Advertising a mirror of our world: Ads show how a society sees itself

There are many ways to judge a society. Some reliable, others less so. A universally recognised one is to consider how a society treats vulnerable citizens. If they are respected and protected, then many other hopes can seem plausible. If not, then less positive expectations seem appropriate.

There are many ways too to try to understand a society. In this age of consumerism and insatiable materialism advertising, its tone, character, and how a campaign respects — or otherwise — its audience seems a trustworthy Rosetta Stone.