I don't follow cricket!
Someone could find my statement amusing, especially when it comes from someone from a cricket-loving country. But that isn't the point here. It's Fogg!
My father is a huge cricket fan, and now he's obsessed with the India-Zimbabwe match. I have no choice but to look at the TV now and then because I spend most of my time in the living room either reading or working on a laptop, checking my phone, or simply relaxing. I look at the screen and see if someone hit 4 or 6, and I am always neutral when it comes to sports because winning and losing are common for every team or nation.
My issue, though, is not with cricket, but with the advertising that appears between overs or at key moments, particularly the Fogg commercial (link for one of the ADs). Though most of the commercials are meaningless, and I don't want to dig into them, the Fogg commercial disturbs me, possibly because it creates an incorrect perception of attractive men.
The advertisements (there are three on the same concept) depict two girls flirting with a man (their faces aren't displayed) and conversing between themselves, with one expressing a desire for him while the other saying something in Hindi, their expressions and the word "perfume" reveals that he didn't wear perfume and the other showing a disappointed face.
The ad clearly and incorrectly implies that males who do not apply perfume are not attractive to look at or perceived to be handsome. It could be a business strategy, but consider people who do not wear perfume, such as myself. I agree that we need some elements to smell good, but it cannot be mandatory, and not everyone needs it.
Adults can comprehend the business behind the commercial ad, but the younger generation may misinterpret the notion and begin thinking about or placing value on perfume. For boys, many believe that only if they use perfume will girls notice them or look after perfumed boys.
Perfumes are already harmful to one's health, and if one doesn't really need them, they shouldn't wear them at all, but these commercials reinforce that if you're either smart or handsome, you need to smell good to take into account! I've had problems with perfume before, but not with myself. Someone's carelessness once harmed me, and when they realized what was wrong, they restricted its use solely in front of me.
Advertisers should be socially conscious and consider the public because ads cannot be seen only by their intended customers. Is it ethical to dismiss a performance because he(she) does not smell good or used perfume? Please, advertisers, exercise your common sense! huh
Ya, ads do hurt younger people because they tend to get influenced faster. The best thing to do about them is to create awareness, like what you have done.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Ads seem so realistic sometimes, but most of them are nonsense.
ReplyDelete...here cricket is an insect!
ReplyDeleteAdvertisements are all about creating an 'image' and you raise very valid points about how they impact young and older people but especially the young ~ Great post ~ namaste,
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
It is all about promoting their products but in the process, it has a negative influenced on the viewers as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be fewer and fewer advertisers with common sense these days.
ReplyDeleteHello Jeevan, I can understand your concern about the bad influence advertisements have on the younger generation in particular, but the older generation also find the adverts to be increasingly offensive. As an older person myself I find some nakedness and sensual images which leave very little to the imagination offensive.
ReplyDelete