Advertising Synthesis Essay The growth of media has paved the way for numerous outlets for advertising. Millions of people reading magazines, watching TV, listening to the radio and surfing the web are constantly bombarded with ads for different products or services. Although the creation of media has given us great power and knowledge, we see its consequences in our personal lives and in society as a whole. Advertising has altered the perception of wants versus needs, which has led to a significant change of the economy and its consumer capital. Whether many would prefer to admit or not, advertising has changed society- modifying the way Americans think and act in today's day and age, though not entirely for the better.
But the American Dream fights directly against it. In today’s society (stressed in television, commercials, magazines), the power to buy things is the sign of success in life. The media is constantly putting the message out that you ‘need’ to buy this or you ‘have to get’ this. Thoreau and Whitman would frown upon such an idea. They believed that your life should not be driven by materialistic goals or other external forces.
With technology that runs the life’s of millions, and the constant need to obtain anything and everything without a price, Lao-Tzu would hang his head in shock at the life we have grown so quick to know. There are places in the government and in the life of today that Lao-Tzu would think inadequate for living; however, we must look at what in our life meets his guidelines as well. Modern American society is not perfect. The ways of the world have changed since 6th century BC and life has become much more complicated all the while striving to make things simpler. The way technology has driven the last half of a century has changed life astronomically.
Manipulation of media is of course one of the main factors. Nowadays, we know all too well how easily it is for media corporations to support one political agenda or another by twisting facts and feeding false information. Consumerism, supported and viralized by media, also carries a message which tends to separate those who consume a certain kind of product from those who do not, stating that the former are happier than the latter. This exercises certain social pressure among consumerist individuals who may somehow see their social status affected and thus feel left out. As a result, the key for the survival of individuality lies in how conformist the people are ready and willing to become.
People who share the same allegiance sympathize; they all gather together, join forces, encourage one another and challenge the other side. But what is the most important is the most identities aren’t given once and for all; it is built and changes throughout the person’s lifetime. More can be flexible, more belongings will have. Nonetheless, even the perfect flexibility cannot belong all of them. For instance, in the film named Zelig, just like the most people want, Leonard Zelig wants to be part of all the different kind of societies, Black, Asian, American Indian, German nazist and all the others, at the same time.
I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God” (Nature). Emerson says that one should be a transparent eyeball, letting light, thoughts, and the currents of the universal being circulate through his/herself; one should not stop or limit anything from passing through the self. One cannot have any limitations and one must also be open. One should also not contradict one’s self: if one limits himself then he will not be able to be free from societies boundaries. In Emerson’s “Self Reliance”, the author talks about self-trust and how one must be consistent in trusting his/herself.
Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 is a commentary on what he fears will happen to independent thought and intellectual freedom in American society if American citizens continues their trend of reliance upon mass media for information, self censorship of any ideas that could be offensive to others, and conformity to widely accepted views instead of creating one’s own. Political advertisements, toy commercials, public service messages are all examples of mass media in everyday life. We are constantly bombarded with images asking us to buy, donate, or listen to people's views and opinions. We live in an age where the general public is constantly immersed in television acting like sponges and absorbing useless and biased information.
This kind of a world is dangerous. Homogenity of thought inevitably leads to polarisation of society. Fast forward to present day reality. In this age of social media, where there is a huge inflow of information and online groups emerging everyday, most of us only engage in discussion forums that promote ideas we like. All we do there is add encouraging words or nod in agreement.
We don’t shop to survive anymore we, we survive to shop.\\We don’t eat to live anymore, “we live to eat.” We have become a society that likes to spend lavishly on goods and services just so that we can show them off. Affluenza causes debt, stress and problems in relationships. Affluenza affects many people of all ages, sex and backgrounds. Teenagers in this day and age are even affected by it. They have the need to have the latest brand name clothes, cell phones, music and video games.
This population includes those children also who are born in US only and have citizenship. It is a very serious and difficult issue for the US government and very tough to solve. The United States is a “melting pot”, where people from around the world come to live in America and then fully assimilate themselves (Schaefer, 2011). Relevance of Media In today’s era, the role of media has become indispensable for us. It is not only “the mirror” which displays the image of the society but also helps us in shaping our lives.