2008 Woodie Awards
Indiscriminating teen minds especially susceptible to Axe and advertising
Brian Moloney '08
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Opinion
Since I started college, I have found myself watching more television than I did during my earlier years. It's just a good method of alleviating boredom. There's usually something vaguely interesting to be found somewhere on the airwaves.
Sometimes it's worth it just to watch the commercials and be alternately amused and horrified at how things get sold these days.
Some advertisements are so mind-bogglingly stupid that I can't help but laugh at them.
I was previously unaware, but apparently the world operates on a simple equation that goes something like this: Axe deodorant spray combined with a marginally attractive male results in nakedness on the part of any female who wanders into his area of effect. I would very much like to see some sort of proof that this formula works; if it did, I'm sure their sales would skyrocket.
Usually, I would just laugh at such an inane advertisement, but then I realize that people actually buy this stuff and I can't help but wonder how they do it.
I will never cease to be amazed at how good businesses are at convincing people to buy things that serve absolutely no purpose. There are times when I marvel at the products being advertised and wonder who could possibly need them.
It's almost disturbing to think that there are people who will greedily snatch up any new product, thereby creating a gap between the haves and the have-nots, which just makes more people go out and buy the thing.
I'm sure there are companies that pay people to buy their products just to make sure that happens-sort of the opposite version of the "invisible hand." I'm sure Adam Smith is spinning in his grave.
I can understand wanting to buy something flashy or expensive, as long as it serves a purpose-and obviously other people feel the same way, or Apple wouldn't still be in business. But why spend money on something that really doesn't benefit you in any way?
There are numerous examples of things that serve no purpose: bottled water, pet clothing, Pauly Shore movies, and anything found in The Sharper Image. And yet, we just keep buying them.
Sometimes it's worth it just to watch the commercials and be alternately amused and horrified at how things get sold these days.
Some advertisements are so mind-bogglingly stupid that I can't help but laugh at them.
I was previously unaware, but apparently the world operates on a simple equation that goes something like this: Axe deodorant spray combined with a marginally attractive male results in nakedness on the part of any female who wanders into his area of effect. I would very much like to see some sort of proof that this formula works; if it did, I'm sure their sales would skyrocket.
Usually, I would just laugh at such an inane advertisement, but then I realize that people actually buy this stuff and I can't help but wonder how they do it.
I will never cease to be amazed at how good businesses are at convincing people to buy things that serve absolutely no purpose. There are times when I marvel at the products being advertised and wonder who could possibly need them.
It's almost disturbing to think that there are people who will greedily snatch up any new product, thereby creating a gap between the haves and the have-nots, which just makes more people go out and buy the thing.
I'm sure there are companies that pay people to buy their products just to make sure that happens-sort of the opposite version of the "invisible hand." I'm sure Adam Smith is spinning in his grave.
I can understand wanting to buy something flashy or expensive, as long as it serves a purpose-and obviously other people feel the same way, or Apple wouldn't still be in business. But why spend money on something that really doesn't benefit you in any way?
There are numerous examples of things that serve no purpose: bottled water, pet clothing, Pauly Shore movies, and anything found in The Sharper Image. And yet, we just keep buying them.
Be the first to comment on this story