Readings in Advertising Society and Consumer Culture

This collection of classic and contemporary articles provides context for the study of advertising by exploring the historical, economic, and ideological factors that spawned the development of a consumer culture. It begins with articles that take an institutional and historical perspective to provide background for approaching the social and ethical concerns that evolve around advertising. Subsequent sections then address the legal and economic consequences of life in a material culture; the regulation of advertising in a culture that weighs free speech against the needs of society; and the ethics of promoting materialism to consumers. The concluding section includes links to a variety of resources such as trade association codes of ethics, standards and guidelines for particular types of advertising, and information about self-regulatory organizations. Foreword by Ron Taylor, Introduction, Part 1. Advertising and Consumer Culture: Institutional and Historical Perspectives, Part 2. Advertising and a Consumer Economy, Part 3. Advertising Rights and Responsibilities: Protecting Consumers in a Consumer Culture and a Global Economy, Part 4. Advertising Audiences: The Consumers in a Consumer Culture and the Ethics of Cultural Materialism, Part 5. Appendix: Useful Resources for Consumers and Advertisers in a Consumer Culture, Index, About the Editors