Wasn't it the 50's when they used to pop in a single frame of film with pictures of popcorn or drinks? This was supposed to subliminally entice you to buy something at the concession stand. I believe those tricks were outlawed.
Can you think of any legal use of subliminal messages in film describing the technique used above? I think horror films use this trick a lot by flashing a lot of disturbing images which last a split second on screen, but as whole affects you subconsciously. One example I can think of is "Altered States".
As an animation fan I used to freeze frame anime and advanced one frame at a time. I discovered the Japanese toss in a lot of single frame gags in their animation. You cannot see or read them without freeze framing.
Subliminal messages have always been fascinating to me. Mostly because way back in the 70's, I read an article on the number of department stores in the USA that were sneaking subliminal messages into the "Muzak" they play in their stores. Messages that cannot be heard by the natural ear, but are none the less receivable by the brain. They sent messages such as, "I'm honest. I don't steal anything." And, over time, they learned that the theft rate had diminished by about 35%.
In movies, the only subliminal image I have ever seen personally, is the one that Alfred Hitchcock devised for the final scene in Psycho. I had seen the film at least three times before noticing the subliminal image at the end. When I first saw it, IT WAS HORRIFYING!!! I had actual goosebumps!!!
I have an interesting story about the subliminal in The Exorcist.
I came across the infamous insert shot by a pure fluke - was watching a VHS copy of the movie with fellow board member John Johnson (before the film was, absurdly, banned for a while in the U.K.) on a fairly old TV that used to make a slight banging sound if a scene changed quickly (no idea why that was). John and I both noticed the "bang" was suddenly occurring without their being any apparent scene change (and were oblivious to the subliminal at this point) and so we re-wound a bit, only for the same thing to happen at precisely the same point. We did this several times and at one point I paused the tape too early... smack bang in to one of the few frames showing the "Captain Howdy" subliminal. Totally freaked me and John out.
Anyway, a. On the or so later I was at a sleep over party with a bunch of movie fans and about 3am a whole bunch of us were talking about horror movies. I asked if anyone had seeen the subliminal in Blattys movie and nobody had. However, immediately I started to describe the "Capain Howdy" shot, literally everyone in the room who had seen the film not only recognised what I was describing but were able to describe it too, with some of them adamant that the insert shot (which is I think 3 frames) was a long scene - even though none of them could actually remember what this "long scene " was. It is absolutely clear to me that the subliminal image had registered with them on a totally subconscious level.
Years ago, film journalists Phil Edwards and Richard Hollis told me that any early version of Alien shown to the press included a few subliminal images (cant recall what they were except one which was a dead pig's head). Phil said he found that version of the film absolutely terrifying, whereas the one he had been shows previously - which didn't have the subliminal - he wasn't phased by at all.
As far as I recall, Phil said that all of the subliminals were removed before the theatrical release. I can't find anything about this online at all but there is no suggestion any released versions of Alien ever had subliminals added.
There was something on the telly about this a while back & apparently subliminal messages don't work, so it was a lot of fuss about nothing really.
It's actually illegal in the U.K. to include subliminal messages in television advertising.
Oh yeah, that law goes back many decades, one of many laws on the statute books that's outdated & I wouldn't think has ever been used. Mind you, who even looks at adverts anymore with all these recording boxes. Anything that isn't on the BBC I never look at live, I tend to record a few episodes of a series & binge watch it, zipping through the ads.
Anyone here read any of Wilson Bryan Key's books? He thinks even Ritz Crackers have "sex" subliminally written on them (at the baking process, I guess) to make you want to eat and buy more of them. He's written at least three books on the subject of this type of manipulation and is obsessed with the subject: "Media Sexploitation", "Subliminal Seduction" and "The Clam-Plate Orgy". Personally, I think the guy's a nut....
Anyone here read any of Wilson Bryan Key's books? He thinks even Ritz Crackers have "sex" subliminally written on them (at the baking process, I guess) to make you want to eat and buy more of them. He's written at least three books on the subject of this type of manipulation and is obsessed with the subject: "Media Sexploitation", "Subliminal Seduction" and "The Clam-Plate Orgy". Personally, I think the guy's a nut....
Tell it to the suckers that believed the con from "you-know-who". The shit works -- on the stupid.
Was or is Coke the real thing, or the pause that truly refreshes? Not an awful lie, but still a lie. As for LLL.... they're okay, but read the fine print.
