Messages of Individualism in French, Spanish, and American Television Advertising

Authors

Ronald E. Taylor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Joyce M. Wolburg, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

1998

Publisher

World Communication Association

Source Publication

World Communication

Source ISSN

1818-8087

Abstract

Individualism is a central value in French, Spanish, and American cultures. However, what it means to be an individual and how this is expressed varies among cultures. This study explores the ways that television advertising reflects individualism in French, Spanish, and American cultures and uses a qualitative approach that allows coding categories to emerge from the three countries' samples rather than imposing previously defined categories from a single culture. The study identifies six main advertising message strategies across the three cultures: the Efficient Individual, the Sensual Individual, the Attractive/Healthy Individual, the Esteemed Individual, the Performant(e) Individual, and the Intellectual Individual. The six strategies vary in frequency with some claims used more than others. Differences within cultures are also identified and implications for the issues of standardization and specialization are discussed.

Comments

Published version. World Communication, Vol. 27, No. 3 (1998): 3-30. Publisher link. © 1998 World Communication Association. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Taylor, Ronald E. and Wolburg, Joyce M., "Messages of Individualism in French, Spanish, and American Television Advertising" (1998). College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications. 409.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/comm_fac/409