Spud Cigarettes, 1929

Critical Analysis of Advertising Message

Who is the intended audience of the message?
-The intended audience are men between the ages of 18 and 50. Men who have jobs and are required to wear a suit to work.

What elements of the message make it an effective (or ineffective) form of persuasion?
-It is an effective form of persuasion because many people smoke to calm anxiety. Spud Cigarettes emphasizes this and also informs the reader of their menthol-cooled effect. The illustration is also effective because it shows a man trying to enjoy a cigarette but a woman, probably his wife, needing his attention.

How does the message utilize and/or influence popular culture?
-During this time cigarettes were considered convenient, cheaper and sanitary. The message utilizes popular culture because this cigarette appeals to men only, who at the time were the bread winners in the family. This ad came out in the year of the Stock Market crash, making anxiety relief a popular cure. 

Comprehensive Analysis 

Describe the theme of advertising that you choose:

• What they are selling- Cigarettes
• The time period the ad would fit into- 1929
• The advertising method they used- The headline is pronounced and the image is centered, creating easy following by the reader. The ad exclaims that the cigarettes can cure anxiety and are different because they are menthol-cooled. The ad uses the strategy of differentiating itself and being the cure for something in need. Large illustration and bold headlines are used, making the message easy for the reader to comprehend.
• Why the item or product would be important to someone from that time period- Cigarettes were not yet heavily regulated by the government. Many people found it okay to smoke since it reduced anxiety and issues of health consequences were not discussed.

How advertising is a reflection of and a form of culture during the time period

Identify examples and portrayals of various ethnic, racial, and other stereotypes
-The man portrayed is a white man in a suit. He can be considered an important business man. The ad also depicts a woman's arm that is bothering the man from his smoke break, generating the nagging woman stereotype.