Furthering the dialogue about the growing power of commercialization and consumerism from a variety of perspectives and methodologies, this special issue contains a meticulously-researched account of the early battles waged over advertising regulation. It also includes articles examining the phenomenon of home shopping channels to determine how issues of social class are incorporated into their sales discourse, and showing how, since the 1970s, the discourse of ads in Hong Kong have changed from a celebration of more traditional Chinese values to a celebration of more Western, consumer values. This issue also provides a focus on a subject often missing from studies of advertising and consumer culture--the advertising creatives themselves.

- Only comprehensive Companion on the social and cultural implications of advertising and marketing. - Contributors are made up of first-rate international scholars. - Interdisciplinary approach brings together the work and research methods of a number of fields engaging the topic of advertising.

Divided into eight elaborate and well-defined chapters that leave out almost nothing that's relevant, Mathew P. McAllister-who is associated with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute-takes a graphic look at the advertising and consumer scene in America. . . . A bible, quran, bhagwatgita rolled into one for all concerned about a habitable universe." --Suresh Kohli in The Hindustan Times "This critical analysis should toss around American thinking on the subject of advertising as much as Vance Packard's The Hidden Persuaders (1957) did. Matthew P. McAllister has written a classic, showing advertising's invasion of everything--classrooms, doctors' offices, sports arenas, concert halls, museums. . . . Systematically researched, organized, and documented, this book should be required reading for advertising and media students and for the general public."