Show Us a Smile 2 Brickfish

Facebook

Facebook was first started in June of 2004. with only 5 years under their belt facebook has over 175 million users. facebook has had incredible success and continues to grow. (Wiki)

Facebook is an internet site that allows people to network all around the world. The easy setup allows for all ages to navigate. It also allows you to search for people that went to your school, live in your town, or share your same interest. When you establish a friend base you are able to take a glimpse in to their lives. You are able to view pictures, comments, messages, and their friends. You are capable of commenting on pictures, messages, and status report.

The audience would have to be ages 16-25 because the focus in more on networking rather than fun and games like MySpace. MySpace is very similar expect for the more freedom you have on MySpace to make the page look like your own. Face book is very simple and does not require a lot of prior computer knowledge.

Facebook is the new and improved simple way to find relationships and stay in touch.

Shape

Shape Magazine is targeted towards fast pace 18-30 age women. The use of bright colors and catchy slogans like "4 weeks to your best butt" attracts the buyer. The cover has older celebrities that are more recognizable by an older female audience rather that in Cosmo or Elle that has younger celebs that a younger female crowd could recognize and indentify with.

The inside is swarmed with advertisements relating to health, fitness, and beauty. The articles are short and to the point with a few longer ones concerning relating topics.

The audience can be described as a single or married busy woman. With phrase like “dress 5 pounds lighter” shows that these woman need results quickly. The array of workout pieces shows that this female audience does not have time to make it to the gym. Shape also has workouts regimes for woman with a family showing that on of its target audience members are family woman.

Shape is guide to lose weight fast and become healthy with a busy schedule

Fresh Prince

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starred Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy relatives the Banks in a Bel-Air mansion. His lifestyle often clashes with his the Banks. 148 episodes were produced over six seasons, first aired in 1990 and lasted till 1996. (Wikipedia)

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a storyline that followed the typical family with the one rotten runt. The idea that they were black was easy for them to have a rich family face the same discriminating issues. In one episode, "Mistaken Identity," where the Banks head to Palm Springs along with Carlton, Will’s cousin and Will are pulled over in a Mercedes, because the police suspected them of car theft. This is a common issue that blacks face when it comes to them having expensive things. Carlton says that he lives in Bel-Air, has a butler, a 3.95 GPA in Bel-Air Academy, and other acclaimed "credentials" that are not seen in the African-American stereotype. (Wikipedia)

The fresh prince gave light to African American families living American dreams. The Banks family is a high class family with a lot of money and respect. They speak properly and carry themselves with dignity. They could be compared to any white television family. Will is the contrast and follows the typical black stereotype. Throughout the show he begins to see that class and money is just a “thing” in life rather than a need. Meaning when he first met Carlton he believed him to have lost his black roots because he talked and acted “white”. Money did not create Carlton rather the access to the finest of finest. The funny part is that allow Will did not lose his black roots he did become “white”.

Family guy

Family Guy a mainly adult-oriented TV Show, has become quite the spark of controversy With topics like AIDS, terrorism, Nazis and disability, Family guy seems to push the show a little to far. The Parents Television Council listed Family Guy as the “worst prime time shows for family viewing”. FOX, where the show was first broadcast, has tried very hard to put a cage around this ball of fury but has failed because networks like Cartoon Network have allowed airtime. FOX now airs edited version with some of the explicit and extremely controversial content removed. The reason the show causes so much commotion is because of the nature of how things are presented. If Peter, the father in the TV program, was to see a disabled kid on the swing set he would most likely address him as the retarded fat boy hogging the swing. The characters say what some of the world is thinking but is afraid to say whether about politics, terrorism, or homosexuality.

The Office

The Office is a soap opera sitcom, meaning it is filled with tons of bizarre concepts that come together to create comic relief. It follows the interaction of employees in an office space. Dunder Mifflin is a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. With an array of characters that have very different ideals and beliefs, they seem to never have a dull day. The Office allows the characters to say and do what most people admit they would want to say or do. For example the main character Michael Scott, the Regional Manger of the Scranton branch, always says what is on his mind no matter how racist, inconsiderate, or arrogant it is. He makes sure to acknowledge everyone’s race and sexual preference in every conversation. Jim Halpert is a sales rep and is a lot more level headed than Michael. Their personalities working together balance each other. Pam Beasley is Jim’s girlfriend and the receptionist. She is usually the one who helps finish Michael’s schemes. Dwight Schrute is the assistant “regional manger”. This is a position that was made up to make Dwight feel better about himself. All Dwight wants is for Michael to appreciate him.

The audience is female and males, ages 20-40, that can in some way relate to working in an environment with a lot of different personalities. They have a crude sense of humor. They want absurd and out of this world situations to happen. With the setting of the show in an office space it gives the show more modality and is relatable. The audience wants to laugh at what would not be otherwise socially accepted, like a woman getting run over by a car, lighting an office building on fire, or putting a raccoon in an employee’s car. All these scenarios can be found on The Office. The characters follow through with what most of us only think about. The audience is able to laugh at events that would normally bring an awkward moment of silence. The audience likes to be engaged by the show and consistently watch every week. This kind of show appeals to the more educated well rounded individual because some of the jokes and humor come from current issues and events in news. People who watch this show get a comic relief with someone else’s daily problems, taking them out of their own. It has a sense of relativity because they see they are not the only ones who have problems.

The audience must have a high commitment to the show, meaning they are sitting and ready to watch at 10pm on Thursdays. You can tell the commitment is high because of the rating and amount of people that enjoy the show. You have to watch the show religiously because that’s how you learn all the different character’s personalities. If you do not know the premise and ideals of the characters the show will not interest you and you may take offense to what is said. For example, Andy, a sales rep, just recently got his heart broken by his fiancée, and now he is anti-women. He says degrading and sexist things all the time. If you had not seen how Andy was before and after the break up you would flip the channel and never watch again because you would think the show was supporting these thoughts and actions. When watching the show the audience must have a high engagement, putting forth all their attention. There are jokes and interweaving events going on through out the show. This show can not be watched like a show on MTV because those shows are meant to captivate the channel flippers. The Office’s audience is ready to watch with their popcorn and only moves when there are commercials. They are glued to the TV to catch every joke and plot line.

Warning: Airbrushing Kills

Warning: Airbrushing Kills

Where do we draw the line when it comes to image manipulation? When a 13 year old girl looks at the image on the right she sees a flawless woman and feels bad about her own appearance. But what would her mind set be if the magazines published the image on the left. The 13 year old girl would have something to relate to because the image is realistic.

Code Of Ethics For Ads

Being a Business major I have a slight bias when it comes to advertising. Part of me believes that you do what ever necessary to sell the product and make a profit. On the other hand being a older sister I have boundaries on what I want my siblings to consume. When I watch ads or come across them in magazines some of them I think "Wow! that's creative and fun I wanna buy this product" others I think "what the heck does the half naked girl have to do with chewing gum". When i think about all the media and advertising my brothers consume and how 90% is sexuality based I have to wonder which is more important the money or the dignity to put your name on it.

A code of ethics that advertiser should follow:

1. 
   
   1. Be Creative and Original
   1. Yes, Sex sells, but been there done that. Creativity and Originality is what sells.
   2. If you would not show your mother then it probably is to XXX for media.
   3. Focus on the consumer of the product.
   1. Don’t do a cheap shot and put a half naked girl for high heels. Think about who is going to buy these shoes. Women don’t want to look at half naked ladies modeling shoes.
   4. Remember that these ads are seen by millions. Be the one that stands out and is unique.
   1. There are sexually suggestive images everywhere, what makes you think yours will be remembered?

Sky Vodka

Honda "Use Original Parts"

Photoshop Project

The insurance company AIG, The American International Group, was recently bailed out by the government so they would not have to file for bankruptcy. Now with Billions of Federal dollars AIG is giving out what looks like bonuses but goes by the name of "retention payments". This has sparked huge controversy through out Capital Hill. How can you face almost collapsing and begging for money then turn around and give away 3 million dollars in bonuses? What are they thinking...Greedy Greedy Greedy Bastards!

If You Seek Amy

The Celluloid Closet

When watching this movie I really did not know how to feel. Growing up and watching the films that were discussed I never realized that the butch lady was homosexual. The word gay did not come to my vocabulary until the age of 13. So watching movies like Mrs. Doubtfire I never looked at the makeover artist as gay. But looking back I do agree that the idea of the word gay was one that was feared by critics of movies. I remember one instant in a movie theater with my mother; she would cover my eyes when a trailer would come on with two members of the same sex kissing. I never understood why till now.

People are uncomfortable with the idea of something that they can not relate to. So when the movie producers had restrictions on what they were allowed to show in their movies it was only because the big wigs could not identify with these homosexuals and feared them.

One of the most interesting concepts about this film was when they discussed that homosexuals were portrayed as the victimizers, the enemy. How could the movie industry get away with these types of stereotypes?

I believe that the movies had a huge impact on the way society views gays. What do you think would have happened if gays were portrayed in a positive light? Would they allow same-sex marriages? Would there be less or no gay bashing? Would this society be able to except things that are different than them if the movies would just show people in a positive light?

Doc Review

Al Jazeera is an Arab news team that is doing something that is not welcomed by the government in their country. With over 40 million viewers they have an audience that will listen. Al Jazeera believes that media is meant to say "Wake up World, We Are in a War" They focus on the human cost of war. Al Jazeera shows free debate, openness, and is used to shake up society.

The US media used American Patriotism to win over the viewers at home. They showed the positive side of the war and never focused on the deaths all around. They were able to make every news coverage about how evil Iraq was and how amazing America is. The US media did a great job covering the war because they accomplished exactly what all news teams want make the viewers believe everything they say.

The military believes that you should give enough information so you feel informed but they are not giving away too much that can put their force in harms way. The military had a lot over control when it came to the war. They some how managed the amount of info that was being put out to American people.

I think if all three ideas could be put in to one news team that would be the perfect news coverage. The focus on human cost and the people of Iraq from the Al Jazeera, the focus of patriotism from the US media and the use of not spinning the media from the military. This could be the best news coverage from all the viewers.

The Merchants of Cool

When watching the video “Merchants of Cool” I was shocked to see how much of teens culture is made up by corporations and media. Teens really do not have their own culture that is established by them for them. Their clothes, style, music, appearance is all dictated by these corporations out the make the next big buck. The corporations spend so much money to study the teens of today and sell back to them what is their idea of cool. From both sides I can see what and why they respond the way they do. The corporations are focused on making the greatest amount of profit, no matter how low they have to sink to make it. This just goes back to the idea that bigger is better. The business world has turned in to a dog eat dog world that you must stay afloat to win the game. The teens are just reacting to what they see everyday of their lives. How could they not when they are consumed by hours and hours of media that show how the typical happy teen lives their lives. Both sides create a circle that will continue to go round and round never finding an end. They both need each other to function or both would collapsed and not know what to do.

I believe the most interesting part of this video was the way that corporations reached their consumer by telling or showing them that “I am just like you”. One example was when sprite teamed up with the hip hop scene and used that culture as a catalyst to shoot them to the top. Hip hop was a very smart tool because it reaches a population way greater than the African American population. Hip hop as been the stereographic as a “cool” scene that all ethnicity should join in on. It has become a product rather than a culture. Corporations have taken away the culture that unites people and turned it in to a source of profit.

Another idea that really interested me was the way MTV went in to average every day young men’s homes and asked them questions about their everyday life. School, clothes, girls and used this information to sell products back to them. All this data created the idea of a “mock”, a loud, obnoxious male that is sex and enjoyment driven. Is this really what teen boys are like?

This video really opened my eyes about how my world is shaped by media and corporations. I notice myself going in to stores and looking for brands that are familiar. I will purchase a pair of jeans that were I guess titled “cool” even if they cost more than a weeks pay at work. This all just goes back to the idea that teens this day have a lot more freedom when it comes to their spending habits. Parents no longer can and do not dictate how and where their kids money should be spent. This is a very scary thought.

Consumption Log

16 hours does not seem like a huge gap of time in comparison to a day or a week. It is astounding how much media you are exposed to in such a small amount of time. As I roam the hall ways of the Fort Lewis College I am surrounded by media of all kinds. 50 Durango Joe’s posters, 23 ads for selling items, 27 for house rentals, 31 for music interests and 27 misc ads. Plus the music that played as I ate lunch and the music that the cooks listened to, the1000 of ads that take over the TV in a 16 hour period. This was a mind boggling experiment. I never knew that I consumed so many mediums, and it is at hours at a time. I have noticed that I only go to Durango Joe’s when there is a Starbucks down the street. I find myself looking at the billboards on campus for a lot of information because it is filled with media.

As I listened to the radio ads had advertising within in them. Like the radio station 991 the point was talking about a contest they were doing and listed all their sponsors. The Inferno, Durango Joe’s and so on. Media is a large source for consumption. Majority of the media I was exposed to had a lot to do with buying things. Which I thought was very interesting. Producers definitely have the right selling tools.

I never realized how much music you are exposed to, Music being flared from cars, from really loud IPods, to the music that is played at lunch. If you listen you can hear all types of different music, country, hip hop, jazz it’s all around us. During these 16 hours I heard music that I would not usually listen to on my own and realized that I was really interested in it. I heard a lot by just walking down the hall walls of my dorm.

I also saw that cars are a huge source of media. From bumper stickers to decals companies have been able to reach an array of people. Whether it is catchy slogans or business ads, cars are able to bring media to a un expecting audience. You can get a glimpse in to people thoughts with this type of media. Whether they are religious, what is the political view, if they are an artist, or a musician, where they go to school, what music they listen to, if they have kids ect. This type of media is a very effective to get a message across about the person or society.

These 16 hours were very eye opening. It was a great experience to witness what is all around me. It has definitely mad me more aware of my surroundings and all the messages I am consuming.

Weekly Blog Wk 4

I stopped today and looked around. I was surrounded by media. Posters, music, text messages, TV. We are controlled by it. What would the world be like with out media? A dark and lonely place. I often wonder what I would be like if I was never exposed to media. Would the world be better off or worst off with out media? I saw this really cool shirt that made me think. It said kill your TV.

Weekly Blog Wk 3

Last night at 2 in the morning I had nothing better to do but flip on the television. I was raided by commercials that played over and over. I was beginning to think if marketers target late nighters because their minds are not as alert as in the morning. Are you more likely to buy a product at 2 in the morning or at 2 in the afternoon?

Weekly Blog Wk 2

I called my four year old brother the other day and asked what he was doing. With nothing but excitement in his voice he yelled at the top of his lungs “AVATAR!!” Having seen a few episodes I was shocked to hear my parents allowed this. The series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating the Fire Lord and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation. (Wikipedia) The target audience is ages 6-11. The show is very graphic and has complex ideas that would make any adult ponder. I wonder why my parents allowed my four year old innocent brother watch such a graphic show. I then realized that it is on Nickelodeon. This use to be a safe zone for children but with shows like Mr.Meaty we have to wonder what we are allowing our kids to watch. What is “safe” for them? Parents fail to realize that Nickelodeon is meant for ages 10-17 not 4 year olds.

AD Deconstruction

This is one of many hot soon to be mamas that can still enjoy the party life because of Nova Schin non-alcoholic beer. This is an ad that is on billboards, in magazines, all over Brazil. As I study this image I can not help but wonder who is the target audience, men who have a thing for hot pregnant woman or soon to be mothers who do not want to give up their sex appeal. The way she is dressed shows her party flirty mentality. Her sexual seductive face expression can be compared to an ad in a maxim magazine, which is targeted to men. So if this ad is targeted towards men what exactly is the company trying to say. That after a mans crazy drunken night and his one night stand, his soon to be hot sexy baby’s mama will still look good pregnant and can still enjoy the non alcoholic version of the drink that brought them together.

This ad seems to contradict the idea that when woman plan to get pregnant partying and drinking is not a huge part of their lives anymore. So maybe it is targeted towards younger woman who did not plan this event but has to deal with the cards dealt. Now they can have the best of both worlds until the child is born, party like a rock star and still have a healthy baby.

This idea also goes back to why people drink. I was lead to believe it was for the effect of the alcohol rather than the taste. These sexual seductive women are now drinking beer that has lost its real effect. What is the point of this beverage? This advertisement can also be meant to play on the insecurities of the women who now feel fat and unattractive because of the pregnancy. But now they see that the only thing that changes is the beer they drink. They are still sexy and seductive.

The lighting is very interesting. Emphasizes is on the hand with the beer while the hand on the tummy is in the dark, Meaning that although she is pregnant she can still have a good time and look good. Her skin looks absolutely flaw less like a painting. This is to play on women’s insecurities. Her clothes are short and somewhat nonexistent. This could mean that just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you have to dress like a soon to be mother.

This ad is definitely something you have to look at more than once to understand. If you didn’t know this was non alcoholic it would be very controversial because of the contents. Women are not supposed to drink when they are pregnant and this challenges that idea. The clothes could be offensive to other pregnant women because it could be a disrespectful way to present these women who are about to be role models for their young. ?

This ad is just like all the others with beautiful models trying to sell a product. But now they hit a different audience. What is next in advertising? When do we draw the line?

Weekly Blog Wk 1

Media is something that I never really paid attention to till I started this class. I realize that it is all around me. In class, at work, in my room, when I am hanging with friends. I watched one sprite commercial that was very disturbing in the sense that I totally didn't know what the main idea was. It is a crazy thought all the subliminal messages that go behind commercials to get you to buy the product.