I suppose all advertising is bad because it plays on your emotions to convince you to buy something, usually something you don't need. It does seem "wrong" to use something we consider high art to sell products. It would be "better," morally speaking, for some person to come on TV and say, "Buy my product because it's a good deal, a fair balance between quality and price, at least as good as any of its competitors' products, and better than most." Of course, such an ad would not sell many Levi's or soft drinks or cars or anything else. It would be a "bad" advertisement because it wouldn't be very effective. Any "good" advertisement has to make the viewer feel he or she is doing the right thing, becoming a better person, getting more attractive or intelligent, etc. by purchasing something. That means lying, at least to the point of wildly exagerrating how much better you will feel if you buy Levi's. The good thing about ads like this one, at least for people who can think critically, is they point out the hopelessness of trying to improve your life by buying more stuff. The consumerist dream of being more by buying more is foolish. Maybe the fundamental disconnect between being a better person and buying more things will occur to more people if they watch ads like this one, where the incongruous note of the message is so obvious.

You will love this ad:

http://is.gd/4w2ZQ

Thank you! I think it is absolutely effing brilliant. If I wanted a mobile home, I would buy one from this guy. Of course, most people would rather patronize the business of somebody who looks and talks like a televangelkist and promises them the Rockefeller Mansion for zero down and $199 a month.