From My Midterm Project

http://www.tyler-brown.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Fast-Food-Advertisement-Vs-Reality.jpg

This image was pretty hard to see on our powerpoint because of the sheer size of the image, so I wanted to re-post it here. This is a classic example of the powers and deception of digital manipulation in the media. The difference between the image in the advertisement and the real product is striking. In class, Michelle had mentioned certain laws set to limit and restrict false advertising. The discussion made me curious, because it seems impossible that anything real was used in these images!

 I decided to look up these laws to see exactly what limitations advertisers had to work with...or work around, as the case may be. According to one article, "portion controlled products, such as a hamburger, must be the same in advertisements as the actual product for sale." In addition, the main product being sold must BE the actual product, though everything else can be completely fake. But the law pretty much ends there; "advertisers can cut and manipulate the burger, bun, lettuce, etc. to look fuller and prettier than what a consumer will generally get, or they can play with camera angles and sets to make portions appear larger than they are." (http://www.ehow.com/facts_7466829_law-fake-food-advertisements.html)

Advertisements in general tend to make me pretty angry. I don't like being told what I need and why i need it, especially from money-grabbing companies. But this project was interesting - it's nice to research and reveal the truth in the matter.