Consumed with product.

With 7.081 billion on the planet, 315,000,000 and counting in the US (Shout out to all my homies unaccounted for. Respect.), 6,000,000 and some change in MD, I will always be one in the number. I can’t do anything about that and that’s fine. Just as sure as God made me He made you…and you…and him…and that…and whatever.

I am constantly reminded that I am one of many. A consumer who is grouped in with everyone else that could potentially be a customer but even in consumer state I am STILL a product. Product of my environment, generation, and even feelings due to this oh-so-lovely estrogen *smacks ovaries*. This dichotomy of consumer/product with this concept of supply and demand leaves me puzzled and slightly annoyed.    

Now I watch a little more TV these days than I would like to admit and yes I fall victim to seedy marketing and lackluster propganda. After careful and introspective thought, I’ve come up with a reason why I am affected and intrigued by it all.

My primary example will be a commercial. For about 15-20 seconds I am allowed to forget whatever is on my mind so that time and space is made for the purpose of this advertisement. Even moments after the commercial, I realize that a thought, a feeling has been passed on. I am glued to a food, form of entertainment, clothing item, a place, etc., for a fraction of time. For that fraction of time I feel like the intended audience is me, only me. Not the 7 billion, not even the 313 & 6 million, just me.

I feel like the millions they spent on those few seconds were to get and keep my attention.

That’s the funny thing about propaganda, it doesn’t come with a label that tells you what it is. It leaves it up for interpretation, like that mystery flavor dum-dum pop. 

Advertisement tells you what you want in hopes that it will become what you need. Before you know it, you’re singing the tune for a commercial and you have no idea what they really want to present but you just know you like when it comes on. It might even spark a memory of something else and appeals to a whole different product or thing. Subconciously if you see that thing that was advertised in the store you feel a sense of familiarity and obligation to it. Making you more prone to take it home.

Oh advertisement. It evolves so. From radio to billboards to TV, making sure it stays relevant and current with the times. It has recently been making quite the splash as blog posts.

Yes, blog posts. Like this one riiiiiight here.

Was I really talking about advertisement and commercials? Did I just want to put random census statistics on your brain? Hey, why not? Good to know I guess. I’m all for sharing knowledge and facts.

Your brain cells just got Criss Angel-ed.

Enjoy the inception. 

Love,

Cam