These types of ads, now targeting a younger audience, go after the insecurities of a teenage girl going through puberty and suffering from acne, which is to be expected. However, these ads create an insecurity that not only is acne not normal, but is the reason for your unhappiness and loneliness. Ads such as these target a younger audience so that once these girls grow older and are less impressionable, it will be easier to advertise to them as their insecurities were already exposed and targeted at a younger age.
Advertisement companies now feed off of the insecurity of women, to create a market and a culture where this spreads from generation to generation.
Alyson, my eye was immediately drawn to the image of the advertisement. Hence, I read your post afterward. I was genuinely shocked reading the text in this ad. It sounds like when you "burn" someone; that is the exact tone and use of the words in this ad, and it is ultimately offensive. After reading your post, I completely agree that ads like this create an insecurity that acne is not normal and that you are lonely because of it. I really like your thought on how ads like these "target younger [girls] so that once [those] girls grow older and are less impressionable, it will be easier to advertise to them as their insecurities are already exposed and targeted at a younger age." I believe this is so true, and it's something I did not even think about when looking at this advertisement. Overall, you provided a great example of a sexist advertisement in today's day and age.
ReplyDeleteAlyson, you call attention to a very important ad. Advertising often targets individuals, in this case adolescents, and often advertisers go too far and offend their audience. I find this ad very harsh because it calls attention to the insecurities of young individuals. Teenagers are at one of the most vulnerable ages and so for an advertiser to target one of the most flawed aspects of teenagers, acne, is going a little too far. Then, to go the extra mile and say that acne results in not having a boyfriend is another extremity. Of course, ads can often be sarcastic and are often exaggerations, however, people are sensitive, so harsh sayings do create a sense of self-doubt and insecurity.
ReplyDeleteAlyson,
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your post, and actually think that this advertisement is appalling. Pubescent adolescents are already going through a tough time and are extremely sensitive- especially if they have acne, so the last thing they need is advertisements also offending them. I think that you also make an interesting point by saying that the obvious examples of offensive advertisements that we associate with the past have not disappeared, but instead have just changed in their appearance.