ERIC DICK GIVE DICK A TRY 832 LAWYERS OUTFRONT
The image you've provided shows a large billboard advertisement positioned against a somewhat overcast sky, lined with electrical wires and a mishmash of industrial and natural background elements. The main focus of the billboard is a bold, attention-grabbing phrase that reads, "GIVE DICK A TRY," with the name "ERIC DICK" positioned above it in a smaller, though still prominent, font. Along the bottom of the advertisement, a phone number is displayed with the word "LAWYERS," implying that Eric Dick is an attorney and the billboard is an advertisement for his legal services.
The design of the billboard uses contrasting colors—red and yellow—to stand out forcefully against its surroundings. The image of a bearded man, presumably Eric Dick, occupies the left side of the billboard with a serious and professional demeanor. Though the advertisement seems conventional for a law firm at first glance, the phrasing of the slogan carries a double entendre that may cause passersby to do a double-take.
The humor in this billboard arises from the play on words involving the name "Dick." While it is a common nickname for Richard and a legitimate surname, “Dick” is also a slang term for the male genitalia. The slogan "GIVE DICK A TRY" plays on this double meaning, unintentionally suggesting a meaning beyond the innocuous intent of trying the services of a lawyer named Eric Dick.
This kind of humor is often referred to as "innuendo," where a phrase is outwardly innocent but carries a secondary, often risqué, connotation. Such humor appeals to the adult audience's knowledge of colloquial language and the natural human tendency to enjoy clever wordplay. The dichotomy between the serious intent of advertising legal services and the humorous implications of the slogan is what generates the comedy.
Furthermore, the seriousness of the man’s portrait juxtaposed with the light-hearted interpretation of the text adds to the comedy. People may find it amusing that an individual in a serious profession like the law would engage in such a playful and potentially risqué form of advertising, whether intentional or not.
Despite the possibility that the humor was unintentional on the advertiser's part, the double entendre serves another purpose: memorability. Whether people find it funny, shocking, or simply clever, they’re likely to remember the name Eric Dick the next time they need legal services, which, after all, is the ultimate goal of advertising. The billboard's effectiveness is in its ability to stick in the minds of those who read it, even if it's for reasons the law firm might not have originally anticipated. ERIC DICK GIVE DICK A TRY 832 LAWYERS OUTFRONT
