The 1960s were advertising's "coming of age," when the industry mastered the language of TV, appropriated the medium of photography and produced work of unprecedented creativity. Influenced by the cultural and social changes of the decade, advertising reflected a trend toward innovation, sophistication and a growing youth culture. In the U.S., the postwar abundance of the 1950s continued into the early '60s, providing a profusion of mass-produced goods for eager consumers who enjoyed more leisure time and greater disposable income than any previous generation.
Advertising provided the information and incentive to keep consumption at an all-time high, but it was perhaps best known during this decade for its "creative revolution"�in which traditional styles and formats were discarded in favor of the "new advertising," characterized as irreverent, humorous, self-deprecating, ironic and resonant. Advertising was also beset during the decade by criticism and regulatory concerns as consumer advocates sought new rights and protections for buyers.