Ignorance and advertising

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When I first got to Japan I couldn't speak or read any Japanese, and despite the difficulties I had in communicating and getting information as result of this, I found myself in a world where I was stunned by the beauty of silence-gone was the constant bombardment by advertisers trying to sell me something I didn't need, nor was I subject to listening to or reading the propaganda espoused by politicans looking for my vote. It was bliss....

Check out this programme on the evils of advertising and it might make you want to forget all languages (sorry to linguists...:)

Frontline
 
Very interesting video ! Let's uncover the reptilian hot-button inside us !
 
I watched the whole thing with a sense of nausea. These advertisers seem like the lowest of the low morally, and when they spoke they seemed to be completely at ease with what they were doing-no acknowledgement at all that they are playing a big part in the degeneration of culture, good taste, freedom or ideology. In the end they added insult to injury by claiming that they were empowering the consumer by giving him/her what they wanted, yet didn't mention that they had manipulated the consumer's conception of what is considered desriable during the process. It feels like inbreeding for the mind.
 
Personally I don't mind what they are doing as I am kind of immune to any kind of advertisement, proselytism or propaganda. What bothers me is when they are using those tricks on weak-minded people to win the preisdential elections. As for products, if people are stupid enough to let themselves be persuaded by some ads, then I really don't mind if they are the losers in the story.

I think that companies like Song are actually revolutionising the attitude of business towards customers. Instead of making the product, then advertise it, they think about what appeals, then create it. It's just another way of listenning to the demand. There is nothing wrong with that. It will in fact improve the quality of everyday products. What's more annoying is when they manage to sell not so good products (or ideas) by using "the right words". As they said, most people are 80% emotional and 20% rational. In my case this tendency is reversed, so they tricks just don't work.
 
Index said:
I found myself in a world where I was stunned by the beauty of silence-gone was the constant bombardment by advertisers trying to sell me something I didn't need, nor was I subject to listening to or reading the propaganda espoused by politicans looking for my vote. It was bliss....

I had the same experience, although I didn't realize it until I returned home and was once again bombarded with advertisements. I tried to avoid them, but it's no use (especially since I work for a TV station and see commercials all day). I want to get back to an advertisement free (or at least less) existence. I tape the shows I want to watch so I can fast forward through the commercials and I listen to NPR (National Public Radio). As soon as I get out of this business (and hopefully it'll be soon) I think the level of advertisements in my life will be pretty low.
 
Maciamo said:
I think that companies like Song are actually revolutionising the attitude of business towards customers. Instead of making the product, then advertise it, they think about what appeals, then create it. It's just another way of listenning to the demand. There is nothing wrong with that. It will in fact improve the quality of everyday products. What's more annoying is when they manage to sell not so good products (or ideas) by using "the right words". As they said, most people are 80% emotional and 20% rational. In my case this tendency is reversed, so they tricks just don't work.

I'm in two minds about whether it is a good idea. It is indeed a good idea to find out what consumers need and then supply it, but I also think that the issue is confounded because advertisers also try to influence opinion and taste by associating commercial products with human emotions. Market research is fine, but it is the advertising methods which stink. As one of the people interviewed pointed out, despite the emotive advertising used to push a product, in the end you only get the product and not the emotions and experiences included in the advertising package. At best you get an illusion with the product. That is not good for society or culture in my opinion, or mental health for that matter.

As far as not being affected by advertising goes, I like to think I'm the same but in reality I don't think it's possible. Anytime you decide to buy a product, your initial idea of what is available is determined by access to information on the product which is itself determined by the advertising efforts surrounding it, which is determined by the profits of the manufacturer and how much they can fork out on ads. I guess there is the possibility of researching the possibilities independently, but iI wonder if that is always practical or possible...
 
Brooker said:
I tape the shows I want to watch so I can fast forward through the commercials

There was a section in the link regarding this idea. Obviously it's a problem for advertisers when people fast forward through the ads. The solution is product placement, though the way it's done now is even more insidious; eg. an entire episode of Sex In the City based around the theme of Absolut vodka.
 
Food porn is the worst example of the unsophisticated advertising. There is no thought to it. It is very aggressive and distastefull.
 
Index said:
At best you get an illusion with the product. That is not good for society or culture in my opinion, or mental health for that matter.

Then I must have a perfectly "clean" mental health.

As far as not being affected by advertising goes, I like to think I'm the same but in reality I don't think it's possible. Anytime you decide to buy a product, your initial idea of what is available is determined by access to information on the product which is itself determined by the advertising efforts surrounding it, which is determined by the profits of the manufacturer and how much they can fork out on ads.

I never think about ads when I buy something. In fact I am not a good consummer, as I only buy what I absolutely need (I may be a bit austere) and always compare prices to get the best deal. That's why I like internet shopping. Sites like Rakuten allow you to compare prices of dozens of shops and find the cheapest (I also double-check that it really isn't cheaper in shops). I buy no-brand, self-assembled PC's for 1/3 of the price they sell it in shops like BicCamera or Sakuraya. I order my books from Amazon, and check whether it is not cheaper to import it from another country's Amazon, depending on the special deals and current exchange rate. It doesn't take much time and always save quite a bit of money for the exact same product.

I am always shocked when some Japanese friends tell me how much they pay for their overseas flights. I usually pay 2 to 5x less in the same period of the year just because I compare deals on Yahoo Japan (eg. a Tokyo-London rarely cost me more than 50,000 or 60,000). I guess I am behaving as a homo oeconomicus, and have no sensitivity to the emotions passed in the ads. Funnily enough, I like watching Tv commercials in Japan or any kind of ads, and am quite interested in marketing, but just do not connect the ad with myself. I only like the artistic part of it, but do not feel any desire to buy after seeing an ad. Am I normal ?
 
misa.j said:
Food porn is the worst example of the unsophisticated advertising. There is no thought to it. It is very aggressive and distastefull.

What's food porn ? Like making biscuits in the shape of a nude woman ? :clueless:
 
Maciamo said:
What's food porn ? Like making biscuits in the shape of a nude woman ? :clueless:

:D That's kinda what I was wondering. That conjures up some funny imagery. I picture people making out on the kitchen floor and feeding each other yogurt from their fingertips.
 
Maciamo said:
What's food porn ? Like making biscuits in the shape of a nude woman ?
Brooker said:
That's kinda what I was wondering. That conjures up some funny imagery. I picture people making out on the kitchen floor and feeding each other yogurt from their fingertips.
:D :D
Oh man, you guys have a good imagination!

Ok, food porn is the term, originated by my husband which I thought was used widely to call commercials with a very close up shot of food. It is porn in the way it is depicted not necessarily sexual. Like fast food commercials where you can see the drops of water sliding down on tomatos.
 
misa.j said:
Like fast food commercials where you can see the drops of water sliding down on tomatos.

So why is that "very aggressive and distasteful"? :?
 
I love those things.. tehy make me drool.. in a good way...

Brooker said:
:D That's kinda what I was wondering. That conjures up some funny imagery. I picture people making out on the kitchen floor and feeding each other yogurt from their fingertips.

I love that imagery more though..

Food and sex go together. especially sweet foods, like chocolate... it's a fact. and anyone that says different isn't invited to my next gang bang.
 

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