I came across something like what we have been talking about over the past few days in my book, Drive Yourself Sane, by Susan and Bruce Kodish.
"Much of advertising seems to focus on getting us to repond to words and images as if they were identical to the particular product being sold... About a men's store which advertised a sale featuring 'A Complete Wardrobe For Men Under $100', they write that the 'complete wardrobe consisted of a blazer, shirt, tie, and belt. But, as the reader who sent us the clipping asked, shouldn't a gentleman's wardrobe include trousers? The belt would look funny without them.'"
Today we were talking about being able to change symbols to mean something other than their common meaning. Most people think that "A Complete Wardrobe" would include pants, but the advertising company apparently thinks otherwise, and can use this "symbol" to make their customers think they are buying a complete wardrobe.
-Audrey
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It's interesting to note how advertising companies define their own terms. After all, if all writing is persuasive and therefore an arguement, shouldn't both the shopper and the company have their respective definitions laid out on the table? Then we wouldn't all be fooled at the checkout counters!
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