Resistance

One thing that bothers me every day is advertising. It bothers me because I don't like the idea of being manipulated, especially with the stealthy tactics that advertisers use, such as product placement in movies (not always so subtly), logos on clothing, and ads on the side of every webpage I visit.

Here's part of a video clip made by Steve Seid and Peter Conheim called Value-Added Cinema that shows product placement in various films:




Yet while I find it very annoying that I'm constantly bombarded with advertisements, I definitely appreciate the fact that they lower the price of many of the things they're on (although not all). Websites are hosted for free! I got a free hat from the seafood company I fish for that had their logo on the front, and well...honestly products do appear in our daily lives, so it's not always such a big surprise that they'll pop up in movies.

Being wary and throwing things at the screen every time I see product placement in a movie makes me feel better, but why always fight something that's so prevalent? Rather than wage war on ads, I've decided to enjoy them. I can laugh at the funny ones, analyze the sexist ones, and try to figure out the hidden placement of logos all around me. It's my decision to wear or not to wear brand-name clothing, and I choose which products I buy for what reasons, and advertisers have to make their money, too.

The sense of lack and the desire for unnecessary goods that ads create can only work if we as consumers allow it to. I'm incredibly stingy, and if I don't absolutely need something, I'm very resistant to buying it. I'd rather have high quality products than something that will break down in a couple of years, but has a brand name on it. I hang on to stuff until it is no longer useful to me and then only part with it with reluctance. This is my resistance.