Come Sail Away

Self.

In my Media Literacy class, we just watched a presentation on Edward Bernays, cousin of Sigmund Freud, and his affect on the America advertising structure. Freud’s theories acted as an invaluable resource for psychologists as well as a self-help guide of sorts. Bernays, in effect, reversed engineered Freud’s theories. Instead of helping people discover the individual, Bernays used the theory to contol the masses through advertisements. His advertising campaigns yielded frighteningly effective results that are still evident in today’s society, which revolves around superfluous material goods. Very few object are sold solely for their practicality. Instead, goods are sold based on aesthetics and what “statement” they are making. It is a depressing environment that I will try to change or, at least, not fall victim to.