This
Bare Minerals advertisement instantly attracts women of all ages. I, for one, found myself charmed by this
advertisement’s appeal to today’s popular focus, all-natural products. I also desire to resemble the beautiful woman
who represents this product.
However,
when stripped of its primary allurements, this ad displays numerous underlying
contexts. For example, it’s influencing
one’s perception of beauty. This Bare
Minerals advertisement is selling the idea that a beautiful woman is a
relatively skinny, put-together, conservatively fashioned, bubbly woman, and creates
a false air of elegance and happiness. This
ad creates the idea that by buying this product, one will be happy. If you have this brand of makeup, you won’t
have a care in the world, and will be as blissful and beautiful as the woman displayed
above.
I
must admit, though, these ads are quite persuasive, if my purchase means anything. Running across this advertisement, in bold
white letters, reads “BE A FORCE OF BEAUTY”.
This alone is persuasive in today’s popular culture. Of course women of all ages will be attracted
to this product. Pop culture today
projects an image that most people unmindfully attempt to duplicate. Take, for instance, the smaller, yet more
colorful phrasing above the previously mentioned statement. This reads, “Pretty attracts us. Beauty changes us.” This phrasing speaks for itself, and alludes
to the belief that a woman’s life in today’s culture dramatically changes for
the better if she is pretty. Among popular
culture’s ever changing conceptions, a desire to be beautiful is an idea that
has never changed, and this advertisement pulls the strings of the plentiful insecurities
pushed upon women in today’s culture.
I agree with much of what you said about this product. For many women there is a difference between being told that they are "pretty" versus "beautiful." This ad says, "oh, well you are pretty..." making a connotative meaning that they are only measuring a little up on the beauty scale. However, this ad says, "When you wear this product you will be transformed into a beautiful woman." Interesting in the subtle difference the advertisement places on the words "pretty," and "beautiful."
ReplyDeleteNo matter how often I come across ads I think are silly, manipulative, and/or play down to that standard beauty ideal, I still find myself spending money on products with exactly this sort of claim. It is now fashionable to market these all-natural products, selling us on all-natural beauty. Totally ironic that our society pushes mass produced products on us that claim to make us look/feel more "naturally" beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe simple connotation of the words "pretty" v "beautiful" v "gorgeous" are crazy to consider. It would be interesting to investigate why and how our culture came to see these as qualitative as well as quantitative.
This is a very persuasive ad towards women who buy make-up. Women feel the need to purchase make-up in order to feel seen and pretty. This ad just reinforces that idea with the slogan “Pretty attracts us. Beauty changes us.” Women who don’t wear make-up aren’t as well seen as ones with make-up. Have you ever seen these before and after make-up pictures? Who are you more likely to be attracted to?
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with what you have written here. This woman is displaying that women are beautiful, not only based on how their skin looks, but their weight, teeth and hair have an effect also. What she is straight forwardly displaying is that skin is the key to beauty, while the others are indirectly stated. Also, only by looking like this woman does, can a person be happy like she displays. The only thing I would change is the way you keep using “Women of all ages will be attracted to this product”; babies, toddlers, and pre-adolescent women would not be interested in buying makeup. This is shown by using a grown woman as the model.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Nicole said. I think ads like this only tell girls, women that if you aren't wearing make-up or dressing in the best clothes than no one will find you attractive. I know I've been sucked into this stereotype on more than one occasion.
ReplyDelete