# Wilson Bryan Key

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American writer (1925–2008)

Wilson Bryan Key Born (1925-01-31)January 31, 1925 Died October 8, 2008(2008-10-08) (aged 83) Alma mater University of Denver Subject Media theory, propaganda

**Wilson Bryan Key** (January 31, 1925 – October 8, 2008) was an American writer. He was the author of several books about [subliminal](/source/Subliminal_stimuli) messages and subliminal advertising.

## Career

Key obtained his doctorate in communications from the [University of Denver](/source/University_of_Denver) and taught journalism for a short period of time at the [University of Western Ontario](/source/University_of_Western_Ontario). He was a colleague and friend of [Marshall McLuhan](/source/Marshall_McLuhan).

A US court case in 1990 accused the English Heavy Metal Band [Judas Priest](/source/Judas_Priest) of causing suicide through subliminal messaging. Key advised the plaintiff's lawyer to hire Bill Nickloff, an audio engineer, to find the subliminal messaging.[1] The judge found that the defendant was not responsible for the deaths.[2]

## Death

Key died following complications resulting from surgery. He is interred at the [Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery](/source/Northern_Nevada_Veterans_Memorial_Cemetery) in [Fernley, Nevada](/source/Fernley%2C_Nevada).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Criticism

His results and conclusions have been challenged, in books including the following:

- Boese, Alex (2006). [*Hippo Eats Dwarf: A Field Guide to Hoaxes and Other B.S.*](https://archive.org/details/hippoeatsdwarffi00boes). [Harcourt, Inc.](/source/Harcourt%2C_Inc.) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0156030837](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0156030837).

- Moore, Timothy E. (Spring 1992). "Subliminal Perception: Facts and Fallacies". *Skeptical Inquirer*. **16** (3): 273–281. Reprinted in *Encounters with the Paranormal: Science, Knowledge, and Belief*, edited by [Kendrick Frazier](/source/Kendrick_Frazier), [Prometheus Books](/source/Prometheus_Books), 1998, 253–263. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [157392203X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/157392203X)

- Pratkanis, Anthony R. (Spring 1992). "Myths of Subliminal Persuasion: The Cargo-cult Science of Subliminal Persuasion". *Skeptical Inquirer*. **16** (3): 260–272. Reprinted in *Encounters with the Paranormal: Science, Knowledge, and Belief*, edited by [Kendrick Frazier](/source/Kendrick_Frazier), [Prometheus Books](/source/Prometheus_Books), 1998, 240–252. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [157392203X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/157392203X)

## Bibliography

- *Subliminal Seduction: Are You Being Sexually Aroused By This Picture?* a.k.a. *Ad Media's Manipulation of a Not So Innocent America* (1974). Introduction by [Marshall McLuhan](/source/Marshall_McLuhan). Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [73--5421](https://www.loc.gov/item/730-5421).

- *Media Sexploitation* (1976). Prentice-Hall, Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0135730065](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0135730065)

- *The Clam-Plate Orgy: And Other Subliminal Techniques for Manipulating Your Behavior* (1980). Signet. - reissued as *Subliminal Ad-Ventures in Erotic Art* (1992). Branden Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0828319510](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0828319510)

- *The Age of Manipulation: The Con in Confidence, The Sin in Sincere* (1989). H. Holt. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0819186539](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0819186539)

## See also

- *[Programming the Nation?](/source/Programming_the_Nation%3F)*

## Further reading

- *The Secret Sales Pitch: An Overview of Subliminal Advertising* (2004), by August Bullock. Norwich Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0974264008](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0974264008).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Solotaroff, Ivan (June 28, 2014). ["The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-stacks-the-judas-priest-teen-suicide-trial). *The Daily Beast*. Retrieved November 14, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Grow, Korey (August 24, 2015). ["Judas Priest's Subliminal Message Trial: Rob Halford Looks Back"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/judas-priests-subliminal-message-trial-rob-halford-looks-back-57552/). *RollingStone.com*. Retrieved November 14, 2018.

## External links

- [*The Straight Dope*: "Are subliminal messages secretly embedded in advertisements?" (1987)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/556/are-subliminal-messages-secretly-embedded-in-advertisements)

- [Wilson Bryan Key's words? Or Joan Peyser's?](http://www.well.com/user/angus/compare.html)

- [Interview with Wilson Bryan Key](https://dominicstreatfeild.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/interview-with-wilson-bryan-key/). Source Material for *Brainwash: The Secret History of Mind Control* (by phone, March 27, 2005)

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