Questions from “Reading Pop Culture”
January 19, 2015
#4 on page 70:
The ad from the internet that I chose to investigate was found on the sidebar on CNN’s homepage. Since the link to the ad may change depending on what your history/ad preferences are, I have attached an image of the ad so that all readers can get a better idea.
I feel like this ad is deliberately ambiguous, and uses the “weasel” word “better” in order to be more appealing to potential job seekers. Although Howe Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling have described themselves as having better benefits and better pay, they do not specify who they are better than. Having better pay and benefits than a CEO of a major company would be something great, sure, but what if this ad is simply saying that they have better pay by a fraction of a dollar of better benefits than a company who offers none? The word “better” seems to be a “weasel word” that allows companies like Howe the opportunity to mislead their potential customers, or in this case, employees.
#4 on page 119:
I feel that for the most part, advertising is not a positive thing. Although it may show us products that we love or want, it also tends to show us these products in a way that subconsciously demeans women, minorities, etc. Our culture is too entrenched in advertisements and I wish that was something that would/could change. I am glad that more companies are being pressured to be more honest and just in their ads, but I feel like we still have a long way to go. Until ads are more fair and less objectifying, I believe they do more harm than they do good.