But it matters that advertisers try to be aware of all the meanings their messages convey. Advertising is about truth. It is about the relationship between a company and its customers. As a dominant form of voice in American culture, it should be about the expression of values and aspirations that move us ahead. Indeed, the very purpose of advertising is to make things happen faster in the marketplace.
Advertising is about what is new.
Racism and sexism are old. The Just For Feet commercial, along with a variety of others we all viewed that Sunday, show that the advertising industry needs to move beyond stereotyping restrictions. Our advertising industry needs to get serious, and needs to do so now. The usual response by the advertising industry is to convene committees, sponsor internship programs, offer minority scholarships, and hold recruiting conferences. These are good things to do.