Berlin Ads Are Up in Arms

Maybe its the sociologist and political scientist in us but it is always of great interest to look at the wheat-pasted advertisements and announcements in city streets in an effort to glean messages that reflect the values, interests, and idealized figurative forms of the culture.

(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)

In a digital age where the messages you receive are not directly tied to geography (geofencing aside), walking city streets and seeing the messages and archetypes of figures employed to sell those messages is just as interesting and educational as seeing Street Art and graffiti.

(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)

During a perusal of these images last week in Berlin we discovered a preponderance of biceps on display, animated and powerful. Actors on this public stage occupy a variety of placeholders in the popular imagination – strongman, dancer, jester – but in the streets of Berlin right now it appears to be all about the expressiveness of the outstretched bare arms.

(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)
(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)
(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)
(copyright ©Steven P. Harrington)
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