*The above images show how messages are hidden in familiar logos. Images from graphicdesignblog.org and inventorspot.com.

CZ

John Berger, in his text Ways of Seeing makes the claim that “we are now so accustomed to being addressed by these images that we scarcely notice their total impact”. In short, oftentimes we as a society are not aware of just society are not aware of just how easily we can be influenced. We have this tendency to follow trends, so the idea of our minds being easily controlled is not that far out there.

The effectiveness of subliminal advertising is still up for debate. However, if it is indeed effective, as James Vicary first claimed, it is possible for the government to control how we think in a way that we have no idea that it is happening.idea that it is happening.

To an extent we know that this is happening in the advertisements that we see every day. Everything down to the choice of colors and text to the positioning of images in different ads makes us think of products in different ways, if products in different ways, if only subconsciously.

The above diagram shows the Freudian theory of the subconscious mind. Freud classified this kind of thought as "subliminal perception" and "automatic reaction." In this model, our conscious mind makes up only a very tiny portion of our cognitive ability. For subliminal messengers, this idea is key. The fact that we can process so much information without ever realizing it allows for these hidden messages to be understood. allows for these hidden messages to be understood.

Not surprisingly, this original image was published to bakermarketingservices.com. Their purpose...to talk about how unconscious thoughts effect marketing strategies.*

*Sourced from Steve Davis’ “It started with a Tweet”, July 23, 2012.

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