This documentary had many valid points and seeing the very strange ads that she had collected over the years made me wonder what the company was thinking by letting it into the public eye.
I think that Jane is correct in saying that advertisement looks at Americans as consumers instead of human beings. They go for the shocking and obvious that will catch your eye within minuets of reading and will stay with you until you have time to buy the product. I think that most advertisers aim for the pleasurable and beautiful because if the ad looks good, why won't you look good when using the item? However, I really wonder if they do it on purpose or if it's just what they think will catch people's eye the fastest. I don't think that they smear the girl's face with fancy make-up to look like a tiger because they want to portray her as "less than human" more because it looks cool.
The ads that I see definitely want to show the "perfect" woman. Skinny body, long legs, a big bust line, nice hair, pretty face: it all ties into how we should look. And fashion even supports this with skinny jeans and leggings that only a certain type of person can wear well (some chose wear this anyway with a not-so-great end result).
To be a consumer means that you do just that: consume for the sake of consuming. You buy things that you don't need, just to fit into the "American" lifestyle. I'm very much a consumer, I'll be the first to admit it. I like buying clothes that are expensive, frivolous, and sit in my closet half the year. I spend money on hair products and make-up that cost more than my school lunch. My dresser is filled with jewelry, purses, and accessories that add to the overall look. Through this all I don't feel affected by advertising on a daily basis. I will never be what the ads say, and I know this; the only thing I can do is be comfortable with myself.
It's also not just advertisements that do this, it's everywhere. Movies, TV shows, books, the Internet: in one way or another these pieces of society effects how women and men view each other. So it's not really fair (for the most part) to pin this all on advertisement even if it plays a huge role in how we see ourselves.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
That's a good point about the skinny jeans and how only a certain type of person can wear them. I never thought of that.
I think its sad how women have to wear all this make up to look like someone else because its more desireable than looking like themselves.
Post a Comment