Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.
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Nice
“rise up, your inner legends meet.”
To what extent are your inner legends based on some corporation’s marketing campaign?
“embrace the point of no return, for in failure learn.”
What if the lesson is: “I really wish I hadn’t done that?”
How much are you counting on being “heaven bound?”
Patrons of the arts have been doing it since the Medici of Italy, thanks Arcteryx for doing it as well. Even if they are an evil corporation making obscene profits.
Um, that being said, I don’t see a brand logo on the Mona Lisa — is she branded content?
(grin)
Lou
I like arc teryx. They make great stuff. Just saying that maybe their (and other) corporate interests are served by promoting certain behaviors that might not be in the best interest of individual consumers– skiers.
To See: what kind of behaviour are they promoting that would be bad for individuals? Extreme sports? Humans have always tried to push the limits and have some adrenaline rush through certain types of activities…. It’s for every individual to decide what’s best for them… I don’t believe in absolute control over people’s minds and behavior by the media and/or corporations…. We have to give people credit!
I probably should have left well enough alone on this one but, no, I’m not against skiing, air, adrenaline or having the freedom to pursue these things. (I admit I’m not real fond of “extreme sports” hype, however, which I think is largely a marketing vehicle for caffeinated soda, etc..)
Likewise, I don’t believe people are controlled by the media, but we are influenced by it. As I suggested in another post, I think maybe our attitude toward risk has been influenced by the proliferation of images of amazing stunts. I’m also not against amazing stunts, but I do think that sometimes when there’s money and cameras involved people do stuff they might not do other wise. When this gets put on youtube, it can have a ripple effect.
It’s not that I found the arc teryx video particularly objectionable (but, Lou… the Mona Lisa?) I was just a bit irked by the “rise up, your inner legends meet… embrace the point of no return” grandiosity. But I understand that meadow skipping doesn’t move product.
Banksy rules! Mona Lisa rocket launcher! Lou, you are tapped into something here. Has anyone ever created an interesting art piece with ski tracks? Not just figure eights, but something really creative. Expose the double entendre in aesthetic line.
After reading this I opened the window and experienced my own joy of air. Thanks for the lovely wake up.
Re. branded content, I would hope so. I want to know who’s paying for the media I consume. Kudos to arc t’ for disclosure.
RE mainstream movies, all you have to do is watch for the product placements and there you go….