In terms of American history, the early United States was colonized by advertisers from the late 1600s to the 1700s. It was settled largely by major trading companies that hoped to profit from the riches of the natural resources of a new territory. These companies used advertisements to “urge the poor, weary, downtrodden classes of London and other overcrowded ports” to pursue the "land of opportunity. " As the country grew, the predominant use of advertising was to sell goods such as tobacco and timber. The primary medium of advertising was the newspaper.
Grace Desrosiers Rutledge US History (H) 4/15/24 Following the tragedies and victories of World War I, America underwent extreme changes. The biggest cause of these changes was the growth and use of promoting products, services, and ideas. The advertising of the “Roaring 20s” caused great cultural, political, and economic change through advertisers changing the way people viewed their lives, new ideas being promoted throughout the country, and increasing consumer culture, thus fundamentally shifting the base of American society during this era of extreme change and innovation. One of the ways advertising changed American society was through advertisers changing and challenging society's views, norms, and behaviors.
Modern day America is an economic superpower. However, one and a half centuries ago, this was not the case. In the late 1800’s there was a large boom in terms of population and industrialization in the United States. From this stemmed many new technological innovations, innovations which could be applied to the creation of alluring products for the masses. This led to the rise of a prominent American consumer culture, which was a driving force in the great economic growth of the Gilded Age.
Advertisement and media has transformed since the 1950’s and has allowed the world of film to expand but also has limited in a strange way. A huge game changer after the 1950s was the introduction of television, prompting many actors and filmmakers to transition to this form of media, creating a new competition. It’s more difficult of a market especially since many can get entertainment right in the comfort of their own home. After the Paramount case, the film industry downsized so much that actors transferred to the art of television rather than film. This new market also created a new form of advertisement for the films presented in theaters.
As World War II came to an end, the United States entered the 50s. This decade became a major influential time that brought many cultural and societal changes. Categories such as the economy, where a boom in new products increased, the technology world which incorporated new medicines and computers, entertainment when the television became popular and the overall lifestyles that Americans adapted to. All of these topics reshaped and created several advancements throughout society during the 1950s.
According to James B. Twitchell’s, “20 Ads that Shook the World,” advertisers will situate their campaign around special events like the Super Bowl or holidays like Easter. This grants companies the opportunity to market their products, increase revenue, and target their audience’s imagination. Anthropologists would refer to this strategy as syncretism, or “…the merging… of two or more categories in a specified environment into one…” (Dictionary.com 1). With a decrease in sales during the winter months, Coca-Cola created the Santa Claus that we still know and love today, and is recognized as one of the most groundbreaking advertisements that changed the world.
The Hoover brand is well known for its vacuum products. They were first established in 1908 in Ohio. Since then Hoover has been selling products for generations. Hoover, like any other company, had to appeal to consumers to purchase their products with advertisements. In particular, one advertisement published in the 1950s has unique characteristics compared to a modern advertisement.
A standout amongst the most mainstream items in the 1950s was the TV. The increase of TV in the 1950s furnished every Americans with tradition and entertainment. Television is a consistent nearness in many Americans' lives. With, its quick moving, outwardly intriguing, profoundly engaging style, it orders numerous individuals' consideration for a few hours every day.(Television's Impact on American Society and Culture). By 1960, most American family units had a TV, and that year's Nixon/Kennedy wrangles about was the principal broadcast presidential civil argument.
1920s Advertising During the 1920s, advertisement started to increase and expand. Many ideas and tactics were used to lure the attention of the consumers. After World War I, America started to grow with a stable and growing economy. This flourishment made many American's live out the 1920s in prosperity.
During the 1950s consumerism became widespread, the Golden Age was a period of economic growth that benefited both capitalist and workers. More production equalled higher wages. Inventions such as vacuums and dishwashers became household items. These appliances enabled the idea of more leisure time intertwining the notion of freedom, the symbol of America. The introduction to credit cards made purchases easier; giving Americans the feeling of being rich and wealthy.
Identification and Targeting of Consumer Groups in Advertising Strategies of the 1920s Advertising is critical to building business in a capitalist society like the United States. In fact, today, the U.S. spends over 220 billion dollars annually on internal and external advertising (“Statistics”). A market as large as this has a significant impact on the American population. This impact results from the cultural trends that advertising exposes and highlights to the general public.
The early 1900s were notorious for their sexist and racist advertisements. Women and people of color weren’t looked at as individuals. They were looked at as maids, cooks, and objects meant to be seen and not heard. Their sole purpose was to serve their husbands and keep him happy. One ad from the 1960s in particular features a Caucasian woman wearing nothing but an apron serving her husband bed side.
Originally, businesses and products advertised in communities via posters and cards, usually made by woodcut or engraving (Croll). With the advent of lithography, businesses were able to create commercial advertisements for their businesses and products—a development that became crucial to these businesses’ expansions during the industrial revolution. William and John Pendleton opened the first commercially successful print shop opened in Boston in the 1820s and many more shops sprang up in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City (Le Beau 21). Lithographers like the Pendletons, Louis Prang, Currier and Ives, and Kellogg were popularly commissioned from the late 1820s through to the end of the century for business and advertising.
In the 1950s, the FCC managed to controls the television market by regulating the three main categories: obscene, indecent, and profanity content. In the event that a network violated the guidelines set forth by the FCC. Then it has the authority to deny or revoke licensure of network, which could leads to fines and other punitive action. The regulatory process by the FCC is to ensure that, network is not broadcasting nudity and particularly contents that are bad for youth and children, especially foul language during prime time. With respect to the television show “I love Lucy” it is a comedy show that was very popular many decades ago.
Popular culture of the 1960’s was a decade dedicated to the ideals of free love, drug experimentation, and the hippie culture. America’s middle class was booming with adolescent teenagers who wanted to escape the traditional culture conformities of the U.S.A. Musical artist like the Beatles, The Who, and Bob Dylan still influence popular music in our society today. The Hippie culture of the 1960’s is making a comeback in our music and culture today. Furthermore, the comeback of Flower Power is prevalent in the famous Coachella music festival that takes place in California. The Coachella music festival can be compared to the psychedelic vibe of the Woodstock music festival that also took place in California during the 1960’s.
