Kallie, Week 10: The Power of Advertising
We all know at least a few iconic ads and ad slogans. Nike’s “Just Do It.” Toyota’s “Let’s Go Places.” The gecko from Geico (“15 minutes can save you 15% or more on car insurance”). McDonald’s little jingle. You get the point; there are an endless multitude of iconic and memorable ads.
There’s no doubt that good advertising works. It’s why companies spend millions of dollars on advertising every year. But that isn’t necessarily a good thing.
For one, advertising is in part responsible for our culture of overconsumption. After all, advertising convinces us that we need things even when we don’t.
Then, there’s the instances when advertising is used to promote harmful products. Perhaps the most notorious example is cigarettes. Before the harms of cigarettes became widely known, before cigarette advertising became strictly regulated, cigarettes were advertised everywhere in ways that are highly concerning to us now.
For example, the advertisements for cigarettes featuring babies or the ones claiming various health benefits for cigarettes seem absurd — bordering on comedic — to us now, but people had believed those advertisements in the past.
Of course, just as advertising has the potential to do harm (and it often does), it has the ability to do good as well. Sylvester Chauke’s Honesty Squad aims to do just that: use marketing and advertising for the greater good.
As the name might suggest, Chauke believes that honesty is the key to using advertising in a morally conscious way. Advertisers can promote sustainable shopping practices, and avoid advertising things that are known to be harmful. With some luck, advertisers can put their skills towards a better cause.
Still, the Honesty Squad can only do so much. So long as capitalism exists, there will be incentives to use advertising in ways that do far more harm than good. Since this is the case, being aware of the power and influence that advertising can have on yourself and others is important to navigating our world dominated by consumerism.
Hey Kallie! I loved reading your exploration of the power of advertisements. Your topic was relatable because I often see those advertisements online. However, I never considered their power until I read your blog. I did not realize that they have a great influence on me and many other viewers. Naturally, influence dictates power, so advertisements have immense power over consumers. I liked how you analyzed this power and its harmful effects, with an example that effectively proved your point. Although cigarette commercials have been banned now, there are most likely other adverse products that do not seem dangerous right now but will become more obvious as we continue to conduct research. I was extremely surprised by the fact that cigarettes were once advertised like normal items because as you mentioned, this seems ridiculous to us now. Nevertheless, consumership thrives on advertisements, making them a necessary part of our society. I believe you made a good choice in citing a program to demonstrate that not all hope is lost. Average consumers by themselves do not have the ability to change the content of advertisements, but a more powerful brand like that of Sylvester Chauke can do it. Although I agree with you that harmful advertisements are inevitable in a capitalist society, I think you should also consider the power of consumers. We, as the viewers of these commercials, have control over the meaning and value of those advertisements. An advertisement does not necessarily have the power to make decisions for you—it is simply a recommendation. Therefore, I believe that consumers have equal, if not more, power compared to advertisements in this consumer-based society.
ReplyDeleteHi Kallie! I enjoyed reading your blog about the conflicting nature of advertising in society. I especially enjoyed how you included a picture of the cigarette advertisement from the 20th century. Many of those advertisements seem quite absurd looking at them present day due to their questionable ethics with their appeals. I almost find it surprising how many of the cigarette companies receive advertisements with doctor recommendations. I think this also a great transition to another insightful point you made in your blog; how companies have ulterior motives when it comes to advertisements as like you said their main concern is selling their product not the best for the consumer. Another case study that comes to my mind are vapes as companies at one point advertised they were healthier than cigarettes and could help curb addiction; their assessment was ultimately incorrect causing them to turn back against their words. I find Sylvester Chauke’s perspective on taking a different approach with advertising and obtaining an honest relationship with them. I find this approach to be healthier overall and could obtain better results as well, but it takes a special, and moral, company who is ready to sacrifice profits in the name of doing the right thing, something very difficult to find in business but of course no impossible. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
ReplyDeleteI had a great time reading your blog. I especially appreciated how your argument was well-balanced, reflecting upon the positive and negative aspects of advertising, before ultimately stating your opinion. The numerous examples and scenarios you draw out establish an elite level of credibility and take your writing to the highest level. But my favorite part was the informal and even humorous tone that you maintain throughout the text, as it made a highly controversial topic more exciting and engaging. Your introductory paragraph best exemplifies this. You invite the audience to reflect upon their past and understand why the blog may be of interest to them. Well, I for sure have come across many interesting advertisements, so I was curious to find out what you had to say about them. Then, you introduce two well-chosen examples that defend why advertising “isn’t necessarily a good thing.” I think it is absolutely absurd that cigarette advertising companies are targeting mothers, but I can also see how compelling they sound. Especially, after analyzing an identical advertisement—depicting a baby drinking 7 Up—I know how dangerous ads can be. I agree that the advertisement industry should be established upon a standard of honesty, but at the same time, if you consider their perspective, being truthful is not always the most profitable. But I think that is only because there are other money-hungry groups out there who are willing to risk their integrity for profit. I too believe that today advertising is doing more good than harm, but that there is always the potential for change.
ReplyDeleteHey Kallie,
ReplyDeleteYour blog offers the positives and negative (primarily negative) effects advertisements have on society. I agree with your opinion strongly, as advertisements drive the buisiness models of the top free social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. As you have seen in my blog i am strongly against these type of social media companies as they are the root causes to low levels of productivity in America. Coming back to your topic of advertisements, I was surprised by your introduction of "Sylvester Chauke’s Honesty Squad," as I have only seen advertisements in a negative light and this presents a case for advertisements to be positively impactful. I like how you focused on the dangers of misleading advertisements, and use an example of old cigarette ads, because it is a concept completely neglected by the average citizen. Overall, I believe your blog was very thoughtful and well-written because of your image placement and selection, concise explanation of its central concept, and effective method used in conveying your opinions.