Schlitz Beer; 1950
This ad was undoubtedly meant to be hilarious, and in the 1950s, it might have been. The lady in the photo is a homemaker who is cooking. As black smoke rises from the pan in her fingers, she appears to have spoiled the supper. She is clearly unhappy, but her husband wraps his arm around her and assures her that, while the dinner is ruined, they still have the beer. This film plays on 1950s preconceptions of the ideal female being a pious housewife while the man was the breadwinner. The man was also in charge of everything, so it appears condescending that instead of getting angry, he applauds that the beer is not spoiled.
Schlitz Beer; 1950
Wheaties; 1940s
This one is set during World War II. This cartoon is about some white American troops who discover a box of Wheaties while hiking through the woods. Because all of the soldiers are white, this advertisement has racial overtones. This advertisement branded the cereal as the breakfast of champions, which is difficult to resist. This was designed to capitalize on the patriotic fervor of the time, but it was a poor advertisement.
Scare Techniques
