Truth, Advertising, And The American Dream

Advertising is the artistic division in the otherwise scientific sphere of commerce. Some refer to it as deception, others yet propaganda. But at its core, there is truth in good advertising because, in order to create an effective ad, it must resonate with the genuine desires, emotions, aspirations, or even fears of the audience. This obviously does not apply to bad advertising, just as sure as bad art has no real emotional effect on its audience.

The tools in the Madison Avenue toolbox are not dissimilar to those of any other artist. Evocative images, comedy, music, dialogue, and even poetry are all present at various times.

Now, what is it that made me think of all this? The other day on X, I came across a commercial from the 1980s. It was for one of the most mundane products: a men’s razor. Now, the more mundane the product, the more you have to stick out in order to separate from the pack, and this commercial did just that.

The entire commercial exuded optimism and joy. It was not selling a product by describing it nor even showing it off. It did so by showing a lifestyle that the makers of the ad wanted the public to associate with the product.

And what kind of lifestyle were they selling? They were selling one which appealed to American men in the 1980s. But here’s the thing: human nature hasn’t changed since the Garden of Eden… that is, unless you subscribe to a socio-political ideology which seeks to manipulate reality.

Here’s the ad. It’s short, but I encourage all of you to watch it.

Let’s examine what it depicts.

It shows men enjoying the successes of life: a beautiful wife, athletic achievement, happy family life, wholesome leisure, a nice sports car, the pride in being an astronaut, the rewards of a fast-paced life on Wall Street, and friendship with other successful, happy men.

Beyond these specific details, the commercial looked like America and felt like the American Dream. Success, joy, family, achievement, excellence, and fun.

This speaks to a time when Main Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Wall Street, and Madison Avenue were aligned in being unafraid of showcasing, selling, and enjoying the American Dream. President Reagan was popular across all 50 states, the economy was booming, the American middle class was confident in its position as the national guardian of liberty, churches were packed on Sunday, and the Little League and football fields bustled with activity.

In many parts of this great nation, this could easily describe life in 2026. But sadly, in many other parts of the country, it no longer does. 9/11 shook the confidence of the Cold War victory that President Reagan achieved. The Great Recession chipped away at the stability of the middle class, particularly for young Americans. And then came Barack Obama. While President Reagan used his abilities as the Great Communicator to unite the country by appealing to our better angels, our patriotism, our morality, and our sense of decency, Obama used his linguistic craft to divide us. Ironically, all of the lies the fake news uses to slander President Trump actually apply to Obama. Then under Sleepy Joe Biden, mass migration and out-of-control crime made our cities feel less like America than a journey into the wild unknown.

President Trump is someone who has not changed his views for 50 years, and when the media was less dishonest, it was clear that Donald Trump had always been a figure whose popularity transcended all political, racial, social, and regional divides.

Unfortunately, the fake and dishonest tendencies of the media have now also infected the world of advertising. Instead of appealing to emotions associated with the American Dream as they once did, far too many advertisers appeal to subtle discord, to division, and in so doing, they agitate rather than inspire.

The ad from the ‘80s looked like America—the people, the places, the things, the activities, all instantly recognizable as a piece of Americana. If the fake media is truly worried about division in this great land, they ought to stop causing it.

The same goes for Madison Avenue. Advertising plays a huge role in shaping the culture—almost as much… some would say as much, as movies, music, fashion, and sports. If we want to return to the optimism, confidence, and cohesion of the 1980s, our top advertising minds must play their part.

President Trump has set the stage by fixing the economy, closing the border, and restoring opportunity. Now our creative sectors, including advertising, must reflect the optimistic spirit so eloquently delivered by President Trump during his address on Independence Day.

There is nothing in the United States that cannot be done. The only problem is that our media elites haven’t begun to even try to fix the problems they created.