Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture Analysing advertisements from a cultural perspective, based on the book by Arthur Berger

Some facts and figures Hours per year spent by average citizen watching TV: 1679 (p. 63) Price of air-time for a 30-second commercial during 2006 Superbowl: $2.5 million (p. 2) Total amount spent on advertising in the US (2005): $280 billion (p. 113) Total amount spent on advertising in the rest of the world: $241 billion (p. 114) Americans who expressed interest in products to block adverts (2004): 69% (p. 6)

Why is so much money spent on advertising? Does it work? Who does advertising influence? How? What are the factors and actors that influence the content of advertising?

Advertising as communication Berger's model of “focal points in the study of communication” (p. 52) Art Audience Medium Artist Society

Analysing advertisements Berger uses different approaches to analyse advertisements, including: Semiotic analysis Psychoanalytic theory Sociological analysis Feminist analysis Historical analysis Myth/ritual analysis

Semiotic analysis Semiotics is the study of signs – how things can be used to deliver some kind of message. The important point to remember when considering how things functions as signs is that the meaning attached to them is arbitrary. The meaning of signs is a convention that is learnt within a group/society, it is not a natural and universal meaning. What signs, symbols and codes can be found in the advertisement?

Psychoanalytic theory Freud suggested that our ego continually balances the primitive subconscious desires for satiation of our id against our superego, which provides critical self-examination and anticipates the potential damage of actions proposed by our id. Advertisers frequently try to encourage our id in order to get us to notice and desire their product How does the advertisement make use of the human psyche to sell products?

Sociological analysis Consider how elements of the text are relevant to such matters as socio-economic class, gender, race, sexuality, status and role. How does the advertisement reflect social concerns, and the problems of people in their daily lives?

Feminist analysis As a specialist application of sociological analysis, feminist analysis is particularly concerned with power structures in society, especially those that keep women in an inferior position. How does the advert reflect the values of male-dominated society?

Historical analysis Here the advert can be evaluated in terms of the changes that have taken place in advertising over the years, how the advert fits into a larger campaign and/or previous advertising campaigns. How does the advertisement relate to historical events?

Myth/ritual analysis Advertisements often contain allusion to contemporary popular culture. In addition, there is a vast wealth of shared cultural knowledge relating to mythical knowledge, such as biblical stories or classical mythology. How does the advertisement relate to ancient myths?

An example: Fidji perfume advertisment How might we use Berger's six different approaches to analyse and understand this advertisement?

Semiotic analysis empty space position of mouth in photo posture of mouth/lips Polynesian woman? long, dark hair orchid Fiji: the tropics (escape) language: French

Psychoanalytic theory the snake: phallic symbol the snake: anxiety the word 'sex' contained in the advert (subliminal) removal to the tropics, away from the civilising influence of home N.B. This advert appeared in some countries without the snake. Why?

Sociological analysis value and importance of romantic heterosexual love target audience: young women seeking escape? prestige product: expensive perfume, French language and associations with high culture role of women: providers of sexual pleasure, temptress ethnic assumptions: women from less developed nations seen as less repressed, more passionate (more primitive)

Feminist analysis snake: phallic symbol? = subjugation, dominance women's role as objects of male pleasure objectification of women in adverts: accessible to the male gaze, on show to gratify male desires holding the “desirable” bottle of perfume, but perfume's purpose is to please men: women perpetuate male dominance? return to paradise = return to male dominance? (Garden of Eden: “And [your husband] shall rule over you”)

Historical analysis Cleopatra killed by a snakebite Advertising: historical context

Myth/ritual analysis Medusa Garden of Eden Women as dangerous, snakelike, venomous Temptation

Further oral activity: instructions You (the whole class) have been chosen as the committee that will nominate and choose the best print advertisement of all time. Criterion: The advert that communicates the most meaning 1. Individual preparation (HMWK) You will each nominate one advert. You need to select that advert, and prepare a short presentation of the meaning contained within that advert. 2. The meeting (the FOA: next lesson) Each member presents their advert, after which the whole group discusses the adverts and decides on the winner.

Further oral activity: Details Remember to consult the marking criteria for information on how you will be assessed in this task. 1. Preparation Your mark for the A and B criteria will largely be determined by the preparation you do. How well have you understood the advertisement? How well are you able to analyse its content and meaning? For criterion B you'll need to focus on the language of the advertisement. (And remember you'll need to fill in a reflective statement after the task, so consider what your aims are for the task as you prepare for it.) 2. The task During the task, you will be running the meeting yourselves. Your ability to contribute to the ongoing discussion, and interact with the others is part of how you will be assessed on criterion D. How clearly you present your ideas, particularly the analysis of your advert, will be assessed on criterion C.

References Berger, Arthur Asa (2007) Ads, Fads and Consumer Culture: advertising's impact on American character and society. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield