Brain Washing Ads

Subliminal messaging and priming is influencing how someone feels about something subconsciously. The person doesn’t even realize they are being influenced by images because they are don’t realize they are looking at them. I think this is kind of like brain washing. Subliminal advertising is brain washing the viewers into thinking or having certain feelings towards something they want. I think this is a a dirty trick used by advertisers, although they are clever, I don’t think it should be used. It’s much different then being up front and open about what they are trying to promote. This brings the influence of advertising to a whole new level and I think it crosses the line. 

Axe is a shampoo product for men. Most of their ads tend to attract viewers by their sexual appeal. I don’t think their is anything wrong with their ads featuring models being half-unbuttoned and smelling each other provocatively. But one of the bottles actually has the subtle appearance of spelling out the word sex with the misty graphic and at the last to letters of the logo. I think it’s just unnecessary and a little desperate. Adding that subliminal message to try and attract men to buy the shampoo by making them think of sex when they look at it is pure brain washing. The subliminal message is changing how the consumer feels about the product without them even realizing. It is subtle and sneaky.

I feel that subliminal advertisements is the modern form of brainwashing. Even though ads are supposed to attract the consumer and make them want to buy the product I think sub minimal messages and priming cross the line.