Fahrenheit 451, a novel written in the 20th century, highlighted the flaws of advertising in American marketing. With the advent of television, advertising agencies dramatically gained popularity and revenue. “J. The Walter Thompson Co… saw its revenues increase from $78 million in 1945 to $172 million in 1955 and to $250 million in 1960” (“Advertising Age”). Explain. Through the novel Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury warns that the constant simplifications shown through visual advertising only help to promote mass conformity This is demonstrated through 1950s visual advertising that promoted mass-produced goods and the ideal of the suburban family that pushed America to assimilate the post-World War II economic boom of the Bradbury era is evident in the fact that “furniture purchases and appliances increased by 240%... [and] the average household income increased by 30% in terms of purchasing power." (Nickles) The market for mass-produced goods only seemed to increase during this time period because consumer purchases postponed during the war years they were now purchased in bulk. Thanks to the period of economic expansion, advertisers were able to promote the "unique selling proposition" of a product, bribing people to choose one brand over another (Super). Growing materialism shows how cultural values ​​were abandoned for a much simpler and less complex consumerist lifestyle, which produced few disagreements or conflicting opinions. Bradbury demonstrates his cautions in this regard through Mildred's major materialistic desires when he states, “It's really fun. It will be even more fun when we can find...... middle of paper ......nst by Ray Bradbury. The frightening society that Bradbury witnessed, with its growing suburban population and consumerism, is shown to the extreme in Fahrenheit 451, showing the audience its harmful effects. What remains in question is whether society has truly changed since those dark times, or whether today's world is closer to what Bradbury imagined. Advertising age 75 RSS ideas. AdAge, 2005. Web. January 3, 2014Carnes, Mark C. The Story of Columbia in Post-World War II America. New York: ColumbiaUP, 2007. Print.Nickles, Shelley. “More is Better: Mass Consumption, Gender, and Class Identity in Postwar America.” American Quarterly 54.4(2002): 581-622. Print."Suburban growth." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, Web. January 12, 2014.Super, John. The 1950s in America. Pasadena Salem, 2005. Print.