On the question of 'So What?'
On the question of "So what?" and other such questions...
(Original post: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1743720/board/thread/180382295)
I will put aside the point of whether one is affected by advertisements when one knows it as such, whether constant bombardment of ad's affects us subconsciously, or whether it might make ones life more enjoyable, as the OP claimed.
Instead, consider the fact that when advertisements play a role in cinema, TV entertainment, or other mediums it establishes a certain amount of control over what is presented. Not only in its external content, but arguably more importantly, the ideological content. The movie made this fairly clear, albeit mostly in passing.
The centralization of media companies creates a situation where many of the major companies, those who are advertising and those being advertised have financial, political, and social ties. Some direct, others not -- non the less they share similar ideologies and collective interests. This creates a basic conflict of interest especially when it comes to news, informational programming, integrity of art, and American values of Freedom and Equality. As an example, corporations have very little incentive to support mediums that are or may be critical of their specific products, or of the capitalist system of social and property relations they are based on.
This precisely means, opposing views will have a much harder time surfacing. If movies and shows rely on ad's for financing, those movies, shows, articles have to comply to the demands of the advertisers who can threaten to pull their finances if their demands are not met. Demands that are obfuscated with legal jargon, and long contracts. This creates a trend in the different industries that do not favor those who hold strong opposing views -- hence such individuals tend not to get hired, or given attention.
It appears then, your naivety lies not in your inability to accept consciously that you are being manipulated, but rather by your passivity (at best) towards those who control the social institutions upon which your social life is built, past and present.
Being that socialization and information is dominated by the same people who are interested in selling those products to you; is it such a wonder then, that after so many years you not only accept their premise(s), but defend it?
Not only asking a question, but questioning the very premise of the question itself is an important process not only for intellectual development, and the breaking down of ideological walls; but ultimately for upholding and developing the notions of freedom and equality and the progression of humanity in its entirety.
Corporations ideological restrictions, and control of information -- exercised in this case through the processes of advertisements -- not only fail to uphold equality, and freedom of speech but they are a drain on the progress of human intellectual, personal, physical, social, political, and economical development.
Simply put, It is antithetical to the creation of a better world for all.