In Art & Copy, art director and designer George Lois says, "Good advertising makes food taste better. It makes cars run better. It changes our perception of everything."
Do you agree or disagree with Lois' stance on advertising's ability to change our perceptions of the products and services we interact with? Your essay should take a stance of its own. Chapters 3 and 4 of our course textbook clarify much about the nature of argument. You may wish to revisit these chapters as you approach the writing of your essay. Remember, the issue of advertising and its impact on our perception is a broad and controversial issue. Developing a question at issue will help you narrow your focus. Here are some possible questions that might be asked in pursuit of a thesis:
Why are consumers so susceptible to the manipulations of advertising? Is it ethical for advertisers to bend the truth in pursuit of "changing our perceptions" about a product or service? Do advertisers have a responsibility to provide consumers with truthful information? Should advertising be more heavily regulated to shield consumers (particularly the young and the vulnerable) from false or misleading information? Does advertising have legitimate artistic value? Is the exercising of creative license in an advertisement appropriate even if it misrepresents a product's actual function or value?
Sample Solution