Russian TV advertising: influencing perception and manipulating consumer consciousness

Abstract

The subject of this research is the peculiarities of Russian TV advertising, as well as the functions of advertising with regards to the goals of advertisers, developers of advertising content, and consumers of advertising products. The article explores the specifics of modern Russian TV advertising, and analyzes the existing traditions of selective perception marketing, as well as advances the original concept of divergence of public values by the Russian media. The research employs systematic and axiological approaches, observation, system analysis, case analysis and content analysis of TV commercials, structural-functional and socio-psychological methods, as well as conceptualization and generalization techniques. The study considers 150 TV commercials broadcasted on the central Russian channels over the period from 2017 to 2020. The author reveals the peculiarities of the Russian advertising content, as well as the trends that established thereof in recent decades. The scientific novelty lies in the conclusion that the Russian TV advertising features a unique (compared to Western advertising) transformative function aimed at changing the national value system as the framework of Russian culture and mentality and the pillar of the Russian system of social values. The author also notes that many TV commercial use the techniques of manipulating consumer perception and consciousness. The acquired results can be applied in the area of protecting consumer interests in the Russian Federation, as well as bringing into correlation the interests of advertisers and consumers of advertising content for more effective promotion of products and services in tune with the interests of customers.