OUGD501 - Subliminal Messages

Subliminal Advertising

"A subliminal message is a signal or message designed to pass below (sub) the normal limits of perception. 

For example it might be inaudible to the conscious mind (but audible to the unconscious or deeper mind) or might be an image transmitted briefly and unperceived consciously and yet perceived unconsciously. This definition assumes a division between conscious and unconscious which may be misleading; it may be more true to suggest that the subliminal message (sound or image) is perceived by deeper parts of what is a single integrated mind"/

"The term subliminal message was popularized in a 1957 book entitled The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard. This book detailed a study of movie theaters that supposedly used subliminal commands to increase the sales of popcorn and Coca-Cola at their concession stands. However, the study was fabricated, as the author of the study James Vicary later admitted."

"This route to influence or persuasion would be akin to auto-suggestion or hypnosis wherein the subject is encouraged to be (or somehow induced to be) relaxed so that suggestions are directed to deeper (more gullible) parts of the mind; some observers have argued that the unconscious mind is incapable of critical refusal of hypnotic or subliminal suggestions."

Subliminal Messages in Advertising

A form of subliminal messaging commonly believed to exist involves the insertion of "hidden" messages into movies and TV programs. The concept of "moving pictures" relies on persistence of vision to create the illusion of movement in a series of images projected at 23 to 30 frames per second; the popular theory of subliminal messages usually suggests that subliminal commands can be inserted into this sequence at the rate of perhaps 1 frame in 25 (or roughly 1 frame per second). The hidden command in a single frame will flash across the screen so quickly that it is not consciously perceived, but the command will supposedly appeal to the subconscious mind of the viewer, and thus have some measurable effect in terms of behavior.

Subliminal posters such as this that capture the audiences eye through the subconscious mind, This tactic of sublimiminal messages has been taken to a much indepth approach in todays advertisments. Though they cannot advertise such nuditiy it can be considered in a way that isn't as rude. 

This can be done by revealing womans clevage to create attraction between the viewer and brand product. Which phycologically gets us thinking about the product and how it will make you so much more sexier if owned. 

Seeing as my essay is on the phycology of desire to create posters which get our subconscious mind sparking would be an effective outcome in testing how our brain immediately responds to certain pictures. To apply them within well know brands, but having a comical approach to the designs ( anti ad ) could insinuate an effecitve outcome 

"This is an advertisement from Wonderbra released in August 1999. The technique used in this advertisement is a physically attractive admirer alter-cast. By using Adriana Karembeu, a physically attractive fashion model, the advertisement created effective persuasion on female consumers.  Her body posture sends a non-verbal message which convinces consumers if they buy the products, they can be attractive like her."