Art, inc.

A modern dilemma. A song or movie you like, which turns out to be an advertisement.

A few examples:

1. Chris Brown, Forever.



Good song. But ... it was written and originally recorded as an advert for Wrigley's (and you thought that 'Double your flavo(u)r, double your fun' line was a coincidence). Is it hip to dance to a commercial?

They released this (it's on his album too) and waited for it to top the charts before coming out about its origins.

2. Somers Town.



Saw this movie last night and loved it. Same director (and star) as 'This is England', which is also supposed to be brilliant. This was funded by Eurostar (the London-Paris chunnel train). Eurostar is never mentioned by name in the film.

Really just takes product placement to a new level. Funding is obviously a bit more important for a film than in a song, so maybe it's also more forgivable -- this movie might not get made without corporate backing. And they also never hid the connection.

3. Where the hell is Matt?



Again, brilliant output. Surely does more good than evil, but his trip was sponsosored by Stride gum (do people still chew gum? Maybe that's why so many gum companies are going rogue).