What impact do the words we (almost) see have on our outlook on life?

I was always struck by the way Derren Brown managed to subliminally shape his audiences' responses by using strategically placed words.  For example, if he wanted a victim to seemingly choose one particular location over another as part of an elaborate trick, he simply would have the word "Birmingham" placed on bill posters, leaflets, publications that he knew the person was likely to half-see on their way to the show.

I was always struck by the way Derren Brown managed to subliminally shape his audiences' responses by using strategically placed words.  For example, if he wanted a victim to seemingly choose one particular location over another as part of an elaborate trick, he simply would have the word "Birmingham" placed on bill posters, leaflets, publications that he knew the person was likely to half-see on their way to the show.

I don't actually know whether this really was integral to the tricks or just one further trick within the trick deisgned to impress/mislead the audience. However, Brown's technique did come to mind on my way in to the RSA this morning.  I suddenly noticed that within the space of ten yards on the tube, I was confronted by the following words on bill posters (presented in the graphic design equivalent of yelling at the top of your voice): "RAGE", "FEAR", "SCREWED", "CONTAGION", "APOCALYPSE".  They were advertising films, video games and even an art exhibition. 

This is the first time I've really noticed this silent onslaught even though I travel on the tube every working day and have done for years. Indeed I barely even look at the posters themselves.  Which did make me wonder whether seeing such graphic noise out of the corner of my eye every morning without even really knowing it, might affect my mood or outlook  in some way. And, of course, whether it affects the moods of all those I interact with.

My most hopeful assumption is that its affect is neutral. But I can't imagine it would be positive. Sounds like an issue for my colleague, all-round psychological guru - Jonathan Rowson.