Advertising in the 60s: Turncoats, Traditionalists, and Waste Makers in America's Turbulent Decade

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The 1960s provides Warlaumont with the backdrop for examining the struggle of advertising during the anti-establishment movement in one of America's most colorful but turbulent decades. Targeted by the counterculture, threatened with government regulation, criticized as a waste maker by social critics, weakened by internal strife between the liberal and traditional forces within the industry, and faced with the consumption-weary public, advertising faced one of its most challenging times. Yet surprisingly, it made history with its unprecedented creativity and innovation during the 60s. Distancing itself from the Establishment, advertising, as a wolf in sheep's clothing, joined the cultural revolution, changed the way it related to its audience, and attempted to seduce consumers with humor, resonance, candidness, and a power-to-the-people approach. Masking its ultimate goal to maintain, preserve, and promote the consumption ethic and business elite, advertising joined an infectious wave to overturn the old and stodgy ways. Becoming a turncoat by appearing to abandon its traditional materialistic and authoritarian stanceeven mimicking it in some instancesadvertising became a cause celebre with its colorful and humorous campaigns, validating itself while under fire. Using the 60s as a backdrop, Warlaumont examines the struggle of a traditional institution during one of America's most turbulent decades. Scholars, students, and researchers involved with business, communications, and advertising history as well as the general public interested in the 1960s will find this study fascinating.

Reviews

[E]xamines the profound effect that the momentous changes in the social, economic, and cultural values of Americans experienced during the 1960s had on both advertisements and the advertising indusrty during the decade....Warlaumont has provided valuable insight on societal effects on the media and vice versa.-Communnication Booknotes Quarterly
An insightful critique and review of the advertising styles and philosophies of the 1960's. By looking at actual advertising campaigns and analyzing company strategies, Warlaumont dissects the social psyche of a decade fraught with social gaps and advertising revolutions. Both educational and entertaining, this book could be appreciated by anyone interested in anthropology, design, marketing, or social history.-Design Issues
"Examines the profound effect that the momentous changes in the social, economic, and cultural values of Americans experienced during the 1960s had on both advertisements and the advertising indusrty during the decade....Warlaumont has provided valuable insight on societal effects on the media and vice versa."-Communnication Booknotes Quarterly
"[E]xamines the profound effect that the momentous changes in the social, economic, and cultural values of Americans experienced during the 1960s had on both advertisements and the advertising indusrty during the decade....Warlaumont has provided valuable insight on societal effects on the media and vice versa."-Communnication Booknotes Quarterly
"An insightful critique and review of the advertising styles and philosophies of the 1960's. By looking at actual advertising campaigns and analyzing company strategies, Warlaumont dissects the social psyche of a decade fraught with social gaps and advertising revolutions. Both educational and entertaining, this book could be appreciated by anyone interested in anthropology, design, marketing, or social history."-Design Issues

Author Bio

HAZEL G. WARLAUMONT is Associate Professor of Communications at California State University, Fullerton./e Her research interests include advertising and society, information processing, the blurring of mass media formats, and advertising history. Professor Warlaumont formerly worked in the advertising industry as a copywriter and researcher.