Isn't it funny how what we believe in sometimes "tricks" us? Isn't it funny that we blame "life", "luck", "advertising" or "God" for this? We never have the guts to think for a second that we did them all...

Like many of you, I believe that motivation comes from within, but:

• I believe that we choose our experiences in order to move forward but also to stay secure in the same place.
• I believe that we buy brands and products that make us feel safe and comfortable with our decisions.
• I believe that we need faith and also the power to reject it because this makes us feel strong.
• I believe that human beings are afraid and need slogans, statement T-shirts and gadgets as masks that send messages otherwise not spoken.
• I believe that we use "Think different!", "Just do it!" and "Dare for more!" in a manner that makes us justify our actions.
• I believe that we really think that creativity will save us!
• I believe that we tremble to feel that there are other people who think alike...we search for them all our life!

Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different? (C.S. Lewis)

I believe that dreams are more powerful than facts.

And I believe that this is the motivational power we gave to advertising. 

Pentru ca suntem traditionalisti si cu modelul familiei seculare inca puternic, prototipul "mamei" folosit in publicitate a constituit multa vreme un magnet pentru segmente considerabile de cumparatori din Romania:

mama care gateste cu Maggy mereu ceva nou, super-mama care spala cu Tide, mama care stie ce masina de spalat e buna, mama care face sandvisuri cu salam de la Elit, mama care conduce masina cea mai tare, mama care "de acum stie" ce vopsea de par sa foloseasca, mama care da sfaturi despre iaurt si digestie, mama care-si suna copilul plecat in strainatate fara sa tina cont de costurile de la Romtelecom, mama care curata totul intr-o clipa pentru ca-l are pe Mr. Proper prieten, mama care are grija de funduletul bebelusului pentru ca cumpara Pampers, mama super-eroina care nu misoase a transpiratie pentru ca foloseste Rexona, mama agent secret, mama buna la toate, mama care stie ca "orice sarbatoare cere o Coca-Cola pe masa", mama care-si doreste sa munceasca chiar si pentru Proiectul Rosia Montana, mama imigranta intr-o tara straina, mama abuzata, mama-soacra care caraie la orice, mama sexy cu sort cu buline care-ti "serveste" prajitura Alka la calculator, mama cu sani mari si corp de gazela, mama care are mereu leac pentru raceala si-ti da Fervex, mama care face cea mai buna budinca de la Dr. Oetker, mama-bunica care stie sa gateasca ciorba si salata cu muuult undelemn...Mama, mama, mama....

Mama, nu e mama din reclame. Si totusi....

Le vedem pe sticla, le ironizam, le placem, ne identificam cu ele, le ignoram. De multe ori uitam de ele, alteori ne apuca nostalgia. Nu ne intrebam aproape niciodata de ce modelul mamei e atat de folosit in reclame, de ce concureaza in conceptele creative cu sexul, umorul sau distractia? De ce cuplul mama-copil va fi mereu o constructie vizuala de succes? Care sunt simbolurile pe care imaginea mamei le poarta si in fata carora noi reactionam instant, pavlovian, fara drept de apel?

Ce secret ascunde mama, dincolo de faptul ca ne da viata? Unii ar spune ca e de a juns, insa eu una cred ca, atata vreme cat exista MAMA, eu voi fi mereu COPIL, chiar si atunci cand ma uit la reclame!

Astazi e 8 martie! La multi ani mama mea! Tine-ma, te rog, copil in continuare, cat mai mult, pentru totdeauna!

Therefore, for a couple of months we will post in English and Romanian the beautiful experiences related to the wines, culture, advertising landscape, urban events and all the interesting people encountered in the Southern part of France, right next to the Mediterranean Sea.

We will start with Montpellier, continue with Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Perpignan, Nice, Toulon but I bet I'll take some train trips to Barcelona (as it is only 4 hours away!), Monaco (2 hour away!), Paris (3 hour and a half) or maybe even Genoa :)

2012 started as a great adventure for www.oanabarbu.com !

Stay tuned and follow our road/train trip experience :)