Advertising, the uneasy persuasion

What does advertising do? Is it the faith of a secular society? If so, why does it inspire so little devotion? Advertising, the Uneasy Persuasion is a clear-eyed account of advertising as both business and social institution. Instead of fuelling the moral indignation surrounding the industry, or feeding fantasies of powerful manipulators, Michael Schudson presents a clear assessment of advertising in its wider sociological and historical framework, persuasively concluding that advertising is not nearly as important, effective, or scientifically founded as either its advocates or its critics imagine.

First sentence: THE BASIC FACT to remember about advertising," Jeremy Tunstall wrote in his study of British advertising agencies, "is that little is known about what effect it has; even to talk of advertising having an effect is misleading."

Year

1984

Language

English

Publisher

Basic Books

Editions

2

Pages

320

ISBN

9780465000807

Data source: Wikidata