One of my new favourite blogs, Mr. Teacup, on ideology and you.
Advertising works by sending a double message: the explicit message of type “This car will make you sexy, buy it and you will get all the girls,” which is the usual target of critique; and the message between the lines that subverts the explicit message, saying “You’re not so stupid as to fall for the official message, but everyone else is! Buy this car and everyone will believe you are sexy and can get all the girls.” So you buy it, not because you believe, but because you believe that others believe.
