Richard Lippke's Argument Analysis

Advertising is a crucial aspect of any business whether it be a small mom and pop store or a large retail chain. While undeniably beneficial for businesses, the societal implications are quite controversial. Richard L. Lippke asserts that persuasive advertising, “often contains very little direct informational content about a product or service.”(36) He argues that informational advertising “presupposes some interest on the part of individuals in the product or service”, (36) however persuasive advertising solely exists to cultivate an interest. The methods by which they foster an interest is by associating their product with satisfaction and targeting unconscious desires. The negative trend characterized by Lippke reigns true for informational advertising, the information is

Lippke’s argument is not the consensus, there exists other perspectives about advertising. Theodore Levitt, on the other hand, believes that much of advertisements are well intentioned and that they provide a benefit to society. He also notes that it is wrong for advertisements that falsify or misrepresent information. In the today’s society, once cannot escape the presence of advertisements. They are all around us. Ultimately advertisements are a detriment to society because they prey on susceptible demographics and misrepresent products and deceive consumers. May proponents of advertisements assert that they provide useful information to the consumers and aid in their decision-making process. This is rarely the case. Advertisements present tailored information that impact the consumer’s decisions. Advertisements foster more harm than good. The determinantal impacts of advertisements are not seen as heavily in the wealthier community, therefore I believe advertisements are a luxury that should be tailored to wealthier