In a previous Advanced Composition course that I have taught, the following video would have had greater relevance, but it is so well executed that I cannot resist posting it now. Who knows? In a future Advanced Composition course, we may very well return to this topic. For now, I am simply posting this piece so that I don’t forget about it.

Jesse Rothsten’s Fotoshop by Adobé parodies beauty product advertisements, humorously revealing that advertisers lie to us to market their products. That commercials lie to us should not come as a surprise. After all, who among us actually believes that actual talking lizards exist and that a few of them are serving as spokespersons for insurance companies? The more subtle lies, however, are those that tend to threaten us the most.

We rely on an economic system in which the Market is largely responsible for answering our needs, and if no needs exist, marketing ensures that we will soon feel one. While a lot of amazing innovations have resulted from this system of ours, it has not been without its detriments. Beauty and grooming products—both for men and women—are advertised on the principle that we are all physically inadequate, and that only with the aid of specific branded items will we ever attain love, acceptance, or whatever else we feel is lacking in our lives.

What are the consequences of such a system? What happens to us when we are goaded into achieving unattainable and arbitrary ideals of perfection?

Take a look at Rothsten’s video and reflect on its humorous, though poignant, message.

Afterwards, you may wish to browse a website called The Society Pages, which is hosted and edited by a number of sociology professors and maintained by contributing writers. The content may be of greater use to students of advanced English Composition courses.