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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Advertising and Society by Duke University

4.7
stars
899 ratings

About the Course

This course examines the relation of advertising to society, culture, history, and the economy. Using contemporary theories about visual communications, we learn to analyze the complex levels of meaning in both print advertisements and television commercials. About the Course The course covers a wide range of topics, including the origins of advertising, the creation of ads, the interpretation of ads, the depiction of race, class, gender, and sexuality in advertising, sex and selling, adverting and ethics, and the future of advertising. The lectures will discuss theoretical frameworks and apply them to specific advertisements. Course Syllabus Week 1: What is advertising and where did it come from? Week 2: Am I being manipulated by advertising? Week 3: What’s in an ad beyond that which meets the eye? Week 4: How do ads get made? Week 5: What do ads teach us about race, class, gender, and sexuality? Week 6: Does sex sell? Week 7: What is the future of advertising? Recommended Background No background is required; everyone is welcome! Suggested Readings Although the lectures are designed to be self-contained, we recommend that students refer to the free online textbook ADTextOnline.org. Other free resources will be suggested for each week’s module. Course Format Most videos will be lectures with instructor talking. Each lecture will be illustrated with PowerPoint slides, print advertisements, and TV commercials. The videos for each week will consist of segments that add up to about an hour. Each week will have one quiz that will appear as stand-alone homework. All resources beyond lectures will be available online to students at no charge. Most of these will be from ADTextOnline.org. Others will be visits to the sites of ad agencies in the US and abroad, open access websites that deal with course topics, and open-access journal articles....

Top reviews

LV

Jul 27, 2022

I really enjoyed the course and will use the material I learned to create a month-long learning program as a foreign language teacher of English for the 8th grade students of my school, in Israel.

KD

Jun 14, 2018

What a great course! As an owner of an agency, a marketer and advertiser, I found it very eye opening and enjoyable. I learned a lot that I can apply to our business. Thank you Professor O'Barr.

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176 - 200 of 214 Reviews for Advertising and Society

By Malena G V

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May 27, 2020

Me parecio un muy buen curso, sin embargo hay algunas lecciones cuya informacion no coincide con el titulo de la misma, por ejemplo, "week 5 What do ads teach us about race, class, gender and sexuality?" en toda esa semana solo vemos genero y sexualidad, mientras que raza y clase no son mencionadas ni explicadas en relación con el tema. Me parece una falta grave ya que son aspectos fundamentales de la publicidad y de la sociedad en si.

By Paul V d E

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Jun 30, 2022

Very good overview of the advertising phenomenon in the USA. Lectures were presented in a logical sequence, easy to follow with lots of resource material available for further study. Concur that this course makes me look at advertising with a different perspective. Would have hoped that "propaganda" (which is a form of advertising) would have been developed a bit more.

By TO H M T

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Jul 3, 2021

The history of ads is amazing. I unlearn and relearn a lot. Moreover, I don't think some problems such as sex, gender,... are mentioned as that detail and controversal like that. Kul

The teacher are dedicated, I can see how he add interesting information or his stories, images,... I saw lots of demonstration.

I am fully pleasure with this course

By Esther U

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Oct 1, 2022

Very Insightful and resourceful. the fact that they were histories and stories of the past told was amazing, I will appreciate if assignments or practicals can be infused in posterity , this will help gear us more actively. thank you to professor Williams O'barr for his time as well.

By JONATAN J J

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Aug 4, 2020

It is an introductory course, it is interesting to know about the history of advertising, but it would have been better if they had taught us some method to analyze society, that is to say, that it was a course to develop some technical competence and not only historical theory

By Sanya A

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May 7, 2017

This encouraged me to see and analyse ads that never caught my attention before. My understanding of advertisements has greatly increased, since now I am more aware of it's history,predicted future,and the powerful strategies that one may use to sell. Great course!

By Ashok S

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Mar 13, 2017

The course is much better than my expectation, and the flexibility in the quiz and deadline is much supportive. The content of the course is widely sourced. One should do this whoever want to the the evolution of the advertisement world.

By Berkay A

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Feb 18, 2017

it's helpful but not interactive a lot, sometimes hard to follow the video but the proffessor is quite knowledged about the history, gives a lot of insights and force you to re-assess the course after it finishes , by na

By Amith M

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Dec 1, 2016

Takes you back to the age old version of ad pieces from cave paintings to todays social madness. A complete guide to a better student of advertising. And the 80% cross mark challenging and motivating. Thanks for this.

By Abhijit R R

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Dec 5, 2020

Very Good Course. In the beginning i was little bit bored as I'm not from the US or any western part of where I stay. But eventually 3rd I got my interest back and finally very much content after the course.

By Kathryn B

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Feb 8, 2018

This course has really helped with my understanding and background knowledge of advertising, and the impacts of any developments in the advertising industry on modern day and future societies.

By manasi s

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Nov 26, 2021

Not a 5 star because practical aspect of ad making is missing. I would have loved to have an assignment where I could have made an advertisement for a product.

By Amin k

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Feb 12, 2021

It's a great course about advertising and its history. The focus of this course on the cultural aspects of marketing and advertising is exciting.

By Marios K

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Aug 12, 2022

A cohesive, short introductionary course with an anthropological POV of the connection between advertising and society.

By Colin M

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Jul 18, 2019

A great informative course that explore the history and significance of advertising in (primarily) American society.

By Joris J S

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Sep 9, 2017

Good course to learn the different types of advertisement, back ground and what tools you have to persuade people.

By Mohammad M A

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Jul 4, 2020

I have learned so many thing regarding past, present advertising scenario and techniques.

Thanks a lot sir.

By Joy S

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May 4, 2017

Pretty good class. Interesting, authoritative professor. Shows lots of pictures during his lectures.

By Tatev P

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Apr 18, 2020

Great review of history of ads and understanding our perceptions through it.

By PARAG B

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Jun 19, 2019

This course was very informative and has changed my outlook on advertising.

By omar n

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Jul 18, 2022

It's very useful, but I wish it had more insight into advertising agencies

By Aaron L

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Sep 11, 2020

Everything about the course is just simply great, keep up the good work

By Ankit S R

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Jul 31, 2020

Great course! very good explanation of topics using art and history.

By Mr. A A S

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Sep 16, 2023

Interesting and informative, more modules of it would be helpful.

By upasna

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Jun 17, 2020

very good course relating. to every aspect of the advertisement .