Overview

This critical introductory text explores the role of advertising in contemporary culture and its connections to larger economic, social, and political forces. Written in an engaging and accessible style and incorporating a wide range of examples from around the world, the chapters introduce the key concepts, methods, and debates needed to analyse and understand advertising. From an investigation of advertising’s crucial function in media economics and our wider capitalist system to a consideration of the people who both make and watch advertising, this insightful text enables students to: make sense of advertising’s powerful influence as both an economic force and an artistic form; assess the various claims of these two perspectives on advertising; and understand how they challenge and complicate one another. This revised second edition includes a new chapter on branding and promotional culture, and substantially updated content on topics like digital and online advertising, surveillance and empowerment, as well as brand new topics like self-branding/influencers and using technology to evade advertising. Equipping students with the skills needed to partake in this lively discourse, the text is an invaluable resource for studying advertising critically. It is essential reading for students of advertising, media studies and communication studies.

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9781032181370

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Reviews

'Advertising and Consumer Society uses an accessible and entertaining style while maintaining serious scrutiny of the subject. Even - or especially - students intending to work in the promotional industries will benefit from the book's consideration of how advertising became central to wealthy societies and why that matters.' Bethany Klein, Professor of Media and Communication, University of Leeds, UK 'Holm approaches advertising with both a generous read of the creativity and imagination that advertisements require and generate, alongside a critical approach to the ways in which this industry has shaped consumer culture. A comprehensive and excellent introduction that demonstrate the social, cultural, and political importance of advertising.' Bethany Berard, Instructor, Carleton University, Canada

Author Information

Nicholas Holm is a Senior Lecturer in Media Studies based on the Wellington campus of Massey University, New Zealand, where he teaches courses in popular culture, advertising, and communication. His research explores the political role of popular culture and entertainment media, with a particular focus on humour and comedy. He is the author of Humour as Politics (Palgrave 2016).

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