Budwieser

The advertising industry has a tremendous influence on the way American people think and act. Advertisers use different strategies to create ads that correspond with certain types of people who would look at a certain type of magazine. This ad from Budweiser appeals to the masculine desire for strength, power, and dominance, by its display, placement of product, and powerful use of words. Without these key ingredients, I, as well as many other people, would not have acknowledged the advertisement and the true meaning of the ad itself.

The first aspect that catches one's eye in this ad is the unusual placement of the product itself. The product's placement causes the reader to look deeper into the true meaning of the ad. The advertiser has placed inside what many consider a customary food that many Americans eat on a daily basis. This configuration then gives suggestions that an American sandwich is not complete without a cold Budweiser. The implication puts the sandwich and the drink on the same level as something like peanut butter and jelly. This ad also implies that Budweiser is a beverage that should be widely accepted to Americans, as the American hoagie is today. It also gives one the feeling that without a Budweiser, one's meal is not complete. The symbolism of the hero is also important, because the hoagie sandwich symbolizes that it is a manly food. The advertisement would not have been as representative to the masculine type if the Budweiser were encased in a nice Caesar.

The next aspect that sticks out is the bold white words right in the middle of the page. The statement, "The great American Hero for the great American hero," almost makes one feel a sense of duty, and that if by some instance a heroic situation may come about one will be ready to respond because one has just thrown back a few drinks. These drinks will turn one into some immortal super hero to save humanity, when in reality one is most likely going to have impaired judgment and a lack of motor skills. Then after the bold statement sucks you in, one then goes deeper into the finer print and can come to another surprising conclusion: by drinking Budweiser, "The King of Beers," you will become the "ruler of your roost". This gives you an impression that one has strength, power, and dominance over your "kingdom". By drinking Budweiser one will become the king of one's domain and will have complete control over one's territory.

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