Educational Media Reviews Online

This Space Available presents an examination of various perspectives about use of public and private spaces for outdoor advertising. Examples include practices in major US cities and states, and international locations as well, including the extreme case of São Paulo , Brazil, which banned all public advertising in 2006. The film looks at historical practices involving outdoor advertising, along with efforts to curb advertising excess, with significant portions of archival footage, including coverage from Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign that led to the passage of the Highway Beautification Act. The variety of perspectives presented (from outdoor advertisers, to scientists and activists) lend credibility and balance to the coverage. Complex questions involving free speech, artistic freedom, consumer choice, corporate marketing, media culture, and even brain science are woven into a compelling examination of the implications of using outdoor space for advertising. This film is recommended for general collections, and especially collections with a focus on visual culture, business, media culture, branding, design, marketing, or urban studies.