Beware of Ads!!

This week was really interesting delving into ads and how they inconspicuously desensitize us about gender issues. It was interesting to study ads and how they create this facade about what is normal and abnormal. When they are broken down, it's not always obvious what they're selling, especially when at times you notice that the picture has very little relevance to reality.

On the flip side, I've started to ask different questions. Instead of wondering what's being sold, I'm starting to wonder what I'm buying. Am I buying the ad or the product. I don't know if that makes sense, but in my mind, if I buy the ad, I'm buying the gimmick or the false promise that it carries. If I am buying the product, then I'm hoping it will fulfill it's necessity in purpose.

For example, if I buy a Coke, is it because "I want the world to sing in perfect harmony" or is it because I'm just thirsty. I know it's a pretty far stretch, but how many times do we buy a product for what we hope it will do with the opposite sex or for our self esteem. When in essence, Axe body wash is no more than just that. It's just body wash. Wouldn't Suave or Old Spice or even Dove get you just as clean? But, according to the ad they don't come with the possibility of getting the girl. Ladies correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the frequent use of any soap would help...right?

So again I ask did you buy the ad or the product? If you bought the ad, did it work?