Can marketers shape culture?

Question

do marketers shape or reflect culture (the accumulation of shared meanings, rituals, norms, and traditions among the members of an organized society)?

Answer 1

Without question. Just study the development of the engagement ring in western society.  It was completely invented by a diamond dealer, I think DeBeers.

Valentine's Day, invented by marketers, Mother's day, same thing. and on and on

Answer 2

Unfortunately yes. Hip hop has been force fed to our youth for the purposes of money making for quite a while now and the lingo and clothes and tattoos and attituded have found their way into the mainstream. It's sad.

Answer 3

Very successful marketers, especially those who market for large and powerful corporations, can surely shape aspects of culture.  They are in the position to know most about, reach and therefore influence the greatest number of people in terms of the product or service they offer.

Otherwise, marketers reflect culture.  The less-known and often less-successful marketers are simply reactive to the information they gather about their customers.  This isn't to say that reactive marketers aren't successful, but they aren't as successful as those mentioned above.

Answer 4

Absolutely. If you want examples read "The Society of the Spectacle" by Guy Debord or anything by Edward Bernays.

This is shown by the fact that so many people think freedom is being able to choose between Coke and Pepsi...