Watch Art & Copy

Art & Copy is a documentary that examines the creative process behind some of the most iconic advertising campaigns in American history. The film features interviews with the visionary thinkers who transformed the industry and sparked a cultural revolution through their imaginative and groundbreaking work in the 1960s and beyond. The movie showcases the work of several industry pioneers, including Mary Wells Lawrence, Dan Wieden, and Hal Riney. Wells Lawrence was the first female CEO of a major advertising agency and helped launch brands like Braniff Airlines and Alka-Seltzer. Wieden co-founded Wieden+Kennedy, the agency that developed the memorable "Just Do It" campaign for Nike. Riney created the "Morning in America" campaign for Ronald Reagan's reelection campaign and worked on projects for Saturn and Gallo Wines.

Art & Copy goes beyond just showcasing their work, however. It delves into the minds of these advertising geniuses to understand how they came up with their remarkable ideas. Viewers are treated to insightful interviews with these creatives, as they discuss the challenges they faced, the risks they took, and the methods they used to craft their campaigns.

The film also explores the impact that these advertising campaigns had on American society. Through interviews with cultural critics and historians, Art & Copy shows how these campaigns helped shape our understanding of consumer culture and how they influenced our ideas about politics, fashion, and identity.

One of the key themes of the movie is the idea that advertising can be an art form in itself. The film argues that advertising is not just about selling a product, but also about creating emotional connections with consumers by tapping into their hopes, dreams, and fears. The ad campaigns showcased in the movie demonstrate how advertising can be used to tell compelling stories and to challenge conventional wisdom.

Another important theme in Art & Copy is the idea that advertising can be a force for social change. The film highlights campaigns that tackled important social issues, such as the "Truth" campaign against smoking and the "Got Milk?" campaign that promoted dairy consumption. These campaigns showed how advertising could be used to promote positive social values and to raise awareness about important issues.

Overall, Art & Copy is a fascinating look at the world of advertising and the people who revolutionized the industry. By offering a behind-the-scenes look at how iconic ad campaigns were created, the movie provides a unique perspective on American culture and the power of advertising to shape our perceptions of the world around us. Whether you love or hate advertising, this documentary is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for the creativity and artistry that goes into making some of the most memorable ad campaigns of all time.

Art & Copy is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 62.