http://www.montrealgazette.com/Morgan+spurlock+sells/4736547/story.html#ixzz1LYHWrP7U
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Spurlock also infuses the flick - which was launched at the Sundance Film Festival this year - with the occasional insights not paid for by a sponsor. One expert in the field explains how the world of advertising works in no uncertain terms: "You are told that you are ugly, that you are stupid and that you are unhappy - unless you buy this thing."
Another fellow, specializing in the neurology of ads, talks about the three most important components in a product triggering the right kind of reaction from one's brain: "fear, craving and sex." Or, as another no-nonsense gentleman informs Spurlock: He has provided documentary evidence of just "how f---ed up marketing is."
Then again, if one does want to get away from relentless advertising, Spurlock has a solution. He hightails it to Sao Paulo, where all outdoor advertising has been banned. And, amazingly, there is no chaos in the streets as a consequence.
You don't drink Coke because you are thirsty, you drink it because it's fun. How that idea gets in your brain over time is great, it also makes me wonder if we know more about the parts of the psyche that control desire/self restraint/needs/etc because of competitive advertising? Mind you it all boils down to "filling a need" (whether that need is real or manufactured).
As complex as the techniques are you can go back to advertising from the 1800s and see the same patterns:
-You're too fat (so eat some tapeworm eggs)
-Cool people have smooth rides (carriage suspension)
-There's something wrong with you! (plethora of snake oil products [apply directly to the forehead])
-Why is your life so complicated? If you spent money on gizmos it would be easier and you'd be cool (various washing machines, automatic rug beaters, etc)
I find (and I don't know about you guys) that because advertising has become so complex/finely crafted that they are also much easier to fall apart or at least detect (I dunno, maybe its because I see the world a little differently than the average person). One thing I loooooooove doing is actively watching a commercial with the sound off, sometimes the imagry they throw at you is really quite bizarre but you don't see it because with the sound you get additional context that changes how you think about what you are seeing.
Just a thought on Sao Paulo, Brazil's economy has been becoming stronger over the last 10 years and I think it's much more likely that as the average wealth increases there are less motivations for violence... the Vatican has no advertising and is surprisingly safe, the same with Antarctica, just sayin' I think there are a lot more factors involved LOL
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 06, 2011, 07:15:38 AM
You don't drink Coke because you are thirsty, you drink it because it's fun.
or because you feel ugly and think you will look pretty drinking it.
or because you feel stupid and think you will look smart drinking it.
or because you feel unhappy and think you will feel better drinking it.
-according to marketing goons...
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 06, 2011, 07:15:38 AM
[apply directly to the forehead])
I hate you.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on May 06, 2011, 07:15:38 AM
One thing I loooooooove doing is actively watching a commercial with the sound off, sometimes the imagry they throw at you is really quite bizarre but you don't see it because with the sound you get additional context that changes how you think about what you are seeing.
Agreed! In live poker rooms I often can't help but to chuckle to myself at how silly/manipulative a commercial's VISUALS are when you have no sound to cover up its ridic inanity (i.e. high degree of inane-ness) Even TRUER is music videos! (Especially
rap"hiphop"!!)