Proof That Advertising Works Or "The Moviegoing Public Are Sheep"

[slappy]

I can tell you from personal experience how movie advertising can brainwash/influence people. I'm not sure how many of them even know it's being done to them. Case in point: Star Trek 09.

At 29, I've always been a Trek fan since way back. I've got a friend however, who I've known since we were in elementary school, who always took certain opportunities to clown me for my Trek love. He'd watch a bit of it because I did, but never cared for it much. He always painted it in the "geek" light that the public has been doing for years. Keep in mind, he claims not to care for sci-fi yet loves Heroes, The Matrix, Star Wars....you know, acceptable sci-fi.

Fast-forward to this year. Here's a summation of the our conversations involving the new Trek movie:

Jan 09:

Me: You know they've got a new Star Trek movie coming out this summer.

Him: Oh yeah? How many is that? Like ten?

Me: Eleven. They're aiming for a more mainstream audience this time.

Him: I want to see Transformers 2.

March 09:

Me: Did you see the Star Trek trailer? Look so great!

Him: It looks extremely interesting.

Me: In a good way?

Him: I don't know yet.

May 09:

Him: I can't wait for the new Transformers movie. Star Trek looks awesome as hell too, I'm gonna go see that.

Me:

 

[Borgminister]

Good--now if only he could be influenced to go 2-3 times paying full price and bring several friends along each time.

 

[Cakes488]

I think the answer to both your questions is YES...ok that was easy...who's question is next....let's go ain't got all day here.

 

[datas_cat_spot]

I can tell you from personal experience how movie advertising can brainwash/influence people. I'm not sure how many of them even know it's being done to them. Case in point: Star Trek 09.

At 29, I've always been a Trek fan since way back. I've got a friend however, who I've known since we were in elementary school, who always took certain opportunities to clown me for my Trek love. He'd watch a bit of it because I did, but never cared for it much. He always painted it in the "geek" light that the public has been doing for years. Keep in mind, he claims not to care for sci-fi yet loves Heroes, The Matrix, Star Wars....you know, acceptable sci-fi.

Fast-forward to this year. Here's a summation of the our conversations involving the new Trek movie:

Jan 09:

Me: You know they've got a new Star Trek movie coming out this summer.

Him: Oh yeah? How many is that? Like ten?

Me: Eleven. They're aiming for a more mainstream audience this time.

Him: I want to see Transformers 2.

March 09:

Me: Did you see the Star Trek trailer? Look so great!

Him: It looks extremely interesting.

Me: In a good way?

Him: I don't know yet.

May 09:

Him: I can't wait for the new Transformers movie. Star Trek looks awesome as hell too, I'm gonna go see that.

Me:

I don't get it...

you're ridiculing your friend's need to see evidence of the movie's quality to be interested? Paramount has always wanted Trek to be "mainstream", they just didn't have the balls to do it before.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I can tell you from personal experience how movie advertising can brainwash/influence people. I'm not sure how many of them even know it's being done to them. Case in point: Star Trek 09...
...[snip]...

Jan 09:
Me: You know they've got a new Star Trek movie coming out this summer.

Him: Oh yeah? How many is that? Like ten?

Me: Eleven. They're aiming for a more mainstream audience this time.

Him: I want to see Transformers 2.

...[snip]...

May 09:

Him: I can't wait for the new Transformers movie. Star Trek looks awesome as hell too, I'm gonna go see that.

Me:

So he wasn't interested in seeing it originally, but when he found out more about it through the advertising, he changed his mind.

He wants to see it now because -- based on the advertising -- Star Trek is something that he thinks he will enjoy.

I would call that making an informed decision, not being a "sheep".

 

[SalvorHardin]

I can tell you from personal experience how movie advertising can brainwash/influence people. I'm not sure how many of them even know it's being done to them. Case in point: Star Trek 09...
[snip]

So he wasn't interested in seeing it originally, but when he found out more about it through the advertising, he changed his mind.

He wants to see it now because -- based on the advertising -- Star Trek is something that he thinks he will enjoy.

I would call that making an informed decision, not being a "sheep".

Very well said.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

So,

slappy has made a startling discovery and experienced the revelation that:

1) Advertising is intended to persuade people to purchase items that they might not have otherwise purchased;
2) Advertising can be effective - that is, it works.

Now, prior to this epiphany, slappy, what was your working theory as to why organizations with products to sell have been willing to invest billions of dollars in advertising those products, year after year, decade after decade?