Artwork in Integrated Marketing Communications. Eyetracking Studies – ebook

In considering the relationship of the artwork to integrated marketing communications, it is worth addressing the hard-to-grasp concept of art itself and the work of art associated with it. Seeking answers to the fundamental question of the role of art and its creations in visual marketing communications, we must be aware of what an artwork is and how to distinguish it from other visual communications used in today’s advertising and marketing. The fundamental problem of the research was to compare the ways of looking at authentic works of art as seen in the marketing space. Several works of artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Piet Mondrian, Rafael Santi, Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dali that have been recognized over the centuries as unquestionably outstanding, impressive in both craftsmanship and depth of artistic expression, have been selected for the analysis.
First two chapters of the work are an attempt to grasp the concept of an artwork and its meaning for the artist and the recipients, and at the same time – we are exposed to the difficulty of formulating a proper definition of an artwork. Then, in chapter three, a brief history of some of the greatest works of previously mentioned artists is presented. The following chapters are a considerations weather an artist’s work, born of their “creative love”, could be exhibited as a “product for sale”, and if not too often great artifacts were able to become an object of trade only after the death of their authors. Chapter six exposes the ethical dilemmas regarding putting the images of the greatest masterpieces on promotional tools, a phenomenon which occurs also in the most famous museums in the world. The discussed integrated marketing communications in chapter seven make an introduction for consideration of the benefits of reproducing famous artworks onto advertising gadgets in chapter eight. Chapter nine is an in-depth analysis of the results of the eyetracking study conducted, and consists pictures of original artworks, as well as their reproductions on various items, and the way they were perceived by the eyetracking study respondents.
The purpose of the study was to test the following theses: Does the power of an artwork viewed on a museum wall continue in its reproductions on promotional items, i.e. for example, on so-called advertising gadgets? Does the emotional impact of the image presented on the promotional materials still persist causing attention to be focused, or does audience’s attention dissipate? If so, to what extent does it dissipate and what determines it?