Advertisements and the general consumer market have changed drastically over the last few decades. With the advancement of technology, things always have to be jazzier, with more special effects and mind-boggling clarity. They have to be funnier, more engaging. The ad that leaves the greater impression, whether it makes sense or not, is ultimately the one that a person will remember.
Things weren’t always this way. Simply by surveying a collection of older advertisements, one can see the stark contrast from those of today. Ads of old were simple and basic: stating why their product was great, and why you ought to buy it. There might be a small comic involved, or some silly picture, but the message was always very straight-forward.
This is not so in our world today. Everything is fast paced, designed to catch the eye and cause wonder. We have lost the art of simplicity; the product’s ability to speak for itself, without the back-up dance crew.
More and more, the idea of “consumer citizens” is becoming prevalent and considered to hold some merit in society. Personally, I do not agree that being a full-time consumer makes a person anymore of a citizen than his peers.
This line of thinking correlates the amount of money one spends to be directly linked to how civic that person is. It’s essentially the same as saying that someone who spends a lot of money to dress in gear like a PSU student IS a PSU student. It just isn’t right.
There is some level of the civic in consuming, however. Consuming requires involvement, investment, and enrichment in the company the people partake in, which all have an effect on our nations and social spheres. Civic people are smart consumers, but simply consuming does not make you civic.
Our nation needs to take a step back, breathe deep, and re-think its methods of advertisement and their effects upon the world. With so many mind-boggling, bizarre ads slapping at us from all directions, it’s no wonder we’re losing our focus.
A person should be judged on how civic they are, not by how much they buy to be considered civic! Remember these famous words when considering the relationship between consuming and citizenship: “..there is no purchase necessary to enter this competition. A purchase will not affect the outcome of this contest.” (:
I completely agree with you. It’s nearly impossible to go a full day without seeing some sort of ad, and usually they’re just flashy without actual information. And with the last quote, most people don’t even realize what it means or how to go about entering in things without purchasing a product.