“Tibbetts’ Hydroidic Obesity Pills ad, The Ladies’ World (Vol. 13, No. 8), 1892."

“Tibbetts’ Hydroidic Obesity Pills ad, The Ladies’ World (Vol. 13, No. 8), 1892."

The item I choose is an advertisement for diet pills for women called “Tibbetts’ Hydroidic Obesity Pills.” There is a picture of a women that says, “as I was” and then a picture of a women saying “as I am.” These two images are trying to show the audience the transformation one can have when they use this diet pill. The audience for this specific item is obese women. The slogan for the diet pill is, “The only known remedy for obesity.” The advertisement gives information about pricing, how much weight can be lost, and the address of the chemist whom makes the pill. I am not sure if the creator of the pill is the same person whom created the advertisement. At the bottom of the advertisement it states, “ George Burwell, Chemist, 176 Boylston St., Boston.” It is not specific if he is the also the person who created this advertisement. This item was interesting to me because I was shocked when I saw it. In today’s society there are advertisements all over for diet pills and “tricks” to losing weight but I was unaware this was happening then. The advertisement in a way reminds me of Catharine from Washington Square. Even though she is not described as obese in anyway, her father is always criticizing her for the way she looks and acts. It is a similar idea of how society harps so much on physical appearance and people are often trying to change how they look.

Unknown

Unknown. “ Are You too Fat?” August, 1892. The Ladies’ World. Vol. 13. -No. 8, Boston. Page 14.

The Ladies’ World. Vol. 13. -No. 8. August, 1892.

November 3, 2015

Erin Donlon