Blog Post 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykdpHzKjYD0&feature=player_embedded

Smoking is a very interesting issue for me. Despite all of the convincing evidence that smoking is harmful to your health, it is still one of the most common trends across the globe. It is particularly interesting to analyze how those involved in the anti-smoking movement choose to persuade their audience. Usually, we see advertisements and campaigns focused on the argument portrayed in the top image. This image conveys the argument that when you choose to light that cigarette you are making a conscious decision to shorten your life by morphing the smoke into the shape of a firearm. The second photo uses an argument targeted more towards women when they show a beautiful model smoking. Her reflection shows a completely different image that represents the effects smoking can have on your outward appearance instead of focusing more on how it damages you on the inside. The last anti-smoking public service advertisement above is the short video clip. This ad uses a different angle and argues that tobacco users are being played for a fool by the big tobacco companies when they use their products. The video shows a tobacco company owner swimming in a pool of cash.

These three very different ads make the claims that tobacco harms the user, has an effect on the users outward appearance, and that smoking is not a financially sound investment. The arguments in these ads are not only directed at the smoking population themselves, but can also be directed towards those who have the potential to become smokers. They are created to instill a negative mental image so that when that person picks up a cigarette for the first time, they will think of the scary model, or the idea that they are basically shooting themselves because smoking can end their life.

I believe that the first image might go too far. Although smoking is extremely bad for your health, the image comparing the habit to pointing a firearm at your head is a little extreme. There have been multiple examples of people who have smoked their entire life and it does not result in their death.
However, I think that the other images are fine. Smoking does have an effect on your appearance and it is important for people to know that. Smoking also is an extremely expensive habit.

I think there are multiple reasons that millions of people continue to smoke despite all of the advertisements and campaigns against it. Although smoking has been proven to cause cancer and other health problems, it is not necessarily guaranteed. Many people continue to smoke without any major consequences, and I think that some believe that the habit is worth the risk. Another reason may be due to the bad reputation of the media and advertising industry. Many people feel that most advertisements lack ethos and are exaggerated and false, so these harsh ads cause people to be more skeptical and ignore the arguments that are being made.

After researching the topic, I found that most people quit their smoking habit due to the social pressure and the expense of tobacco products. In order to effectively discourage the use of tobacco, ads should focus more on these aspects of the habit. Ads should pinpoint the idea that smoking is considered smelly and gross to others and emphasize the realistic cost of the habit. In order to maximize effectiveness, advertisers should include more logos in their advertisements. If billboards and images include hard numbers on what the average smoker spends yearly on tobacco products, they may be more effective. If advertisements also appeal more to the idea that other people are not fond of smokers, the social pressure may have more of an impact.

http://10steps.sg/inspirations/artworks/50-most-creative-anti-smoking-advertisements/