Cultural Construction Through Marketing Communications: Societal Impacts and Ethical Considerations
摘要
In today’s globalized world, marketing communications play a more critical role than ever in shaping societal culture. Marketing messages, disseminated from omnipresent communication channels, influence cultural norms, values, and behaviors, ultimately affecting society at large. From a societal perspective, this chapter examines how marketing communications construct and support a cultural landscape, which includes cultural identities, narratives, values, and trends, along with its subsequent impact on public perception. The chapter also points to the dual nature of this cultural influence, highlighting both positive and negative societal outcomes. On the positive side, marketing communications can promote cultural diversity, social cohesion, social connectedness, and socially progressive values. Still, on the negative side, it is also possible for marketing communications to reinforce stereotypes, deepen social inequalities, and promote excessive consumerismConsumerism. In fact, marketers play a very influential role in this context as they are ethically responsible for constructing a cultural landscape that is more inclusive and equitable. By examining how marketing communications and cultural considerations interact with one another, this chapter provides valuable insights into the societal impacts of communication strategies, emphasizing the critical need for culturally conscious and ethically responsible marketing practices. Such practices are of great value as they enhance business success while, at the same time, they contribute positively to the cultural landscape, creating a society that is more harmonious and inclusive. The chapter also highlights the importance of adopting a multi-stakeholder approach in which marketers, cultural groups, and societal stakeholders should cooperate as partners to achieve such a society.