One of the most
dynamic advertising campaigns I have witnessed is the anti-cigarette campaign.
As a New Jersey youth I was apart of REBEL (Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies). Yes, completely chessy
but kinda cool. This is one of the many campaigns across the country that
educates people (particular youth) on the dangerous of tobacco. Even now on TV
and other forms of advertising we have some of the most graphic and outright
disturbing commercials about the lethal effects of smoking. A snap shot of
cigarette ad’s in the 1930’s and 40’s is drastically different than now. Back
then men looked cool and women looked sexy, now everyone looks the same, sick. This
far-reaching advertising campaign on anti-smoking represents a major shift in
how a generation and future generations will think about smoking. It impacted a
major industry changing if for better or worse. And there are thousands of advertising
campaigns just like this one that has changed an entire society’s ideology.
In
the coming weeks I hope to interest readers by writing about and examining an
eclectic variety of advertising campaigns both past and present. Along with
writing about the content that we constantly see, touch, and hear I will
(hopefully intelligently) explore the subliminal content that provokes specific
thought that manifests into actions. In other words “what is this ad’s content
saying to me without saying it “? I am interested in learning, specifically for
my own benefit, how much advertising impacts my way of life, priorities, values
and beliefs. Most of all how can I amore myself as we progress further and
further into an advertising driven society.
Hi Contently,
ReplyDeleteI pair the bio and credibility argument assignments together to show you the importance of focus. The bio is a good exercise to help me get to know you and your interests better. It helps you think about the narrative of your life and where you might want to direct your energies and writing.
It is also too long. You have everything and a pair of scissors in here. Important moments of your life are mentioned in single sentences. Some of those sentences are grammatically incorrect or misspelled because you are just listing them. It’s like a car pileup. No incident gets special attention. It all has the same weight. There is no craft. There is nothing to grasp. You were shy, then a rebel, then a cheerleader. There is no reflection on any of it.
“Why ContentlyVoice” is a better bio because it filters you through a subject. It looks at you solely through your interest in advertising. There is some good use of language – “prodigal lifestyles” “illusive infiltrator.”
Even though it is shorter and focuses on one subject, it is still overlong. The following sentences repeat the same idea again and again.
an intricate part of society that is impossible to avoid.
Advertising weaves itself into every corner of society
ads bombard us with labels or seduce us with brands
It eloquently intrudes my life and more displeasing my thoughts. (That doesn’t make sense either.)
I cannot get away from them!
an illusive infiltrator on the unsuspecting mind.
You only need to mention advertising’s ubiquity once. Your third and last paragraph says the most about advertising – its cultural influence and historical value. There is very little about your credibility though. If there were more of you, it would be that better, focused bio I mentioned. If you don’t have the credentials to discuss advertising, then your passion and knowledge of the subject must stand in for your credibility.
That is why Generation Snapshot Tobacco here is even better than both your bio and credibility piece. It concentrates even further. It takes a specific campaign instead of making general statements about advertising. The contrast between the early cigarette ads and the new health campaigns do speak to this cultural shift as a historical record and a possible cause.
Then it goes on to try the credibility argument again.
In the coming weeks I hope to interest readers by writing about and examining an eclectic variety of advertising campaigns both past and present. Along with writing about the content that we constantly see, touch, and hear I will (hopefully intelligently) explore the subliminal content that provokes specific thought that manifests into actions.
By attempting to say what you want as clearly and consistently as possible, again and again, you will eventually get there. This is what rewriting is for.
Why would you say specifically for my own benefit though. They are extra words that alienate the audience too. And you don’t really mean them, because if you really just wanted to know for yourself, you wouldn’t be writing a blog for others.
Finally, I don’t believe amore is a verb…Most of all how can I amore myself as we progress further and further into an advertising driven society.
The more you tighten up your words and concentrate your thoughts, the more each sentence will be crafted, spelled correctly, and will utilize the right words. Think less. Try for shorter paragraphs and posts. Once you have mastered the short statement, then you can get wordy.
Good work.