The 100 Most Shocking Adverts of All Time

I found this article recently showcasing Huffington Post's 100 Most Shocking Advertisements of All Time. At first, I assumed that these ads would be outdated since I thought that by now, advertising would have improved. Yet, I was completely wrong. These ads are all fairly recent. After looking through them all, I discovered that not only American culture, but the cultures of various other countries hold the same ideologies about advertising: include violence, sexualize women, and only feature white models. These ideals are appalling, for they do not coincide with what America really does stand for. We are a country that embraces differences in color, race, size, and sexuality (for the most part). Shouldn't advertisers try to incorporate these beliefs into their ads in order to gain a larger audience? The answer is no, because advertisers will only feature what sells: our deepest darkest desires. In sparking controversy, our ID is aroused, sparking a reaction. Without this, advertisers would not be successful in selling their product. Hence, it will take much convincing for advertisers to change their ways.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/06/14/100-controversial-adverts_n_1596786.html#slide=1094203