SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING.

In my marketing class I'm currently learning about subliminal messages. I've always known about them, I just never viewed them in a realistic sort of way. I remember on Saved by the Bell when Zack used subliminal messages to get Kelly to go to a dance with him. "Zack is a blonde Tom Cruise."

It all started with this dood named James Vicary. In 1957, over a six-week period, during the showing of a movie called "Picnic," James used the messages "Drink Coca-Cola" and "Eat Popcorn" every 1/3000 of a second, every 5 seconds during the movie. Supposedly their sales went up respectively. After the teacher told this to our class I immediately became intrigued.

Another dood tried the same experiment, some dood named Henry...and he had no increase in sales. Later, James Vicary was asked about his ways and results, and he stated that he falsified the results. He said he made everything up. In those days subliminal advertising was frowned upon, and even today it is. So the question remains, are people being affected by these subliminal messages?


There is no HARD EVIDENCE that it actually works. What marketers are saying is that it creates a buzz and attracts attention, and nothing more.

2/3 of Americans believe it exists.


1/2 of Americans think they're affected.


But in order to be SUBLIMINAL, the message needs to be below the threshold of a consumers awareness. What marketers are also saying, is that a vast majority of subliminal messages are geared towards SEX.

I do believe it exists. I think whether it works or not marketers and advertisers in essence have nothing to lose, so why not throw in a few subliminal messages. However, I don't think it affects consumers at all. If you don't notice something, how can you be affected by it? Some say that "you are subconciously affected by it," but I don't buy it. If anything I think subliminal advertising is something advertisers do for fun.

"Sex" in the ice. Students in my class saw it. I don't see it in this particular ad.

The old pepsi can six-packs were displayed in supermarkets on top of one another...spelling the word "sex".

Look at her right arm. It's a mans arm for sure. I guess they want you to think he's gonna grab her and sex her up?

Look what he's holding in his left hand. "TRY OUR HARD PACK" they say HAH

This needs no explaining.

A woman laying on her side with her hair danglin' over.

This has sex written all over it.

This was an actual KFC commercial.

McDonalds appears for one frame during Iron Chef.