“I think if anyone wants to understand our culture and our society, they’d better come to terms with the role and power of commercial Images.” Advertising & the End of the World video (5min 35sec) features an illustrated presentation by Sut Jhally of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the producer and writer of the award-winning Dreamworlds II. Focusing directly on the world of commercial images, he asks some basic questions about the cultural messages emanating from this market-based view of the world: Do our present arrangements deliver what they claim-- happiness and satisfaction? Can we think about our collective as well as our private interests?

We're surrounded by advertisements that desperately compete for our attention. Everywhere we look, we find ourselves inevitably drawn to images of scantily clad attractive men and women that are supposed to somehow inspire us to purchase products they endorse. Sure, this attention-getting strategy is popular. But, is it effective?

Sex appeal can increase the effectiveness of an ad or commercial because it attracts the customer's attention. It's human nature to be curious about sex. A pair of long legs on a billboard is more likely to catch (and hold) a guy's attention than a puppy, regardless of how cute it may be. Even women are drawn to them, perhaps with the desire of having goddess-like legs.

However, misuse of sex appeal can be costly. Many campaigns deemed offensive have started brand boycotts that affect sales and damage brand reputation. Abercrombie & Fitch has been involved in several scandals, the latest from their most recent catalog entitled "XXX Wet, Hot Summer Fun."

Many small business owners make the mistake of thinking that putting up a web site is advertising. They think it's like putting an ad in the paper that will bring in business. However, they usually end up frustrated when no business comes in. Learn how to avoid this mistake and save your web site from being lost in cyberspace.

Why is my web site not advertising?

So why is putting up a web site not advertising? Well, let's begin by looking at what advertising really is. Advertising means attracting public attention to a product or service usually by paying for it. Getting public attention is done by broadcasting the ad to an audience.

For example, a shoe store puts an ad in the local newspaper. That newspaper is delivered, i.e. broadcasted, to the local neighborhood. Readers of the paper will see the ad. In the end the shoe store owner hopes people come to the store.

The important thing to note is that the ad is "broadcasted". That is, the ad is put in front of the viewers.