Smoking Kills

This ad in particular advertises smoking in the form of a skull at the butt of the cigarette alongside blood signifying death, hence the quote, “Smoking Kills.” A close-up and intricate lighting is expressed in such a way, viewers are forced to stare. The hegemonic ideology of “smoking is cool” has always existed, but with “being cool” also comes consequence. The ad is a powerful public notice in that death holds a huge role in playing the consequence. Younger generations are usually those who tend to lean on smoking, the advertisement is a portal for those searching for an answer as to whether smoking is good for you or not, and for those who already smoke the ad plays a constant reminder to their deadly practice.

One of the potential appeals of advertising discussed in lecture was the attention appeal. The attention appeal in itself characterizes with the need to call attention of a certain situation to the viewers be it a negative or a positive connotation. By this appeal, advertisers can draw the eye in and aid in the form of viewers and their established opinions/actions.

In relation to this ad, the attention appeal exemplifies this display of “death” by caution and warning to all smokers or those who might think about smoking. Viewers are called to attention of something almost unconscious-like with the harsh reality of death. It’s impossible for one to not have a look and catch a chill, or for those who feel nothing and is the smoker, when things finally spiral down, the smoker will always recall the ad that told its future. Even those who are neither, the ad enables them to try and prevent this unhealthy habit from forming. In this, the ad is powerful and most influential for viewers to either turn their life around before it’s too late, or prevent this custom into their lives.