On the 1: advertisement for canine plastic surgery

As a commuter besieged by images and text that promise me a better life through commodities and services, I was utterly delighted to encounter this subway ad for canine plastic surgery! Complete with "before and after" photos and testimonials, this sign appropriates the format of the ubiquitous Dr. Zizmor dermatology ads to mock the self-absorption and narcissistic anxiety that drives our consumer society. Masquerading as a "type", the absurdity of this nearly unnoticeable sign becomes all the more delightful in the textual sarcasm:

This imposter piece manages to be hilarious, subversive and (ironically) a very clever advertisement for a show on Comedy Central. Although it ultimately promotes consumer entertainment, the "ad' itself makes no direct reference to the show (The Kroll Show). Instead, the viewer does all the work--not the least of which is just being awake enough to notice the difference here and to delight in it. The lack of internet access on the subway prevents the viewer from immediately accessing the website, so a great part of the appeal is literally having to sit with this silly mystery and wonder what it is really about. In co-opting the visual language and textual cues of one of the most insipid (and pervasive) forms of advertising, this piece disrupts the rote quality of seeing and expectation. For that reason, it functions in the way of art, even as it participates in commercialism. Really, it made my day!