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Maxim Magazine - False Beauty in Advertising

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We live in a world that is very judgmental and puts expectations on us as people to do whats not really us and buy things that we don't really need. We see this a lot through social media, television, and magazines. All these use imagery to their benefit to attract people to spend money, creating ideas in the viewers mind that may make the persons life that much better. They enhance the images of people and display the product in such a way that makes it visually attractive. Expectations are put onto us as readers when we see such images. We start to believe that we need to look like models and having fancy items to show value as to who we are. Reading through Maxim magazine I saw in many ways how they accomplish this. Maxim creates these nearly impossible psychological standards to readers about acquiring materialistic items with dressing in high fashion, obtaining the perfect body image, along with booze and money will present this perception of social perfection without actually being yourself. Maxim links this idea of happiness with obtaining materialistic items, making us readers envious of a social status we "might  acquire if we get the product advertised. Maxim does this in many ways throughout many advertisements in their magazine. In one particular ad "Bold Statements," advertising suits for men with quote "Add them to your fall wardrobe and set yourself apart from everyman playing it safe in black and gray suits this season." Displayed in many pictures in the add is a very well groomed. smooth skin, brown haired man with a well grown in beard displaying various suits. To male readers we become envious of ads like these. It gives off this notion that if I buy these suits or dress like this, I will become better looking, successful, and yes set yourself apart to stand out. Readers figure if they conform to such an idea, it will link a since of self with what we have or what we do. Ads like these make readers think that having brand items or the most up to date clothes will define who they are as a person. Rather than what our personality is like or how we treat people. People see a visually attractive man dressed in nice clothes and link themselves to that ad. Meaning if i buy these clothes, everyone around me will think I'm successful, have lots of money, and be seen in what they think makes them a better them for having the latest fashion. Instead readers should be focused on working hard, becoming successful, being themselves and treating others around them with respect and dignity. Not letting materialistic items define who they are or what they do in life. "The King of Cool," "Why Steve McQueen is Still the World's Most Stylish Man,"it says in bold text in another ad talking about non other than Steve McQueen and how he had a big influence on men's style looms. Now as a reader, i don't know much about or what Steve McQueen has done but from reading the bold text to glancing across at the pictures displayed, id say i wanna be cool like Steve. In the biggest picture displayed above the bold text in black and white is Steve

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