My Reaction to Jean Kilbourne

After attending Jean Kilbourne’s  presentation I was left with sort of mixed feelings. I don't think she offered us information that we didn’t already know. Nor does she state explicitly what she expects us to get out of her presentation. I didn’t walk away from it saying advertising is bad. In fact, I thought that a lot of the advertisements were really clever. I think she failed to acknowledge the fact that while advertisements can "manipulate" women and men everyone has free will and possesses the will power to not buy a certain product. Corporations don’t have control over the individual so when one purchases a product that is their decision and responsibility. And how are people supposed to sell products otherwise? I think the media does use women to sell. Obviously. But they aren’t necessarily degrading them in doing it. I mean sure there are some cases. But sex sells because it’s a part of us so what’s the harm in using it? I think the brunt of the responsibility is placed on the individual to decide what they do and do not want to partake in , regardless of the pressure that advertising places on the consumer.