BIG BUCKS COMMUNICATIONS
I recently read William Meyer’s new book, The Image Makers: Power and Persuasion on Madison Avenue (Times Books, 1984, pages 79-82). In it he tells the stories behind many of the large budget advertising wars in which modern giant corporations endeavor to communicate the message of their product with greater zeal and effectiveness than that of their competitors: Back in the 70’s Pepsi was going to come out with one of it’s biggest “warm-fuzzy, tear-jerker” campaigns — the “Marry Me, Sue” spot. In this 30-second soap opera, folks from a prairie two are out under the broiling midday sun watching a skywriting show. Among the spectators is a cowboy and a young woman. As the camera pans the crowd (drinking Pepsi), we notice that these two are exchanging shy glances at one another. There’s definitely something going on between them. The viewer is then shown some of the skywriting and more shots of the perspiring audience drinking Pepsi. Finally, the camera…
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