Late night bonus post: Advertising Cruelty
The date is February 13th.
Several weeks into the new year, and high time for folks to cash in on those resolutions to get skinny again.
Spring break is just around the corner, after all.
Every third commercial is about getting healthy. Bally Total Fitness. Dan Marino eating healthy again. Have you called Jenny? Bowflex success stories. The Navy Seal-inspired Perfect Pushup. Even Subway’s trying to cash in again with a pat-on-the-back for creepy Jared.
I seem to remember a big romantic holiday just around the corner, too. Enter the bow-and-arrow-wielding cherubs.
So every second commercial is about love. It’s okay to look. Married couples from eHarmony talking about how natural it was to kiss a complete stranger for the first time. Every kiss begins with Kay. Other ads insisting you better get your lady some Russell Stover, or she’ll leave you for another bum who will.
(Lest we forget, chocoholics, that spring break is just around the corner. That’ll be my excuse)
And of course, for capital-minded men like myself, two months out is judgement day. Tax day.
Making every first commercial about doing your taxes. And except for the fat guy wearing his tax return suit of money, these commercials are unremarkable. But I am happy that H&R feels so threatened by tax software, they have to make an ad slamming “the box.” This I consider another incremental victory against the Man and his archaic institution of filing taxes.
It’s like when hate mail showed up in your inbox for the very first time. You know you’ve made it.
I can’t be an alumnus of Hugh Guffey’s marketing class and say I’m surprised to see these ads so frequently this time of year. But some of the content of them, it’s a little sickening how much they play on the fears and insecurities of consumers. I begin to wonder how many people pick up on the manipulation at work.
Then I begin to wonder why I started watching television again. :D
Reflexbluestocking 2.02.2008 12:10pm
So, you’re saying turkey subs and Slimfast won’t get me one of those “journey” diamond necklaces? Bummer. Happy Valentine’s Day, Jon!
Kristin