I anticipated Dr. Strange to be strange of course, but not as strange as the commercials before it started. I watched a minute or so of an ad before I realized that the name of the brand had not yet been revealed. It was a Jeep ad I found out, but for most of the advertisement, there were no Jeep vehicles showcased. A University of Victoria ad followed it; 10 seconds of the word “UVIC” sliding from the top to the bottom of a black screen. Six months ago, when I last saw an ad in theatres, there were the average car, phone, and cell provider ads that showcase the product overtly, but these two-minute-long ads that don’t specify the product till the end of the spot seem to be a way to break the traditional formula, and instead of attempting to make you want the product, they pique your interest and leave you wanting to know what they’re selling. I challenge you to pay attention to the advertising that crosses your path, to realize how most of our economy is run by advertising, and to give notice to how covertly it can enter your life and affect your lifestyle without you realizing it.
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