There are many different theories relating to the media and the effect it has on society. Ranging from the hypodermic needle to the social learning theory, they all have different outlooks on what the media does. The theory of priming, however, really grabbed my attention for some odd reason; maybe because I recognize it in society the most.
Priming has to do with "media images activate or stimulate related thoughts and behaviors". So pretty much, the media thinks it has us all figured out. The advertisers sincerely believe they know what we want and how we react to certain objects. For an example, in the film Killing Us Softly, the issues discussed are the way women are used as objects in advertisement. The advertisers that put these images of women in provocative poses believe that this is what people want to see. Women will want to buy the products being advertised because they want to be sexy or alluring like the women in the ad; men will be attracted to the ads and want to invest in the product.
The advertisers believe they know what we want to see and how to conceal us in their trap. You can't blame it all on the advertisers, though, because aren't we the ones buying into their products?
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