Warning : Second Hand Smoke

Warning: Second Hand Smoke Kills

The advertisement that I chose shows the effects of second hand smoke on people of all ages. Shown in the advertisement is a picture of a small infant boy with half of his face covered in black smut, much like the portrayed skin of a lifelong smoker. The baby is shown with a burning cigarette in his mouth. The bold text reads “I smoke second hand.” A small side note in the ad reads, “Warning: May kill your baby.” This advertisement is to be taken as a warning sign to smokers everywhere that second hand smoke effects not only themselves, but everyone around them and the author does an excellent job portraying this.

The purpose of this advertisement is to show how dangerous second hand smoke is to others, especially children. Its purpose is also to give a message that the overall health and well-being of adults, and children is effected by the second hand smoke produced by others. Everywhere in the community, there will always be someone smoking. 21.2% of Georgians smoke cigarettes. The author is telling the viewers that it is so important that we keep our children away from this. Not only does second hand smoke effect a child’s health, but a child exposed to second hand smoke is more likely to become a smoker one day. This advertisement is used as a warning sign. Parents everywhere need to take more caution of what children are being exposed to. The target audience of this ad is smokers everywhere who may have begun to neglect the health of the people around them.

The author is very straightforward with the message he or she is trying to send to the public. As Jean Kilbourne said, “Much of advertising’s power comes from this belief that it does not affect us.” (Kilbourne, 256) A mother, whom is ...

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...ot “killed” by second hand smoke. The point the author is trying to make is crystal clear. Smoking affects everyone, not just the person that is blowing smoke.

Overall, the author does a great job of relaying the message to the viewers. The baby smoking a cigarette, and the bright bold letters are the first two things that grab people’s attention. Then, the ad does a good job of making the viewers think about the decision that they are making by smoking around others, specifically children. Anyone who see this ad will begin to think about their actions, and the effects that they have on others. The viewers will now begin to realize how many babies they may have effected by smoking around them. This advertisement is a great way to eliminate second hand smoke in our society, after all nobody wants to see infants and small children with lit cigarettes in their mouths.