Drive Me Crazy!

Make your own Car Advertisement

The Car as Sign, What Does it Signify?

•Nationality •Freedom •Power •Status •Speed •Technology •Comfort •Luxury •Excitement •Etc.

The Car as Sign, What Does it Mean?

Cars are Sold Through Advertising•Any new car in the U.S. will getyou where you want

to go. •Are real differences, but few of usunderstand

anything about how acar works anymore •Brand awareness becomes moreand more

important as factsrecede… •Now, like soda, muchdifferentiation must come

from“image”

Comfort, Shelter

•From the Smithsonian Collection.This 1924 Ford closed car advertisement pitched the comfort of being sheltered from the elements towards women automobilists. A woman in the driving seat of the car waits for her female companion, sheltered by an umbrella, to get in beside her. The text accompanying the image is full of words like “comfortable,” “easy,” “without effort,” “convenient,” and “desirable.” •Ford Closed Cars ad, 1924

Excitement

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Success!

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Freedom!

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Toughness!

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Romance!

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