chapotraphouse

I barely skimmed this, but ads are essentially a classification of memes designed to insert an association between brand/product and some aspect of self. This can take many forms. It's very similar to propaganda, just with a different goal.

You aren't sexy enough without X, you want to be more sexy? Get X. Sexy people choose X.

Look how happy and fulfilled people are when X is in their lives.

Some vague artsy moody montage ends with the brand name. Brand name is implied to imbue everything around it with vague artsy moodiness. You are an artsy person that likes moods and vibes, so you should get some from brand name to communicate that to others.

Just like memes, they are a prescriptive thought that gets executed by the viewers brain. If you don't have the knowledge or experience to refute the thought, it can worm itself deeper into your psyche. If the thought is delivered in a subtle form, you might not even quite realize what the thought is consciously, but it will worm its way deeper.

Media literacy is critical to understanding the deeper meaning of an ad so you can have a chance to dilute its affect on you.

Unconscious media consumption is one of the most effective ways to inject propaganda or ads into people's minds. This is why product placement is huge aspect of advertising. You aren't supposed to consciously recognize it, increasing the affect.