How do I feel about ads aimed at shocking their viewers? I have a really simply answer for this. I love it. My reasoning is that 'shock-vertising' works, plain and simple. The fact that I'm even discussing my opinions on it now is proof that it's worth talking about.
It could be because I have a short attention span (true), or it could be because I am a little twisted (no denying that). But, in all honesty, I think shock-vertising works because that is its intent. It was meant to work. It was meant to grab your attention and make you gasp/think/react, and be it a good or bad or thoughtful reaction, I don't believe the advertisers really care all that much. They just want a reaction. Any reaction at all will make you remember their ad, which is the key.
A question that comes up a lot when discussing shock-vertising is usually, when will the effect run out? How long will it be until all advertisements start using shock-vertising to compete with one another? How much more can we push the envelope? Eventually we must plateau to a 'maximum' level of shock. When will we become so desensitized that we'll no longer be shocked by graphic or disturbing images?
I don't have a simple answer for this. It could very well be that eventually we will run out of ways to shock people, or get to an extreme and have no where else to go. I do believe that with the advancement of each generation, we become less sensitive to offensive content, or at least we change our definition of what is seen as offensive. All we have to do is take a look at movies and music from older decades. What was considered 'taboo' to mention or do back then, is now a common occurrence in today's media. The older generations (the Boomers, the Xs, even some of the older Ys) are constantly complaining about this desensitization of our youths. They all wonder what this world is coming to, and what we are exposing our children. Personally, I don't see this as an issue. If you don't want your child to play violent video games or watch mature-content TV, then the solution is quite simple: don't let them. No one is forcing young children to watch House of 1000 Corpses or to play Grand Theft Auto: V.
I don't think we'll ever get to the point where we'll allow depictions of gore and sex into our advertising. Most people would probably be against that, so naturally the advertisers have to respect that invisible line the viewers have placed. But without a doubt, I do really enjoy a shock-vertisement. They are the most likely to grab my attention, which is hard to do with the coming generation. According to Wikipedia, in some parts of the world shock advertising it recognized as an art form. I think it needs to be recognized as such everywhere.
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