In 1964, Lyndon Johnson sponsored an ad called "Daisy," which featured a child counting flower petals. Then, another voice began to count, but backwards. Suddenly, a mushroom cloud engulfs the screen. This ad struck fear into the hearts of many people, and forced them to consider how much they trusted current presidential candidates to make wise decisions in the face of danger.
Recently, Hilary Clinton ran a similar campaign ad, called "Children," in which images of several sleeping children are shown. Then, a voice declares that something is happening in the world, and that the phone in the White House (“the red phone”) is ringing. The voice ultimately poses the question: “Who do you want to answer that call?” When the image of helpless innocent children is combined the threat of imminent danger, people take notice. After this famous “3 a.m. ad,” aired Clinton, gained more supporters.
In each of these campaign ads, the American dream itself is portrayed as fragile. Fear is a powerful tool, and one that the media often uses to its advantage.
Johnson's "Daisy" Ad
Clinton’s "Children" Ad
No comments:
Post a Comment