Analysis of an Advertisement

As I finished reading a rather intellectually stimulating article in a popular men's magazine, I flipped the page to reveal quite an interesting advertisement. My gaze fell upon the following print ad, which contained the photograph of a decrepit old man dressed in a black suit, wearing a diamond encrusted gold dollar sign ring, embraced by a wedding-gown clad, large breasted, peroxide bleached blond, young bimbo. Next to the shocking newly-weds was a new, cherry red Dodge Viper convertible, parked on a black patterned brick driveway, in front of a gorgeous mansion wall adorned with lavish vegetation and concrete Grecian pottery overflowing with ferns. The inept, liver spotted, incontinent, prune-like old geezer stood in vulgar contrast to the voluptuous, energetic, seductive, fertile youthfulness beside him. At first one might become shocked at such a display. The printed quote at the bottom of the page, "NEED WE SAY MORE?" brought the Car Company's powerful message into clarity. The Dodge Motor Company, by degrading women, claiming that their car will serve as something of a fountain of youth, and asserting that material items are more important than depth of character, is hoping to convince you that their car is something you want.

By having run such a sexually biased advertisement, it is likely that the Dodge Company has immediately alienated half of their viewing audience. The woman has been portrayed as shallow and materialistic, unable to provide for herself, having no other options than to marry this crusty old man to attain the wealth that she desires. Her vanity and lack of self worth are so great that she has traded her self respect for social status. The first thought that entered my mind as I viewed this ...

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...ome viewers, they managed to instantly offend at least half of the buying audience. It was offensive and degrading women, portraying them as mere objects of a materialistic male figure. The woman's value appeared to be no greater than that of the automobile. Unfortunately the claims of the car's ability to bring back the appeal of youth may have some truth to it. Just as the clothes made the man in a social setting, when on the road your value is judged by your automobile. The vanity of the general population of our nation and the human specie's lust for wealth is so great that upon seeing a dodge viper on the road, one could not help but look upon the driver with envy and desire. While this advertisement did an excellent job of portraying the Dodge Viper, in a humorous and eye catching way, as an object to be coveted, it's design flaws outweigh its qualities.