The Hidden Persuaders

The video The Persuders broadcasted on PBS explored the world of advertising. There were a lot of interesting things brought up in the video. I never knew so much went into advertising. There are even advertising gurus. So much thought and research goes into advertising, like surveying a group of people to find out what something like the word “luxury” means. Advertising is a large part of the economy. If you asked someone to finish the jingle line, “Gimme a break. Gimme a break. Break me off a piece of that …..?” Chances are they would be able to finish it with “KitKat Bar!” But if you asked someone who the 2nd president of the United States was, they wouldn’t know the answer.

In the video, one guy was talking about the technology that will get rid of the commercials, like TiVo and DVRs. When I record shows on there, I fast forward the commercials. So I agree with what he was saying. It’s going to be sad for the advertising world when everyone has a TiVo. But there’s still magazines and billboards to broadcast from. And the radio. Movies are also a great way to advertise. After the Sex and the City movie came out, my friend’s sister went out to a bar and the bartender said that ever since the movie came out, he’s made about a 1,000 cosmopolitans. The drink isn’t a brand, but it just show how powerful society can be affected. It’s crazy how much influence advertising and marketing can have on society.

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