The average North American is exposed to over 5,000 advertisements per day. From flashing Internet banner ads to subtle guerrilla product placements, corporations are always trying to capture our attention. The purpose of advertising is to create needs and wants that were previously not there, in hopes that we as the consumer will make a purchase. In order to create desire and aspiration, only the most unattainable, beautiful people and places are used - after all - there is nothing special about natural beauty or regularity!

According to anonymous blogger Geek Graffiti, “Nowhere in advertising is the gap between natural beauty and manufactured perfection more apparent than on subway posters. As we wait for transportation, we are unwillingly assaulted by larger-than-life representations of supposedly beautiful salespeople. The large scale of these ads and their extremely close proximity to the viewer offer up more than perceived intimacy, however… they give us the chance to see the mechanical flaws designed to correct their physical flaws.

Why don’t we just see them for what they are? They are regular people just like us, they just have a team of retouchers waiting at the ready.

Printable cold sores allow us to take action! Bring these people back down to our level, and tell advertisers that you don’t agree with their message. How can you help? It’s easy…”

All you have to do is download the printable cold sores, print on a transparent sticker sheet and place the coldsore of your choice on an advertisement that seems appropriate.

As mentioned by Geek Graffiti:

“NOTE: Tagging subway ads is illegal! You can make your point simply by documenting your work, removing your stickers, and submitting an image. I am in no way responsible for your actions, I am merely presenting a theoretical solution to a real-world problem.”