Creative or Marketing Genius

Advertising is an ambiguous space because of its potential for a broad reach, undeniable abode of talent, and unidentified authorship. Advertisements can be successful because of slogans, such as "Built Ford Tough," marker, such as the gecko, endorsement, such as the celebrities wearning the milk mustache, mnemonic abilities, such as the sing-a-long commercials of the free credit reports, satiric essence, such as the identity theft commericals, its biting poignance, such as "Love shouldn't hurt" or "Identity: it takes a lifetime to build, but only a second to lose," or just for its movie-like execution of conveying a message, such as most SuperBowl ads. In general, everyone knows the company being advertised for, though occassionally ads leave you wondering, "what was that about" with no real understanding of what you saw or who wanted you to see it. Some advertisements are simply brilliant, and at least leave me wondering "wow, who thought that up?" Someone knows. The company of the ad, such as Ford or Geiko, hired a particular advertising agency to represent them, who in turn gave the account to a group of psychosocio analysts, who in turn toss around ideas to match the company's interest, execute an idea with the aid of typically in-house writers, researchers, graphic artists, and so on, and then rely on focus groups and marketing space (e.g., billboards, television) to ensure the reach of their marketing strategy. So, somewhere someone knows the one person or group who came up with a brilliant, national scheme; but the public does not, unless they attend advertising award ceremonies or do extensive "homework" on the subject. The marketing agency as a whole does not even put their name on the product, just the recipient or hiring company/organization. The only accredited "author" is the agency advertised, not the "creative genius." Often times this is accepted because of the inherent services-rendered characteristic of the situation, however unjust for the curious on-looker who wants a name.