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George Orwell, a famous British writer, was once quoted to have said “Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket.” Advertisers of today have to try harder and harder to get the consumers attention. They have to “rattle the sticks” to come up with new ideas that will intrigue consumers. Advertising plays a major role in todays society and causes one to think of the effects it plays on our minds. From shoes, to alcohol to underwear, advertisement has invaded our subways, highways, schools and world.
The main objective of publicity and advertisement is to sell goods and services. It is meant to inform and influence the consumer into buying the good or service. Often the product in the advertisement is compared to another, according to them, worse product. Consumers attention must be grasped in order to make them think of buying the product. Advertisement, made by companies, is meant for consumers, who, in turn, buy the product, therefore completing the circle. “Advertisement at its best is making people feel that without the product, youre a loser.”1 Planned obsolescence is used to meet the ongoing, new needs and wants of the population. Obsolescence means out-of-date or useless, so manufacturers create new, and more advanced products. This leads to the other role of advertisement; informing the consumers of the continuous new products coming out on the market.
Advertisement has been around for ages, although most people are not aware of it. In Ancient Greece, people put up posters offering rewards for escaped slaves, people shouted out what was for sale in the markets, and when people wanted to move, “For Sale” signs went up outside their doors. In the 1440s advertisement was revolutionised by an invention that changed the world; the printing press. Suddenly, handbills and posters circulated through the streets, becoming the first form of “mass media”. Then the radio and television were invented and advertisement began to play a more and more important role in the society of the time. On television in the 50s, companies sponsored shows; Kraft Television Theater and Goodyear TV Playhouse, so that they had the attention of the people for half an hour! In todays ever changing society, advertisement is also changing. Technology is advancing changing the forms of advertisement we see each day. From handbills to electronic billboards, advertisement has reached a whole new level.
There are many good things about advertisement. Advertising helps the company to sell more products, therefore allowing the company to make more products at a lower price. The consumers are able to compare prices and find the least expensive one. Advertising informs the consumers of new, improved products on the market and since the companies spend a lot of money on advertisement to influence the consumers, the work hard to keep their promise, ensuring the quality of the product. Advertising plays a major role on the economy of the country. By encouraging people to buy products, money keeps circulating and people