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Overall, I think advertising affects my life, but definetely not to the extent of impacting my decisions as an individual. However, there are those few occasions where a good movie ad, or a good ad for a clothing line, or an ad for a restaurant has inspired me to do certain things. Like the movie ads for the Death Note movies, they way there were edited and the bits they chose to show, gave me an adrenaline rush and a sudden need to go to a movie theatre in Japan. An ad that makes me want to travel halfway around the world and learn a new language seems pretty good to me. Other instances include looking at product ads for clothes and accessories in magazines such as Seventeen and Marie Claire inspire me to add certain things to my wardrobe. I, however, unlike some teens, do consider cost and the acutal need to buy such item. Yet, my individuality is created out of ads. Movies I like, clothes I like, store that I shop at, the type of foods I go for, the brands I know...it all leads back to, in my own opinion, effective advertising.

Yes, companies may spend billions upon billions of dollars on ads attempting to influence the public to buy their products. However, I don't know anyone my age who is throughly driven by advertising. But, I cannot deny that people's choices, however subconcious, are made because of advertising. For people can only make choices, based on what they know and experience. Thus, as many of my friends are bombarded by advertisments everywhere they go, including school, choices will be made on those advertisments. It's like how a lot of political candidates get by, on name recognition. I think I am just as influeced by advertisment just like everyone else I know.

No, I don't consider myself materialistic, because I don't need material things to be happy. Yes, I do admit to shopping to feel better, but overall my priorities for happiness are with good happy moments. Such as being with friends and family, or feeling achievement from hard work. However, good advertising and seeing friends own certain does increase my desire sometimes to own things. But, I'm pretty good at making compromises with myself and understanding that some things I can just live without or wait until a sale comes around. With a great amount of self-control, resisting the urges that come from advertising is possible.