Rating: 
Summary: great work on the future of our economy/culture
Review: As different foces such as free trade, globilization and increases in advertising budgets, our society and economy will change as a result. Nomi Klein takes a look at these different factors in No Logo in which she tries to make sense of all these differenat changes. Klein takes a stab at the growing levels of advertising and corporate sponsherip in society such as corporate ties with schools such as having pepsi and subway deals with schools as well as the extent to which corporations such as Nike and Marlboro create images of successful athletes and wide open cowboy country to sell its products to people such as inner-city youth and workers in third-world cities. Klein also takes a look at how corporations are limiting our choices in terms of product. There has been a proliferation of franchising and expansion of companies such as Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Subway and so forth over the past years that our country is looking like one huge strip mall without much character. Mergers such as AOL and Time Warner futher consaladate the media so we have fewer voices being heard. Because of growth of corporations, they can affectively silent views such as Wal-Mart refusing to carry certain albums and book stores refusing to carry certain books. Furhter more, she begins to deal with jobs. Increasintly corporations are moving to the third world to open up factories while closing factories in the united states thus sucking away what was decent paying jobs and creating poverty wage jobs in the third world. When in retail or food services, corporations are eliminating full time jobs in favor of part time jobs such reducing people's ability to have a decent paying job. Finally Klein ends wiht how people are begining to challenge corporate dominance such as through through boycotts and grass roots activism. People have been successful in gettinc local and state governments to stop doing business with corporations that deal in certain countries with questionable governments such as Burma and Nigeria. Overall, pretty good read on where we are going as a society
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Summary: No Logo by Darren Bartosz
Review: "No Logo" outlines anti-corporate visions on the war against greed. Naomi Klein takes an interesting approach on this topic so widespread written about today in society. Klein's approach towards the matter is that she divides reality of what corporations do to the world into four main categories.
In the first section of the book entitled "No Space", Klein states on page 3 that, "Corporations must primarily produce brands as opposed to products." This means that real work lies in marketing, not manufacturing as it was in the past seeing that branding is a relatively new concept that has evolved over the last few decades. Klein goes on to say that companies sell brands before product, because their eyes are fixed on global expansion and even more fixed on making maximum dollar profit.
In "No Choice", the second main section, Klein examines her own personal experiences of involvement with corporate synergy mania in popular culture. There were many other points in the area of the book, but this one stood out the most to me because it makes a person realize how they themselves as a child are basically born into corporate synergy, and very hard to avoid at a young age.
"No Jobs", is the third category Klein uses to demonstrate that corporations are taking jobs out of the economy. On page 195 Peter Schweitzer president of the advertising campaign for J. Walter Thompson, says, "The difference between products and brands is fundamental. A product is something that is made in a factory; a brand is something that is bought by a customer." Many companies now bypass production completely, and hence leave many former paid employees families hungry at the dinner table at night.
The fourth and final section is named "No Logo." In this section, Klein talks about culture jamming. This term culture jam might best be defined as media hacking, information warfare, terror-art, and guerrilla semiotics, all in one. These examples all work toward the idea that people do not need to be brainwashed into doing something that somebody of wealth wishes you to. This action is seemed necessary by many because they feel that most people don't know any better than to believe what the media tells us. Culture jam is meant to educate those who are so captivated by companies branded products that people fall into an idea that they need a product that a large corporation who cares nothing about them is making.
I enjoyed this book because people always have heard that large corporations are bad, but people really don't understand what that means, and this book gives the cold hard facts. Many parts gave me the knowledge and realization that I can make a difference thru educating others who are not as lucky as I am to get a college education. After all, this book is not intended for just those who are on the way to their degree, but rather this affects everyone no matter how big or small. After reading this book I see more and more corporate logos, but now I am also able to see right thru them as well.
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Summary: The Huge Phenomenon of Branding
Review: Over the past few years, branding has become a huge phenomenon. And it hasn't just occurred in the United States. Branding has scaled the globe and is found almost everywhere in the world. Why is this? In the book, No Logo, Naomi Klein searches for these answers. Starting in the late 80's, management theorists developed an idea that would change the concept of products forever. Instead of just producing products, multi-national corporations would primarily produce brands which were images meant to conjure up feelings and sentiments. In order to do that, corporations needed to find ways to sell their products to consumers. By increasing expenditure in advertising and inventing eye-catching slogans and pictures, people were more likely to buy these consumer goods. This formula proved very successful and has only gotten better for corporations.
However, as corporations merge together, they often become too strong and powerful. When this happens, it seems that no one can stop them. Money is of prime concern which means that they will do anything to stay at the top. They don't care about exploiting workers of 3rd World countries or even their employees at home; all they care about is making a profit. But it's not just about making billions of dollars that worries people. As Naomi Klein states, "this corporation obsession with brand identity is waging a war on public and individual space: on public institutions such as schools, on youthful identities, on the concept of nationality, and on the possibilities for unmarketed space" (Klein, p.5).
I really enjoyed Naomi Klein's book for several reasons. It is clear that she put a lot of time and effort into writing this book. I learned a great deal about the real world of advertising and marketing and how corporations have tried to incorporate brands as not just products but a way of life. So far they have been hugely successful. With her use of examples, she shows how brands have taken over peoples' lives. Not only are people consumers of products, they are constantly bombarded with colorful images and brand names wherever they go. And in an attempt to expand and get bigger, corporations are shutting down individual businesses around the country. As a result, people are forced to buy from these corporations and their brands.
People working for these huge corporations are also getting paid less. As workers are becoming poorer, the people at the top of these corporations are becoming filthy rich. It is a pretty sad world we live in. However, I have to admit that a good ad makes a product more appealing. I also can't deny that I have been tempted to buy brand products because they are well-known. But in order for corporations to lose their power and influence over consumers, people must take action. I suggest that reading No Logo is a good start.
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Summary: Logo or NO LOGO?
Review: The question: Exactly what product does Tommy Hilfiger make?
The answer: Nothing at all.
In fact, when you buy Tommy jeans, shoes, and sunglasses you are specifically purchasing the right to wear the advertisement. This concept of branding is the central issue of Naomi Klein's NO LOGO.
Klein is virtually obsessed with the pervasiveness of branding and also its inherent preposterousness. This obsession is the driving force behind NO LOGO. This book pulls the reader in, at the same time convincing and forcing him or her to think of the reasons for making brand purchases and also think of the undeserved money it makes for entirely marketing-based corporations that make no products.
Until I read NO LOGO I had no idea of the magnitude of branding and the marketing industry created to push it. I was shocked to read that this was the real reason school kids have been beaten, even killed for their shoes. Branding denotes status, and there are entire corporations looking to sell this way. Looking to sell this way to children, with utter disregard for the physical (and self-esteem) dangers this poses. Think about Mattel's Barbie brand. Everything Barbie...from dolls to drapes to clothing. Branding has become the ultimate in conspicuous AND vicarious consumption.
Each chapter begins with a graphic depiction of some form of branding, and this is very helpful to get Klein's message across. The ads that are routine in everyday life seem grotesque and manipulative in this book - and that is Klein's intent. Think differently, think deeper, she seems to urge.
I am old enough to remember a time when characters on television and in movies drank SODA and not PEPSI. I thought (and still do believe) that the reason for SODA was to make people more able to relate to the character...one would have no way of knowing how much Character X paid for his SODA. Today, however, it is more important in society to strive to become as affluent as someone else by paying extra for a name brand. "Drink Pepsi, and you will be as cool as this beautiful actor."
I would definitely recommend NO LOGO for anyone interested in consumerism, sociology, the environment, or any combination of the three. It is quite long and repetitive, but a real eye-opener as far as the extent of branding. We, as Americans, often don't even think about such things consciously, but we should.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting and life-changing
Review: I had, independently of anyone else's suggestion, noticed some disturbing trends in American culture. One, advertising was suddenly becoming so aggressive that my head hurt every time I looked at the TV, computer, or street. Two, it was becoming increasingly difficult for my friends and me to find good jobs--everything was temporary, without good pay or benefits. Three, I could no longer find clothes or other products that had been made in the U.S.A., and I was beginning to be suspicious about labor practices abroad. Who would have thought that these three trends are all related? No Logo does an excellent, very thorough job of explaining the details of what it means to live in the globalized world of today. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster and left me with a feeling of kinship with all other human beings. An amazing, wonderful, fantastic book that only loses momentum towards the end.
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Summary: No Logo No Longer
Review: Naomi Klein covers every aspect having to do with marketing, advertising, brand names and production of all of these. Her points about these subjects are clearly thought out and researched. She claims that more and more space is being branded, even space that is traditionally thought to be "free", such as public squares. Advertising is even pervading places where free speech should be primary, such as grade schools and universities. Marketing is no longer about selling a product, but selling a brand name. This brand name is then associated with certain desirable characteristics that are translated onto all products. This makes is possible to market such diverse "commodities" such as public space, concerts, cloths, people and furniture under one brand name. Since the corporations are increasing larger and more encompassing they yield so much power that they limit what products are available and where they can be purchased. This means that the corporations decide what news stories we see and what is available to rent in the video store. Also they make sure that which video store we go to and which television channel we watch. Since there is such a demand for increased brand awareness corporations are willing to cut costs anywhere they can to increase the scope and size of their brand. They must do this while slashing costs at the same time. This means that factories are moved out of areas that demand decent working conditions in favor of less stringent environmental restrictions and cheaper more compliant labor is the norm. This also means less secure full times jobs and more temp jobs, part time jobs and outsourcing. All of these factors combined create a culture of disenchantment against the big brands. The backlash ranges from the demand for better salaries and benefits, to the exposure of questionable business practices, and to the lack of acceptance for advertisements permeating all parts of life. The techniques used to fight back are picketing, protesting, altering of billboards, educating the public about what keeps the corporations profitable and the workers poor, and developing of anti-ad campaigns.
Klein gives a detailed and thoroughly researched report of brand names, the corporations behind them and the ads that promote them. She provides over detailed reporting on the negative side of the advertising business and business practices, but provides a selective view of the other side of the coin. Despite this bias her points are well articulated and highly believable. She is obviously in love with the grassroots campaigns against the large corporations and adores the brave individuals who go up against these giants. This book is long and somewhat tedious, but provides a great background for any activist looking for motivation in a cause that seems to be larger than life. With an enemy with bottomless resources that seems almost unbeatable motivation is a necessity. She sites the publication of No Logo as proof that we do not have to be passive consumers of ads and brands. It is at least a good place to get informed of the branded world around us.
Rating:
Summary: A deep and complex look at the modern predicament.
Review: In No Logo, Naomi Klein investigates and extrapolates on the growing political trend of "brand-based activism". Through her own experience, travels, interviews and research she puts together an amazingly engaging and poignant book. Within these pages, Klein illuminates the ambiguities of modern dissent, the interconnectedness of predicaments the world over. From the "reclaim the streets" parties in Europe which demonstrate for the need for open public space, the struggles of garment workers in the Phillipines and elsewhere, unable to earn enough to live, unable to organize, unable to achieve a decent standard of human dignity, merely used because they have nowhere else to go, used as cheap labor... to the shock tactics of Greenpeace and the infamous McLibel trial, and so on. We begin to see the web connected, how many small movements are fighting common enemies, fighting for common goals. How none of it is easy, or even easily definable, except citizens continue to find themselves protesting the largest symbols of corporate greed and unaccountablity.
At the same time as major corporations strip themselves of workers and contract out production to sweatshops, they bolster their public image, attempting to transcend the idea of being manufacturers, to being about "sport" about "life". They seek to be visible everywhere and incorporate everything into their identity. Images like the Nike logo, or the "golden arches" become more than the products of the companies, and in more ways than the companies intend. They become symbols of power. They symbolize many of the grievances many have over the suffering and poverty and power of the "free trade" ideology. Of the WTO, IMF and the whole host of anonymous international organizations making the political decisions that effect us all. But it is these ever-present logos which are most readily attacked, precisely because it is they which wish to come into our homes, to be worn on our chests, to have us feel a part of them. It is these super-brand identities that have the most to lose in public relations. It also makes it easier for people to get involved in world politics, when they make clear connections with the clothes on their own backs, it comes home to people. But No Logo, is also about much more. And Klein is rather neutral in her treatment of the many groups of dissent and "adbusting" which she covers. She recognizes that there are not easy answers and doesn't offer any manifesto. What Klein does is clearly illustrate the current political predicament, in all of its ambiguities and inconsistencies. Is it a mass movement burgeoning? Or a vast fragmented set of movements? Are we witnessing a movement against manifestos and blanket answers all together? Or is it merely another passing fad? Can the current tide of dissent manage to break free of its ties to being "against" to being "for" concrete goals, or is something less tangible sought? Read No Logo and think about these questions and many others. Klein's book is a valuable resource for anyone who cares about real democracy and real equality and the possibility of a better future. But it is not for the reader seeking simple affirmation of their own desires and beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting
Review: I enjoyed 'No Logo' very much... first of all because it is very complete...N. Klein starts the book with historical facts that help us understand the developement of the brands ... and then she goes strp by step into the explanation of what is a brand today ... what is behind the brands that we see everyday and that we consider as being part of us...
'No Logo' really shows the power of the brands today .. on us the consumers, but also on everything else (political and social entities)
I really liked the fact that N. Klein always gives references, and examples of what she tries to demonstrate.
I saw 2 little negative points in the book :
- I sometimes had the feeling that Klein tries to show us only one side of the truth
- the book is very much focused (especially the 2 parts) on American market and brands ... it is hard for a non-american to relate to what she is trying to demonstrate (talks about the american campuses, and brands)
Rating:
Summary: no hope
Review: Klein's book does a great job of pointing out the way that globalization constrains our choices. In its present form, it results in less-than-desirable outcomes for many in the world. This is an accessible introduction that will at least make many think about topics that are often portrayed simplistically or dismissed as the concern of out-of-touch latte-drinking rock throwers. Where the book fails is in describing alternatives or constructive ways of resisting the system. It overdoes the pessimism and guilt, but provides a beautiful introduction to issues that we should all be familiar with.
Rating:
Summary: No Solution?
Review: In a time when the democratic left in the western world was moving to the right and third way politicians like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair where preaching the benefits of a world completely liberalized by trade, Naomi Klein released international bestseller No Logo, a book that exposes the dark side of globalization. The book which is broken down into four main parts, no space, no choice, no jobs and no logo presents us with a segregated world where people in the impoverished third world are exploited to make profitable goods cheaper for those in the first world. The first segment of the book "no space " gives us a brief history of the shift in the corporate climate that desired to rid itself of its encumbering manufacturing sector in order to free more capital for the real money maker, advertising. We are shown a first world where the young are being socialized through corporate advertising to become docile subservient consumers in society. The maniacal and sinister corporations seek to stretch forth their tentacles and bombard every public space with corporate logos, soon no place will be safe, the schools, the parks and your streets will all be filled with advertising coercing you into their arms. Naomi Klein of course is writing from a left wing perspective and she herself inadvertently admits that her parents who were leftist hippies during the sixties socialized her. Because of this Naomi at times becomes blinded by her own fanaticism making some of her arguments easily dismissible. She blames the world takeover by corporations on a dissolving public sector that shrunk once computer technology made it easier for corporations to transfer money globally, allowing them to flee countries with high corporate taxes. She, however, forgets that people used their freedom of choice to elect neo-liberal governments who accelerated these policies. There is no mention of the instable energy prices in the seventies that made it difficult for social democratic governments to effectively operate with a growing population. Throughout the book she only chooses to acknowledge the virtues of one side of the political spectrum while condemning the other. Part three of the book is where Naomi shows her strength as a writer and researcher as she visits the free trade zones of the third world and exposes the dirt behind the corporate logos who force poor countries into a bidding war to attract western capital. Part three is an excellent read but she fails to go into detail as to why the workers have journeyed miles to work in these slums or why countries are so desperate to allow foreign companies to operate tax free, leaving her arguments once again to be easily dismissed. The most disappointing part of the book is part four. She offers no economic analysis on how to solve these corporate abuses but instead encourages the public community to fight back through seventies style protests. Some of the examples she offers of corporate vandalism seem quite juvenile and myself still being younger than Naomi when she wrote this book excepted a more mature solution to the global injustices.
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