Final answer:
Critics suggest that advertising can have an adverse effect on consumer values by promoting materialism (b). Through various platforms, advertising shapes societal norms and encourages consumerism. While historically linked to notions of prosperity, excessive focus on material gains has been criticized for overshadowing other life values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Critics of advertising claim that it can have an adverse effect on consumer values by encouraging materialism, which is a preoccupation with material things rather than intellectual or spiritual concerns. The impact of marketing means that advertisements play a significant role in shaping the beliefs and behaviors of consumers. False narratives can be propagated to normalize certain behaviors and desensitize people to societal issues.
Advertising has evolved to become a highly strategic field, as described by Naomi Klein in her text No Logo, highlighting the negative impacts of corporate branding. We are surrounded by synergistic advertising which reinforces the same brand message through multiple platforms. This can contribute to the shaping of societal norms and personal identity formation around consumerism and material gains.
Historically, advertising has been tied to the notions of prosperity and the American Dream, with the television and print media serving as powerful conduits for promoting consumerism. However, it has been criticized for encouraging excessive materialism and overshadowing the value of non-materialistic life aspects.