Christopher Hoar1 Hoar Mrs. Craghead HU-1111-71: English Composition Sep. 11. 07 Response to: How Consumers Exploit Advertising I feel that advertising is mostly based upon psychology. The common question I think about when it comes to advertising is how might I purpose this said item so that it might appeal to a specific crowd. I think that advertising companies do exploit people a tad more then people exploit them. Advertising companies are constantly using provocative women and men to sell items that might have nothing to do with the item being sold. For example, a yogurt commercial may have a gorgeous model eating yogurt from a cup with a spoon making comments and facial expressions on how good and delicious the yogurt really is. Now, looking at this commercial, no guy is watching the commercial and paying attention to the yogurt or even what kind of yogurt it is so that maybe if the extreme situation he did ever run into this girl he could maybe buy her the kind she so clearly loves in the commercial. The guys are clearly focused on the very attractive and very provocative model that is using herself to catch the attention of the viewer in hopes he may buy the product or at least notice the product. Girls on the other hand may be watching the commercial and noticing how in shape the model is and is noticing that she is what she wants to be like. As said by Myers and in Biocca the article that "the commercials invite them to fantasize themselves in their future ideal body shape.." and put the notion in their minds that "you can be thin" if you buy this product. Even if the woman isn't exactly watching the commercial perhaps she walks by and
Hoar2 notices how indulged her husband or significant other is in the commercial due to the gorgeous model on the television screen or advertisement, she then thinks if I got that product and looked like her then maybe id get that kind of wanted attention from him. Another way on top of using sex to sell is t target specific groups for example Budweiser and Miller Light. When the two beer companies first went into commercial sales they targeted different groups. Miller was known as Miller High Life the gentleman's beer less filling and more delicious, this slogan clearly targeted the higher class society. Budweiser on the other hand was known as the working mans beer, which obviously targeted the middle to lower class society. Nowadays alcohol is cover with laws and legalities forcing an idea of "defiance, independence youthfulness and fun" on younger audience. It was mentioned in the article that most advertisements are in fact "ignored and or misunderstood" but it's that twenty eight percent that sees themselves using or buying the advertised product.