Advertising expands choices while propaganda obliterates them
Evidence
When done well, and on behalf of a worthwhile product, advertising can, in this way, advance human freedom, by showing that choices exist and making them seem real. But advertising can also obscure choices, or (as we have seen) present false ones (e.g., “Use this product or suffer the embarrassing consequences”). Nonetheless the advertiser, unless a monopolist, usually remains within the realm of persuasion among a background of choice. True propaganda, by contrast, aims to obliterate that marketplace and the choices as such, by making them seem unthinkable or nonexistent. — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 423
Categorization
- DEFINE: Draws the key distinction between commercial persuasion within a background of choice and propaganda that destroys the marketplace of choices itself.
- XREF: connects to: Advertising’s suspicion-inducing logic extends to political propaganda; Advertising manipulates consumers into wanting what they are made to want. — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 258; Advertising compels consumers to identify with and demand the products imposed on them — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry: Selected Essays…, 98 (+3 more)
Broader Connections
- Advertising’s suspicion-inducing logic extends to political propaganda
#expands(0.85) - Advertising manipulates consumers into wanting what they are made to want.
#contradicts(0.80) — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 258 - Advertising compels consumers to identify with and demand the products imposed on them
#contradicts(0.80) — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry, 98 - Modern advertising manipulates desires through images largely unconnected to the product.
#contradicts(0.75) — David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity, 1819 - Advertising shifted from selling product qualities to selling user identity
#qualifies(0.72) — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 550