Benson and Hedges Ad
Thursday, August 20th, 2009On a conscious level this ad promises sexual excitement as a result of the product. Notice the couple embracing and the play on words “hard” and “soft”.
But, according to experts, advertisers often use techniques that stimulate unconscious anxiety or neurosis in the viewer to make a more lasting impact. Particularly in tobacco and alcohol advertising. We all know that people who consume cigarettes smoke more when they’re nervous. So, its perfectly logical that if you can create anxiety in the viewer, you can get the smoker to consume more cigarettes - and also make a more lasting subconscious relation to the product.
So, what is the subliminal effect of this ad? Take a closer look at the man’s lower hand resting against the woman’s lower back. See it?
Benson and Hedges Ad from August Bullock's The Secret Sales Pitch
The lady’s backbone has been carefully airbrushed to resemble an erect male phallus. See it?
