Essay on The Effects of Advertising on Society - 1585 Words

In a society where malls have replaced parks, churches and community gatherings, many people no longer take time to meet their neighbors; people move frequently as though cities are products to be tried, like differing brands of shampoo. These unfortunate occurrences can be the result of many causes, one of them being advertising. Advertising is designed to foster a desire to purchase goods and services, yet it is much deeper than that—advertising is a system of effective manipulation that twists the mentalities of persons subjected to it. It shapes people’s views of the world and warps their connections to each other, distorting their personal values and changing their perspectives of others and themselves. Thus, in my opinion,†¦show more content†¦Within the â€Å"Commodity Form,† people are seen as â€Å"replaceable and marketable† objects (Kavanaugh 26), in a society where we are conditioned to relate to each other like things rather than hu man beings (Kavanaugh 51). Moreover, the â€Å"Commodity Form† makes us unable to engage in our interior lives; our â€Å"fetish of commodities† (Kavanaugh 33) hides our empty center, distancing us from others and ourselves, driving a wedge into our communities. While we worship commodities and advertisements, people become replaceable and disposable. Thus, our â€Å"Commodity Form† life makes forming a sense of community difficult, as people are too engulfed advertised products to connect with people around them. According to Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter, authors of Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture became Consumer Culture, advertising is seen as an â€Å"awareness institution† (Heath and Potter xix), a powerful organization in this country, even more influential than some political establishments. Its power stems from its repetition and ubiquity, which help impress its unscrupulous message upon the public. Hence advertising takes on a form of communication, replacing deep interaction once found within communities. Advertising’s â€Å" omnipresent system of symbols, persuasive and bold propaganda† (Heath and Potter 5) deeply affects the way we connect and communicate with each other, detracting from the emotional safety, sense of belonging, and personalShow MoreRelatedEffect Of Advertising On Society Essay1728 Words   |  7 PagesTalking about advertising, on the one hand, it is good for its functions, displays, etc.; on the other hand, sometimes it is too good to be true, the way they bring the messages to the consumers which state â€Å"the number one †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . What truly are the miscommunications and how do the viewers react to different types of stimulation among those, are there negative or positive results? 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