The Good Life and Contemporary Advertising
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
Contemporary advertising depicted the good life emphasizes the indulgence of the senses. The ‘good life’ is having fame and fortune. There is always a sexual connotation in the way contemporary advertisers depict the ‘good life’. Cars, cigarettes, personal care products and others featured beautiful women and the hint of sex in order to attract attention and sell.
The ‘good life’ as bombarded by contemporary advertising is one that offers luxuries, sensual pleasures and the attainment of physical desires. There seems to be a concerted effort to focus on the here and now, what is immediate, what is visible. ‘He, who has the most toys, wins.’ Materialism is perceived to be at the core of contemporary advertising. It persuades people to spend more and acquire more.
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