The 1940s presented a very different version of America than the one we live in today; Smoking was not only a widely accepted pastime, but many people didn't even consider it a bad habit. While there were some studies linking smoking to long-term negative effects, they were few and far between and thus the habit was much more popular at the time. In 1946 the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company produced a pro-Camel cigarette advertisement which at first glance appeared to be nothing more than a typical advertisement but upon closer examination it became clear that the advertisement used elements, such as a doctor, to give consumers the unconscious feeling that purchasing Camels might actually benefit them in some way, almost as if the doctor were prescribing Camels to them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The ad aesthetic creates a medium in which manufacturers highlighted certain features of their product as “important” by using misleading images to promote their agenda of selling the product. The centerpiece of the advert seems to be the doctor, who dominates almost half of the advert; its presence creates a sense of comfort and a false allusion to the benefit of purchasing Camel cigarettes. As a typical consumer, wouldn't you assume that "if doctors think it's ok, it's probably ok"? The use of a doctor almost implies that, because it is his job, the doctor prescribes Camels to consumers who view the ad. Along with the doctor, the announcement includes a section describing the study conducted and its results. These results are simple white text on a black background, so as to stand out, and a pack of Camel cigarettes is featured alongside the informational text, as a means of simultaneously showing the consumer what a pack of Camel cigarettes looks like and reminding the consumer they are watching a Camel commercial. Finally, in what appears to be an effort to broaden their market, the ad includes a woman referencing her "T-Zone," a gimmick term that is conveniently reapplied to suit manufacturers' need to sell cigarettes, but which still has links to the market. doctor and how it can influence women to purchase cigarettes. Overall, the advertisement uses very simple methods to attract those who do not want to further analyze the advertisement and its content. The doctor used in Camel cigarette advertising appears to communicate a sense of comfort and lull the average consumer into a state of ease. , as most people would believe that what a doctor claimed to be true was true. Visually the doctor in the advert is what one might describe as the “typical sage”. He is old, as can be seen from his old, wrinkled appearance and his graying hair. His age would imply that he has been a doctor for a significant period of time and not a newcomer to the field, and this would further indicate that his opinion is based on years of experience, which adds further validity to what he is saying. In comparison, the doctor is drawn in a much more detailed manor than the other character, the woman, featured in the advert as expected because he is the real focal point of the advert. His wrinkles are defined and his skin has a much more natural gradient – again, adding to the general idea that this doctor and the fact that he is an expert doctor, is part of the marketing of these cigarettes. In addition to visually portraying the doctor as a wise and cunning man, the comic accompanying the doctor refers to the.
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