Why are critics upset about advertising? And why are its practitioners so defensive? Revised and extensively updated, this edition of the classic Advertising in Contemporary Society offers unique perspectives that will help the reader understand how and why the controversial American phenomenon of advertising generates so much heat and--though much of it is passive--so much acceptance.

Now revised and updated to reflect the impact of emerging technologies, this new edition of Advertising and Society: Controversies and Consequences examines the evolution of advertising and its influence on society. Expanded with five new chapters covering the impact of emerging technologies, including the evolution of Direct to Consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising; product placement in various media; and the growing intrusiveness of Internet marketing Explores a broad range of topics including alcohol, tobacco, and sex in advertising; the pros and cons of negative political adverts; advergrames; and the use of stereotypes Examines the impact of advertising through its distinctive ‘point/counterpoint’ format –designed to spark discussion and help students understand the complexities of the issues being presented Lends substantial clarity to the subject, uniquely balancing criticism and practice within one text Includes chapter-level overviews and summaries of the topic history and key issues, along with student-friendly features such as ideas for papers and questions for discussion

Presenting a range of perspectives on advertising in a global society, this Second Edition of Controversies in Contemporary Advertising, by Kim Bartel Sheehan, examines economic, political, social, and ethical perspectives and covers a number of topics including stereotyping, controversial products, consumer culture, and new technology. The book is divided equally between macro and micro issues, providing a balanced portrait of the role advertising has in society today. Author Kim Bartel Sheehan's work recognizes the plurality of opinions towards advertising, allowing the reader to form and analyze their own judgments. It encourages readers to obtain a critical perspective on advertising issues.

Newly updated for the digital era, this classic textbook provides a comprehensive historical study of advertising and its function within contemporary society by tracing advertising's influence throughout different media and cultural periods, from early magazines through to social media. With several new chapters on the rise of the Internet, mobile, and social media, this fourth edition offers new insights into the role of Google, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube as both media and advertising companies, as well as examining the role of brand culture in the 21st century.

Now available in a significantly updated second edition featuring two new chapters, Social Communication in Advertising remains the most comprehensive historical study of advertising and its function within contemporary society. It traces advertising's influence within three key social domains: the new commodities industry; popular culture; and the mass media which manages the constellation of images that unifies all three.