EAGER MINDS CAN BE MOULDED TO WANT YOUR PRODUCTS!

Just managed to catch the 'Poster Power: Propaganda and Protest' exhibition at Contains Art yesterday before it closed (yes, I realise it would have been more helpful to mention it while it was still going). A great collection of mainly Russian and Chinese posters - really fascinated by the ideology behind them and inspired by the graphic style. So I picked this book up from the nearby second hand bookshop mainly because I was in that frame of mind, and liked the cover design (Larry Carter, 1950s), but I'm totally engrossed now. Written in 1957 (that's 57 years ago people!) about 'the frightening processes evolved and applied by American super-advertising-scientists' it made me realise there's nothing new about our kids being used by cynical marketing.  A quote from an advert by a company who supplied 'education' material to school teachers: 

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Eager minds can be moulded to want your products! In the grade schools throughout America are nearly 23,000,000 young girls and boys. These children eat food, wear out clothes, use soap. They are consumers today and will be the buyers of tomorrow. Here is a vast market for your products...' 

Oh there's so much more I could quote (just buy the book - it's still around) about class, creating anxieties, using guilt etc, but this is meant to be a blog about t-shirts. If only I'd read it before I posted this rather un-sophisticated attempt at manipulative marketing on facebook a couple of weeks ago: 

Students! A hint for you: I've noticed that parents are particularly susceptible to the idea of buying you new clothes just before you leave for the year, and especially if they feel they're supporting a small ethical business. Especially nice warm organic jumpers... #buyalostshapessweatshirt

I have some work to do...