Pete Earsman
Poet
Posts: 19
(1/12/02 1:21 pm)
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Re: Light 'em up...
Well, I'm a smoker. But I think you're right. The behaviour of (celebrities) has an enormous impact on the young and on the easily-swayed.
An advertising executive once wrote that millions and millions of dollars were wasted on TV commercials shot in exotic places showing a product in glamorous surroundings. In fact, he went on to say, all you really need is for ONE celebrity to endorse your product. The bigger the better.
Such is the drive to be 'like' a famous person.
Remember the ridiculous phenomenon that infested mens' fashion in the way they wore their sport jackets? You know the one, where the sleeves of the jacket were rolled up to the elbows? That was started by a couple of B-grade actors in the TV series, 'Miami Vice.' Within a year, this bizarre affectation was seen all over the world.
As to whether the cigarette thing falls into the deliberate 'product placement' area is another question. For this to work, the actual product name would need to be in evidence. Sure, it would (and probably has) gotten more young people to smoke, but what guarantee does the bankrolling tobacco company have that the gullible will purchase their particular brand? I'm more inclined to think it was a drive for authenticity.
Movies should reflect the time and circumstances. If a movie is to portray, say, the 1950s, then almost everybody smoked. To deliberately NOT have their actors smoke would be social engineering. Okay, it's a positive engineering exercise, but where does one draw the line? Do we expect Hollywood to sculpt our young for us? Is this another example of society not being responsible for their own actions?
One of the places I work is at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre here in Brisbane. When a show is on featuring actors smoking, they actually put signs in the foyer to advise patrons that the actors seen smoking on stage do so because it is is necessary in order to remain faithful to the script.
Okay, who is the most famous celibrity at the moment, one that appeals to both males and females?
I would bet the ranch that if he/she was to appear habitually on stage and in videos wearing yellow braces and gumboots, this would become the 'in' fashion within a very short space of time.
cheers
Peter E
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