Stuart Beckwith Writing 2010 Response to Alt. Everything Thesis Statement: How has the advertisement of products affected the things that kids buy and how much do the companies that are advertising put into making sure that the kids want and “need” these items? In Naomi Klein’s writing, Alt. Everything, she talks about how the marketing and advertising of products has changed the way that we look at and live our lives daily. The way that kids are raised to recognize many of the ads just by the different toys they play with or even the foods they eat plays a huge role in what they become when they grow up. If they can get them hooked when they are young then it will keep them coming back for more because that is what they are used to. Klein makes a very good point in her writing when she is talking about this, and she brings up how in the 80’s and the 90’s it was completely different because it wasn’t as easy for the companies to get advertisements out there and get a hold of peoples attention. Many places didn’t advertise and wouldn’t put up signs that were for advertising purposes. Such as Woodstock, during Woodstock it was made so that there wasn’t much at all and it was to keep it so that it was only a concert not a way for companies to sell product or even advertise their product. Now at almost any concert that you go to, there are going to be signs up everywhere for one thing or another, whether it is to sell T-shirts for the bands that are performing or if it is to get the people over 21 to buy alcohol. Everything at the concerts is about image and the ability to sell things. The bands are often sponsored but many different companies and are given product to throw out or wear so that the attendants at the concert will see them and think that because the band has them, they have to have them as well. Klein also leaves it open for argument which is good because she isn’t trying to tell everyone that this is what they need to believe.