Looking at all the elements in the ad we can understand the creator's intent: cool guy sitting on his deck, hot woman approaching, and a killer quad surround system waiting. If you do this, you'll get that. This is back at a time when both cigarettes and hifi systems were positioned as defining markers for manliness. Men (real men) smoked cigarettes and had the latest hifi systems. Do this, be perceived as that.
Today you occasionally see hifi manufacturers adding a little sex and sizzle to their ads for speakers or hifi kit, but it's rare. Fortunately, most manufacturer's ads focus on performance and or end results: how you will feel when you purchase their products.
We've come a long way.
We've come a long way
by Paul McGowan
"Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" is a catchy ad line from long ago—a time when society's views on smoking and stereos were very different.
Reader Scott Brinckman sent me this classic ad from a 1975 Stereo Review magazine.
Looking at all the elements in the ad we can understand the creator's intent: cool guy sitting on his deck, hot woman approaching, and a killer quad surround system waiting. If you do this, you'll get that. This is back at a time when both cigarettes and hifi systems were positioned as defining markers for manliness. Men (real men) smoked cigarettes and had the latest hifi systems. Do this, be perceived as that.
Today you occasionally see hifi manufacturers adding a little sex and sizzle to their ads for speakers or hifi kit, but it's rare. Fortunately, most manufacturer's ads focus on performance and or end results: how you will feel when you purchase their products.
We've come a long way.
Looking at all the elements in the ad we can understand the creator's intent: cool guy sitting on his deck, hot woman approaching, and a killer quad surround system waiting. If you do this, you'll get that. This is back at a time when both cigarettes and hifi systems were positioned as defining markers for manliness. Men (real men) smoked cigarettes and had the latest hifi systems. Do this, be perceived as that.
Today you occasionally see hifi manufacturers adding a little sex and sizzle to their ads for speakers or hifi kit, but it's rare. Fortunately, most manufacturer's ads focus on performance and or end results: how you will feel when you purchase their products.
We've come a long way.
Paul McGowan
Founder & CEO
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