Cultural Context of Advertising in Metropolitan Areas
What is the cultural context of this passage?
Five thousand! That’s about how many advertisements you are exposed to in one day if you live in a metropolitan area. Researchers' estimates of the actual number vary from three hundred to six thousand, but everyone knows that ads are everywhere. Advertising goes down the street with us; it’s on trains, planes, and buses. It shouts at us at sporting events from the banners on display and the electronic scoreboards. Advertising takes the form of brand names and logos on our clothing and accessories. You can’t even turn on the television or check out your favorite website without watching an advertisement. At every point, advertising shouts, whispers, or cajoles us to 'Look at me! Buy me!' But how exactly do advertisements do it?
A. The reading is set in a sports arena. The narrator questions the cultural impact of advertising on scoreboards and banners at sporting events.
B. The main setting of the reading is in a metropolitan area. It takes place in modern times. The narrator shares facts along with her beliefs and questions about the advertising industry.
C. The reading is set in the future in a travel center. The narrator questions the cultural impact of digital advertisements that are programmed to shout at people passing by.
D. The main setting of the reading is on the Internet. It takes place in the future. The narrator explores the potential for problems of too many online advertisements on society.
Answer:
The correct answer is B. The main setting of the reading is in a metropolitan area. It takes place in modern times. The narrator shares facts along with her beliefs and questions about the advertising industry.
In this passage, the narrator highlights how advertisements are prevalent in our daily lives, especially in metropolitan areas. They describe the various ways in which advertising reaches individuals, from physical signs on streets, public transportation, and clothing to digital ads on television and websites. The mention of living in a metropolitan area emphasizes that this is a reflection of the current urban environment.
The passage also suggests that the narrator is examining the cultural implications of this advertising saturation. They question how advertisements are designed to capture our attention and influence our behavior. This reflects the contemporary cultural context where advertising has become an integral part of urban life, impacting people's choices and perceptions.
Overall, the passage's cultural context revolves around the pervasive nature of advertising in modern metropolitan settings and the narrator's critical perspective on its cultural impact. It is a commentary on the consumerist culture that has developed in contemporary society.