Standing in front of Times Square in New York, it’s hard not to be revelved by the sheer amount of advertising that makes the infamous block of street come to life. To think that millions and millions of marketing dollars invested into this small piece of real estate just blows my mind. As iconic as the tourist attraction is, what do people really go there for? A Kodak moment? An awe-inspiring experience? Simply to say “been there, done that”? It is always interesting for me to discover the power of marketing and it seems that the more places I visit, the more I understand the grip it has on us. Like every tourist, I knew what I was getting into after years of tv, movies, and news stories on what must be one of the most filmed location in the world. I expected the lights, people, business and ads. What I didn’t expect what just how much the ads made up the experience of Time Square. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size, magnitude and creativity of the ads, but I retrospect, what I didn’t realize was that that was all there was to Times Square – advertisements. The glitter, glamour, and excitement came from those marketing billboards, flashing tv screens and giant logos filling the entire block. Strip away it all and you get empty facades and dirty streets. Not quite the attraction it is today.