Thank You For Smoking

Determine the scenario: What happens in this frame?

This scenario in the Camel brand cigarette advertisement shoes Joe Camel being a ladies man because he is so smooth. In the ad it looks like Joe Camel and his date are going to cruise around town all night in his nice yellow car and smoke cigarettes.

What is the setting? What are the conditions?

This advertisement is probably from around the 1980s based on the Miami style scene, which was popular from the television show Miami Vice. The weather looks nice and the sun is setting giving the scene of the ad a nice array of color.

Who are the people or groups?

Joe Camel, who is known for being smooth and full of character and a good looking brunette in the back ground.

What is their point of view around this specific experience?

That smoking smooth Camel brand cigarettes will give you character and make you cool like Camel Joe in Miami.

What are their goals?

Their goals are to try to get people who smoke or even don’t smoke to start smoking camel brand cigarettes.

What are their assumptions? What are their perceptions?

The Camel brand is using Joe Camel smoking a smooth Camel cigarette and then showing that these cigarettes make him look so cool that he can get a cute girl and cool car. They are using this imagery assuming that’s what men want.

Are there conflicts? Is there cooperation?

In my opinion there is conflict in this advertisement. First they are saying if you want to be cool like Joe Camel, you need to smoke Camel brand cigarettes. Second they are using a cartoon camel to promote their product. The cartoon can have a big affect on a market way too young to even consider the decision to smoke; I’m talking about children.

What are the outcomes?

The outcome of this advertisement is that they are advertising a life style along with the cigarette, which can be a let down to the consumer when they find that buying camels wont attract pretty brunettes. Another outcome could be influencing under age smoking by minors who were attracted to the cartoon spokes figure Joe Camel.