In recent times some social historians have taken to interpreting a given time and place in terms of its advertising. Are the creative directors of advertising agencies, who are hardly typical citizens, really the people who most have their fingers on the pulse of a society? And if so, are they merely reflecting the society back at itself, or do their activities themselves help to change the collective perception?

At all events, it is certainly true that advertisements can sometimes -- perhaps unintentionally -- be revealing about how particular concepts are viewed and how they might relate to the contemporary zeitgeist in a particular culture.

And the concept of corporal punishment is no exception. In this feature we look at 15 US and UK press advertisements in which CP is pictured. What are they telling us about the attitudes of the period, and the place of CP in popular culture?

19th century: Power & Stuart Tobacco

c.1900?: Atwood & Brigham's Chop and Oyster Café

1937: Post Office Speaking Clock

1945: Borden's Hemo Food Supplement

1940s: Ivory Bath Soap

1940s: Fletcher's Castoria Children's Laxative

1940s: Fletcher's Castoria Children's Laxative (again)

1948: Shinola Shoe Polish

1950s: Sanka Decaffeinated Coffee

1954: Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

c.1960: Havoline Motor Oil

1960: European Cars

1960s: Cheez-It Cheese Crackers

1997: King of the Hill

2000: Virgin Megastores

See also:
Supplementary page 1 with 12 further images.
Supplementary page 2 with 5 further images and two video clips.