Slim-Fast: There for you, or for themselves?
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My first reaction to this SlimFast ad is that it is hilarious. It is simple, in fact it doesn’t even needs words, the image does it justice enough. I also think that, ran in the right magazines, it is extremely effective. It’s clever, short, and even kind of humorous. Yet, when I gave it more thought I realized, once again, it is placing a lot of emphasis on the way women look. If someone who was having a wedding soon saw this ad in a bridal magazine they are likely to stop and think about their weight, even if no previous insecurity or concern about their weight for their wedding existed. In a way it’s another example of advertising creating needs and desires where they did not previously exist. Yet, one could also make the argument that losing weight before your wedding is a prevalent enough desire in our society that the ad is only a response to a need that is already there.
2 Comments
March 5th, 2010 at 12:21 am
I agree, it is interesting the amount of pressure woman put on themselves before their wedding. Being engaged is said to be one of the most amazing and joyful times in your life. It should be a time to celebrate and enjoy the pleasures of planning for a great event. As I am saying this though, it’s ironic because I know that I will most likely go on a diet when I am preparing for my wedding. However, I wouldn’t put this kind of product on a wedding ad. It is not a trendy weight loss supplement that would be effective for a younger crowd getting married. In my view it is sort of an outdated weight loss drink, but hopefully a sort of clever ad like this will help it’s image!
March 5th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I agree too– I don’t think it’s very virtuous but at the same time it is reality. I haven’t met one bride who didn’t “diet” before her wedding. That being said, maybe the ad could have been funnier if they would have put the guy falling in the cake? I don’t know if that would have done anything differently and it probably would have still not been virtuous. I agree with Lauren that Slim-Fast is more outdated anyway. There are so many new diet products and fads that Slim Fast has quickly slipped away. I think they just meant it to be a light, funny ad, but they have to be careful because some women might find this extremely offensive.