Advertising used to be about listing the benefits of the product. Edward Bernays turned that on its head and made it about molding the public's psyche to make t

Advertising used to be about listing the benefits of the product. Edward Bernays turned that on its head and made it about molding the public's psyche to make them see material goods as a form of identity, i.e. independent women who exercise their right to vote demonstrate their independence by publicly smoking cigarettes. > Bernays touted the idea that the "masses" are driven by factors outside their conscious understanding, and therefore that their minds can and should be manipulated by the capable few. "Intelligent men must realize that propaganda is the modern instrument by which they can fight for productive ends and help to bring order out of chaos." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays