Crass Commercialism
Recently, I have noticed a growing trend of "This is a dramatization" captions in commercials, specifically car commericals. I'm talking about those preposterous commercials in which a SUV pulls an airplane, swims in the ocean among sharks, or scales the Empire State Building and scares the shit out of the Statue of Liberty (this is a local commercial). Why would the advertisers even consider putting warnings on these commercials? What kind of morons would ever be misled into thinking that they could drive their gas guzzlers in water? Or surf with their Corollas?
On the other hand, even though most of the big, juicy, colorful, mouth-watering burgers and sandwiches featured in fast food ads are inedible because food stylists actually use cotton swabs, tweezers, glue, glycerin, oil, etc. to make them seem more appealing, I have not ever seen one of those commercials pointing out that "dramatization" has taken place. I'm reminded of a great scene in the movie "Falling Down," in which Michael Douglas buys a hamburger and then becomes enraged because it does not even remotely resemble the ones in the ad. I have never bought a burger that looks as good as the ones shown in those Whopper commercials, either. I'm sure I am not alone. Why aren't these advertisers punished for misleading the public?
In addition, I have been really puzzled by the different responses to tobacco and alcohol advertising from the government. Both industries have used extremely manipulative marketing campaigns to peddle their products, and yet the government is much more aggressive towards the tobacco companies. I guess the tobacco companies deserve all the punishment because they have been very deceptive in their marketing too.But have you seen any of the countless beer, malt liquor, wine (to a less extent) commercials lately? There are SO MANY of them and each one is the same: attractive young people having more fun because they have <drink name here>. There are whites, blacks, latinos, Asians, blondes, redheads, brunnettes, fat guys, skinny guys, twins, catfighting women, bikini-clad women sunbathing in the snow, etc. etc. I don't think any other industry other than the porn industry uses as much sex to promote its products. Why isn't the government cracking down more on this kind of advertising? Why are there commercials with teenagers trucking body bags in front of Philip Morris's headquarter but not Anheuser-Busch's building, too? Alcohol consumption leads to tens of thousands of deaths a year as a result of drunk driving. Should Coors be let off the hook simply because it sticks "Drink Responsibly" at the end of its raunchy, hedonistic commercials? I'm all for commercials featuring half-naked hot chicks catfighting in swimming pools, but shouldn't the government be more concerned when these ads are used to promote a potentially dangerous substance such as alcohol?
UPDATE: On second thought, beers/malt liquor/wine probably don't really cause that many auto accidents because they are not nearly as strong as some of the harder stuff, such as vodka, gin, and Jack Daniels (if you are Srini), which ARE banned from advertising on TV. However, that is only a self-imposed ban by the liquor companies and I do see many ads for such drinks in magazines.
Recently, I have noticed a growing trend of "This is a dramatization" captions in commercials, specifically car commericals. I'm talking about those preposterous commercials in which a SUV pulls an airplane, swims in the ocean among sharks, or scales the Empire State Building and scares the shit out of the Statue of Liberty (this is a local commercial). Why would the advertisers even consider putting warnings on these commercials? What kind of morons would ever be misled into thinking that they could drive their gas guzzlers in water? Or surf with their Corollas?
On the other hand, even though most of the big, juicy, colorful, mouth-watering burgers and sandwiches featured in fast food ads are inedible because food stylists actually use cotton swabs, tweezers, glue, glycerin, oil, etc. to make them seem more appealing, I have not ever seen one of those commercials pointing out that "dramatization" has taken place. I'm reminded of a great scene in the movie "Falling Down," in which Michael Douglas buys a hamburger and then becomes enraged because it does not even remotely resemble the ones in the ad. I have never bought a burger that looks as good as the ones shown in those Whopper commercials, either. I'm sure I am not alone. Why aren't these advertisers punished for misleading the public?
In addition, I have been really puzzled by the different responses to tobacco and alcohol advertising from the government. Both industries have used extremely manipulative marketing campaigns to peddle their products, and yet the government is much more aggressive towards the tobacco companies. I guess the tobacco companies deserve all the punishment because they have been very deceptive in their marketing too.But have you seen any of the countless beer, malt liquor, wine (to a less extent) commercials lately? There are SO MANY of them and each one is the same: attractive young people having more fun because they have <drink name here>. There are whites, blacks, latinos, Asians, blondes, redheads, brunnettes, fat guys, skinny guys, twins, catfighting women, bikini-clad women sunbathing in the snow, etc. etc. I don't think any other industry other than the porn industry uses as much sex to promote its products. Why isn't the government cracking down more on this kind of advertising? Why are there commercials with teenagers trucking body bags in front of Philip Morris's headquarter but not Anheuser-Busch's building, too? Alcohol consumption leads to tens of thousands of deaths a year as a result of drunk driving. Should Coors be let off the hook simply because it sticks "Drink Responsibly" at the end of its raunchy, hedonistic commercials? I'm all for commercials featuring half-naked hot chicks catfighting in swimming pools, but shouldn't the government be more concerned when these ads are used to promote a potentially dangerous substance such as alcohol?
UPDATE: On second thought, beers/malt liquor/wine probably don't really cause that many auto accidents because they are not nearly as strong as some of the harder stuff, such as vodka, gin, and Jack Daniels (if you are Srini), which ARE banned from advertising on TV. However, that is only a self-imposed ban by the liquor companies and I do see many ads for such drinks in magazines.
posted by Gary at
11:55 PM
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