Left-brain vs Right-brain Debate

The motivation for this post came from another assignment I am in the midst of working on for this class. We were each told to do a book report, and given the choices of about five books we could pick from. We have to read it, then write a short paper summarizing it, giving it a rating, finding quotes, and telling the professor what we learned from it.

So I don't have a specific advertisement or commercial to show you, amongst other things. What I do have though is the book A Whole New Mind, written in 2006 by Daniel H. Pink. The book focuses on left brain people and right brain people, and how for the past few decades the world has been dominated by the analytical, logical, and rational people like doctors, lawyers, and engineers (these are the left brainers). The whole point of his book though is for the author to show readers how the world is switching over to more right sided folks; people who are creative and intuitive.

I got to thinking how this affects advertising. I am sure many imaginative people have been in the advertising field since the beginning, even when overshadowed by the organized geeks of the left. I think this means more emphasis on the creative side of all jobs, thus advertisers have a head start. This is their territory. Original work that can't be done with just a computer program or shipped overseas for cheap labor. It takes talent and time, something that left brain people may struggle with. The switch is happening now.

From a personal standpoint, my father is a chemical engineer, and now travels overseas multiple times a year to train the Chinese and Japanese to (basically) take over his job. It's ironic when you think about it. I see the government commercial stating that 'math, science, and technology' are the future of America and that is the field where kids should be gently pushed into. I disagree with that statement because it is communication and innovative thinking that will make our country and world better. If you push your child towards technology, that's great but get the passport ready to.