FD2 - Pop Media and Advertisements

Reece Frazier

8 March 2010

FD2

Pop Media and Advertisements

The world is filled with advertisements. Some are big, while others are not easily recognizable as “ads.” Walking down a subway will surely yield several wall-sized advertisements showing off the latest fashions, or the must have videogame of the year. The pen left on a writing platform in the grocery store is almost expected to exclaim the best pizza delivery place in the neighborhood. Household refrigerators are overrun with magnets featuring (arguably) the best personal injury attorney in the state. From obvious and conventional displays to everyday household items, advertisements fill our lives with useful information that is sure to come in handy at one time or another. [THESIS] Through various mediums, advertisements have a positive impact on lives by fueling the economy and providing the public with otherwise unobtainable information. [THESIS]

Advertising, in its purest form, is the promotion of a good, service, or idea through the idealizing of a given subject. The largest venue for advertising is the media – television, newspapers, magazines, etc. Other methods of advertising include t-shirts, balloons, magnets on cars, pens, and blimps, amongst many other things. The methods of advertising have certainly evolved over the years taking on many unconventional forms. These alternate media for promotions will certainly continue to change; however their purpose will remain the same.

It is common knowledge that one of the primary reasons for advertising is to encourage an audience to buy things. Although this may seem rather self-indulgent on the part of companies touting their products, advertising informs consumers of a product’s features and benefits. The purpose of ads is to make a viewer want something. If an ad were to only display the negative aspects of a product or service it would not be effective in its purpose.

Advertisers spend billions of dollars every year supporting their products, services, and messages, it can only be expected for these organizations to want to spread the good about their product. While this theory makes sense it is plausible for advertisers to get out of control and make false claims or overshadow the negative aspects of products. Within the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the governing body controlling the content of widespread advertising. This organization ensures that advertisers are “playing safe” and being help responsible for the ideas and images displayed in adertising.

Opponents of advertising argue that ad spots on television and in print media exhibit unrealistic fantasies and do not fully inform consumers of the product or service displayed. In all honesty this is true. However this idea, as an argument against advertising, is slippery slope and biased. Essentially this viewpoint states that if ads don’t provide the audience with the negative aspects of the given subject they are effectively “bad.” This argument does not consider the purpose of advertising – to sell and to promote. An ad displaying solely the positive sides of a good or service is simply an ad.

By promoting goods and services, advertising is an effective stimulator for the economy. The recent economic downturn had proved advertising to be invaluable. For example, Wal-Mart has used a series of television ads during this fiscal crisis to emphasize to viewers that shopping at Wal-Mart does indeed save money. The ads feature a wide variety of content, but throughout these ads is the consistent display of relatively large savings. These savings draw in many viewers to want to shop at Wal-Mart.

This, ultimately, supports the economy. Although these types of advertisements are remote in that it isn’t too common to see these types of ads in the media, this is an example of advertisements boosting the economy at the core. In a widespread sense, the promotion of goods and services, especially things that individuals or organizations can buy, is encouragement to spend. The push to buy stimulates the economy by increasing demand, job creation, etc.

Classmates Christopher Char and Kimberly Malott directly pointed at this idea in a classroom discussion on February 29, 2010. Christopher mentioned commented on FTC regulation, something many opponents feel is not adequately done, “If the FTC were allowed to regulate all ads in to telling the truth, the economy as a whole will suffer. Ads are meant to stimulate the economy.” Ads directly support the economy by informing consumers of products they can buy.

“Ads do help promote products which in turn entices the consumers to buy products. By not advertising to get consumers to buy and invest in products, how else will the world have any kind of currency going around? That is the only way I see products being able to be bought is through vigorous promotion of a product. Word about the product does help but it takes advertisement paid by mostly consumers to really get word out about the product,” explained Kimberly Malott in Christopher’s discussion. The use of ad through various medium ultimately support and stimulate the economy.

There are many different types of other ads that serve purposes secondary to promoting consumer spending. Public service announcements are generally accepted as being advertisements with a message. These ads, seen in print, on the web, on television, and on the radio, usually convey a message that is important for most people to know.

The Hawaii Meth Project has provided ads for the public regarding the negative effects of the use of methamphetamines (meth). In general these ads are rather grim and feature a young adult becoming addicted on meth. The grim features of this ad make it very unappealing to viewers and ultimately keep them away from meth. These ads are especially geared toward people who in a rural population, and are more prone to trying meth and becoming addicted to it. Without advertising, they would not be fully aware of the possible negative side effects of meth.

Ads show both good and bad, but particularly highlight the messages advertisers are trying to get across. The billions of dollars spent on advertising and the billions of dollars spend because of advertising are precious assets to the economy. While ads may seem biased they are generally effective and have a positive impact on society as a whole, particularly through increases in the economy as well as the spread of information throughout the world.

Works Cited

Char, Christopher. “No, Ads dont have a negative impact.” Online posting. 19 Feb 2010. Laulima Discussion. 5 March 2010. [https://laulima.hawaii.edu/portal/site/KAP.33517.201030/page/c2a89a6c-a93e-47dd-b419-873ef93bb50f].


Malott, Kimberly. “Re:No, Ads dont have a negative impact.” Online posting. 19 Feb 2010. Laulima Discussion. 5 March 2010. [https://laulima.hawaii.edu/portal/site/KAP.33517.201030/page/c2a89a6c-a93e-47dd-b419-873ef93bb50f].

_x_ Feb. 9t- Intro to Paper #2. Read the Guidelines for Paper #2. (Confirmation reply required.)
Feb 15M: Holiday: Presidents’ Day
_x_ Feb. 16t- Complete readings for paper #2. (Confirmation reply required.)
_x_ Feb 19F- Laulima Discussion: Ad Pros and Cons
_x_ Feb 26F- Laulima Discussion: Logical Fallacies Exercise
_x_ Mar. 1M – RD2 due [50 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
_x_ Mar. 4T- RD2 evaluations due [50 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
Mar 5F- No classes.
_x_ Mar. 8M- FD2 due [125 pts]. Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)