. They are too eager to drop it into any conversation they might have. But rarely letting you know exactly what model they drive, as usually its a generations old Beamer.
People, I agree with the sentiments that banning this add was silly, but let’s not get out of context by comparing against any other programmes.
It’s an advert. In Australia, the advertising industry is self-regulating and advertising is controlled by the Advertising Standards Bureau (not “Board” Karl).
The ASB is appointed and funded by the industry – it is NOT a govt body.
And, as the “Advertising Industry” self regulatory body it DOES NOT have control over any other programming, so comparing to motorsport telecasts, Underbelly or Neighbours is pointless. The ASB can’t (and shouldn’t be able to) have any control over the other programming.
Seems we found one of the brain dead cardigan wearers Alex !
They also seem to suffer from from an inferiority complex that matches well with the colour beige I would think !
These are the types that banned the add………….
BM, please clarify just exaclty who you are tarring with that “beige brush”.
Sure, It was a bit hasty to ban the commercial, just after 2 complaints… But no great loss, a bit tastless, features just stupid bogan style doughnuts with paint!!! Yawn, BMW could do much better!! eg… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5gE5Wfh3-U
What really makes my blood boil is the mew nissan xtrail advert… “In a world full of Softroaders, X-trail is not for the Pretenders”
Its the art of driving Tomas ,not some ricer boy that let loose in his Skyline on Friday night .
hahaha DE……..as if you didnt know…..
Bavarian Missile®™ Says: “Its the art of driving Tomas ,not some ricer boy that let loose in his Skyline on Friday night .”
Apart from the paint, there isn’t much difference!!
Propably even the colour coding is the same!!
At least the BMW Z4 ad showed a car in its natural environment [on the ground] doing what a car does [drive around in various directions] at a reasonably slow and safe speed to show you how well the car handles etc hence the statement “the art of driving”
The ad I don’t get is the Corolla ad – To me it says that only Pussies drive Toyotas.. but then again Toyota really know their customers that’s why they are number one I guess
^^ Yep, I fail to see how a ninja style fight, during a heist gone wrong, followed by a dramatic “escape” isn’t way worse than the BMW ad.
And BM, if you are refering to me then:
a) I am deeply offended and will never talk to you or Les again, and
b) You have no idea how wrong you are.
Wheelnut®™ Says: “At least the BMW Z4 ad showed a car in its natural environment”
Empty hanger with paint?
Great article Karl, it was well rioting. This is the sort of sarcasm and humour I love. Well done Karl, I’m glad to find a bit of journalism that is so down-to-earth ( now get your colleagues in on the act!)
Noooooooooooooo DE never would think that of you,your a colourful character………Just worked out who you were the other day………. :)
From memory didnt they use this art work in BMW headquarters around the world..I doubt the local rubber laid on Friday night is up on someones wall Tomas,unless they went through it !
Yes I am sick of Australias sudden turn of over-interest in so called hooning… I am writing my comment from Thailand and if you havn’t been here – then you havn’t seen hooning!
political correctness gone mad. for some reason australia is too scared to offend anyone. sometimes the problem with democracy is that 1% of the people get 50% of the say.
the two people that complained remain anonymous… and they know it too. without being identifiable, there can be no direct recourse from the media.
BM, did you just call Skyline a ricer? What does that make your 12 year old, 4 cyl BMW?
You can thank the guys who think it’s fun to do burnouts or fishtails or speed on public streets etc for this ad being banned.
If people didn’t act like idiots on public roads there wouldn’t be a need for a nanny state.
Every time YOU do something dangerous on the road because YOU think you know what you’re doing behind the wheel, YOU give them ammunition to take more and more fun away.
I bet you anything, we could loose shows like Top Gear if the cops arrest enough hoons who say that watching the show made them do it. All it would take is a good lawyer to sue the show to get things rolling. Don’t laugh, a pub in Qld got sued by a drunk who got hit by a car after he staggered out of the joint. Apparently it was the pub’s fault he got drunk.
Getting back to the point, take your car to the track or drag strip if you want to show off or push the envelope and stop ruining it for the rest of us.
TIM, just ignore that chick..she’s known to be sarcastic and offensive
Yeah mate, over the past few years she has become well known to be that sorta person. Nothing personal BM, but you are not taken very seriously on this site lol.
Bavarian Missile®™ Says:”From memory didnt they use this art work in BMW headquarters around the world..”
It is a BMW publicity spin…. But such a tasteless one at that!! Doing doughnuts is so high school!!
Tim So true!! No wonder she changes her nick so often!!
And BM gets her offensive messages deleted so often, on this, and other sites. At her age it proves she has issues!!!
U know what, its not just Australia that drives me nuts, its this whole F***ing planet. (Or mostly just America, Australasia, & a very small number of european countries)
— Paint a picture of a Naked fat lady on some cheap cloth or cardboard, FIRST it gets called ART & SECOND it gets sold for like $30 MILLION. What the !*#%$ ???
— Make an ADVERT about a Car drifting, with painted tires, on some boards, in a safe place and it gets it gets taken of the air, and said to incourage Hoon Driving.
DRIFTING is basically the ART of a car going around a Corner/Turn.
Thats it Im moving to Dubai, Monaco, Germany or Italy. Where u see a supercar every 2 and a half seconds, and everyone drives like the Accelerator has been welded to the Body.
A friend of mine who lives in Milano just Skyped me to tell me that…this week italian parliament are voting to raise speed limit to 150 on highways with average speed control cameras!!!
When are we moving to Germany Karl?
Can anyone tell me where I can lodge a complaint about ads?
You see there are these TAC ad’s on tv here in Victoria that show dangerous driving, like talking on the phone, speeding and drink/drug driving etc. With 2 teenagers who have a short attention span and only watch the first 5 seconds of these ad’s, I am worried that they will think these practices are cool. I say ban these terrible ad’s now or maybe show them back to front.
What is the difference between these two types of ad’s?
Welcome to Australia, land of the soft “male chook”
PESKETT^^^^
You took it hook_line_n_sinker.
The whole espisode was a scam like teen market advertised for alcho-pops.
They know full well that some nutters are going to complain [planed it all along THEY perhaps where the ones
to lodge the complaint!] the general media does not even notice these expensive and masterful adverts, they ONLY make news when the said nutter makes a complaint and THEN BMW gets noticed more than the poster/advertisment could have done.
Its old news my boy, thought you where smarter than that!
Cheers
F-0
Remember folks, this is Australia where a bunch of dimwits with the collective IQ of 10 has been running the country’s biggest state into the ground over the past 15 years – and people keep voting for them.
So for someone to call and complain about this advertisement is not a surprise at all.
Hey my Anti-Spam word was BMW, what a fluke!
Anyway, Remember the original Mazda Zoom-Zoom Ad? It was modified due to complaints of probably the same morons that sit at home watching TV ads all day waiting for one to come on so they can complain.
Karls article here was highlighting the fact that Australian advertising laws actually allow for this type of rediculous sensorship where an ad can get pulled off air if just 2 people are offended by the material. Not that he was taken hook-line-and-sinker.
Meanwhile my 10yld son saw an ad featuring a new horror movie at 8pm the other night and has not been able to sleep well since.
Political correctness is the new enemy and it must be stopped!
Wheelnut, you mention the Corolla ad which I find very interesting. Not only is it about pussies, but a Corolla is seen driving at a decent speed in reverse before sliding 180 degrees and driving forward. I would call that hoon behaviour, no?
I remember one of the first ads to be canned under these laws was the 2001 Mazda Tribute, apparently the sight of an AWD wagon being escorted by 4 (or six, or however many) black MX-5’s driving in a syncronised fashion was too much for Australians.
At the same time, one of the “Zoom Zoom Zoom” ads was also pulled from the air. It featured an MX-5 going sideways in a cloud of dust in what was presumably desert. Way I see it, if someone is stupid enough to be driving their MX-5 in the red sands of a desert, stirring dust with the top down, then they don’t need TV to inspire them.
It was a wrong move to ban this advertisement. But oh, well. I don’t like the Z4, the new one anyway.
If you want to know where to complain about ads: Ad Standards Australia, google it. I got fed up with the erection problems ads and filed a complaint to them only to find thousands, yes thousands of people have complained about that bulls#$^t stuff and I still hear it on morning radio when kids are going to school. And yet a car ad gets shot down in a blink…
Sam-R/Andrew,
it is NOT laws that are pulling these and other ads off our screens, it is the Advertising Industry’s own Self-Regulation.
So why don’t they show the ads, if it is legal?
Andrew,
Please read and understand:
Industry Self-Regulation
Hahaha ……………BMW called they want their idea back ! Wonder if that would get banned if landed in Australia . Bloody hoons in Toyotas :P
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/0...../#comments
^^ Andrew, thanks for voting down my post. Clearly you CAN’T understand the facts of the situation.
BM, nah it’s an original Toyota idea isn’t it? Toyota don’t copy do they? LOL.