In the context of popular culture, consumerism is rampant. Memorable characters from various ads end up on TV shows, celebs wear designer freebies on red carpets, and musicians name-check brands in their songs. Whether or not it's intentional (usually it is), teens are affected, and some don't even realize they're being targeted. With laser focus, Wittekind covers the bases, parsing out the history, impact, strategies, and ethics of pushing products in the modern world. From snake-oil salesmen, to the text-heavy copy of the 1950s, to current dilemmas found in online marketing, product placement, and the regulation of marketing to young children, this title in the Exploring Media Literacy series offers an eye-opening look at how branding reaches and persuades the audience to buy. Though the outlook seems bleak, the emphasis on using information to combat seductive sales pitches will leave readers feeling armed to make decisions about which products they actually want to use.

PALSER, Barb . Selling Ourselves: Marketing Body Images . ISBN 978-0-7565-4519-2 ; ISBN 978-0-7565-4534-5 . LC 2011025699. WITTEKIND, Erika . The Big Push: How Popular Culture Is Always Selling . reprods. ISBN 978-0-7565-4518-5 ; ISBN 978-0-7565-4535-2 . LC 2011038005. WITTEKIND, Erika . Violence as Entertainment: Why Aggression Sells . ISBN 978-0-7565-4520-8 ; ISBN 978-0-7565-4536-9 . LC 2011038006. ea vol: 80p. (Exploring Media Literacy Series). charts. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Compass Point . 2012. PLB $33.99; pap. $8.95. Gr 6-9 This timely collection covers issues such as violence in the media, the bombardment of advertising, the reliability of today's news outlets, and the marketing of body images. It also broaches how to sort fact from fiction in modern media. Questions are posed throughout the text to promote critical thought about what society is seeing and hearing, particularly on television. Graphs, photos, and fresh design elements make this set visually appealing, while sidebars, extensive source notes, and "Media Literacy 101" spreads, which propose several stimulating thought exercises, make these titles useful. A balanced and interesting way to open discussions about potentially controversial subjects.