Marlboro Cigarette Ad Analysis

Advertising, being nothing close to new, has influenced the public for centuries. Clothing, medication, beauty products, household items and various services are just a few of the things that we see every day in advertisements. Whether they are seen on television, heard on the radio or seen not digitally, advertisements influence us without us even being aware of it. Women take notice to delicate, classy and feminine women, while men relate to masculine, rough, and powerful men. In a 1930’s Marlboro cigarette ad, delicacy and class do not fall short. In a 1950’s Marlboro cigarette ad, dominance radiates from the paper. The 1930’s Marlboro woman looks nothing short of classy and elegant in the advertisement. Her short curled hair, red lips and fingernails and delicate features were what women aspired to have. Her chin is tilted upwards as if she is looking up at someone, possibly awaiting a kiss or staring off deep into thought. Her delicate, manicured fingers hold the cigarette with grace as she looks up into the distance. Her features appear slightly blurred, adding to her already feminine appearance. There is even a short phrase “Ivory Tips protect the lips.” On the contrary from the 1950’s Marlboro Man ad, the lighting for the female ad is soft and highlights one side of her face with a very dark background. The dark background …show more content…
A delicate female with soft features and a powerful man with a hardened stare catch the attention of the audience. The images leave the public thinking that classy, beautiful women and tough dominant men smoke. This gives them a feeling of relatability, further enticing them to buy Marlboro brand cigarettes. Changes in lighting and angles enhance specific features in each gender, the advertisements capturing the attention of the audience and drawing them in. Emotions of want and envy are triggered, further narrowing the audience’s choices down to the one and only Marlboro