Initially I thought it sounded wonderful, like it would bring an instantly refreshed awareness of nature in the urban environment. Without the bombardment of retouched models, cellphone headsets, screaming typography, and the storm of logos we see every day in our urban surroundings, our eyes would instead focus on what's green, the condition of the streets (litter would be much more noticeable without the distraction of a six foot Gap model beside it on the bus stop), and perhaps even architecture would be a little more beautiful--uncluttered and raw.

But since this ban in São Paulo has taken effect, I've seen only visual evidence that proves me wrong. Without imagery of people, the colors of typography, and glowing signs, somehow the city becomes eerily less human. The lack of these things accentuate how unnatural the existence of architecture is. Granted, São Paulo is not a city known for it's structural achievements. Chicago might not look quite so lifeless, and it already has dramatically less advertising that the former São Paulo, but (and I hate to say it) the city would certainly feel a little less like home.

Here is a commercial (ironic?) for a television station that uses footage of post ad-pocalypse São Paulo to demonstrate how great their channel is without advertising too. Is their station also as creepy as the city?