Benson & Hedges (1991)

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or do those pumpkins look a bit past their prime? "Oh,  look! This pumpkin is a nice blotchy brown and is starting to shrivel up! It matches our lungs." 

Comments

[glass-houses.livejournal.com]

All-American, wholesome pumpkin picking. But why in the dark, ladies?

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

Those are ladies? I thought the one in front was Adam Ant, and the one behind him a member of his band.

[teamrodent.livejournal.com]

Does the Great Pumpkin approve?

[afranjes.livejournal.com]

"Mom, why does my pumpkin smell like an ashtray?"

[dandelion.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or is "warning: quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health" really confusing? For starters, it isn't a warning at all, and seems to be worded in the most complicated way possible. I actually read it first time as "warning: quitting smoking now would be a bad idea".

[danthered.livejournal.com]

It is poorly written and ambiguous because of the spurious word "now". They mean to say every smoker should quit immediately, but it reads as though there didn't used to be any particular reason to quit…but now there is!

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

This was before they were forced to tell the truth about cigarette smoking causing cancer and emphysema, so they worded their warnings in as ambiguous a way as possible.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

It is an oddly worded "warning." It's like, "WARNING: If you quit now, you might live longer, which means you could outlive your retirement savings, not to mention having to put up with your spoiled rotten grandchildren longer than necessary."

[shortsweetcynic.livejournal.com]

cigarette ads. wow. i was reading a magazine from the early 90s i had squirreled away and it's really jarring now.

[crabofdoom.livejournal.com]

I admit it: I lol'd at the caption.

Those two looked to me like they were in some Regency-era costumes at first. I do have to give the woman props for being able to blow a smoke pelvis, though.

[amelia-eve.livejournal.com]

Something about this era of Benson & Hedges ads always made me strangely sad. This one is a good example. They tend to depict things that should be family activities, like choosing a Halloween pumpkin, or having breakfast in pajamas on Christmas morning. But since they are cigarette ads, they don't have any kids in them. It's this sort of lonely adult world, like out of Children of Men.