Oh no... Duffy gets on her bike in Diet Coke spot

+1

But then as already stated advertising is an enormously easy target to get on your moralistic high-horse about.

On a slightly separate but related note I remember having a conversation with some art students who were slagging off advertising to the hilt. Pointing out to them that if they wanted to be successful during their own lifetime as artists they would have to get used to the idea of selling themselves - Damien Hurst, Tracy Emin and Chris Ofili are all great examples of artists who also know how to manipulate media and sell. Or, great examples of leading, modern, british artists. Or, both. Again depending upon personal interpretation...

You say successful when I think you mean 'commercially successful'; that the distinction is not at the front of your mind says something about how thoroughly you have taken advertising's warped values to heart.