Entry 15: Reflection Post

I want to start my final blog entry by saying that Critical Thinking was by far not only my favorite class this semester, but it was also my favorite class I've taken at McClatchy. It made me realize everything that is behind media, and everything that goes into media. I consume a lot of media. If I had to guess how many hours a day I see some form of media per day, whether it's on my phone or on the internet, I'd say I consume four hours per day. This has a huge impact on my life, because it is a huge distraction. I always have my phone, so I always have access to the media and to the internet, whether I am with family or friends, doing school work, or just trying to do something I don't need my phone for, it's always there no matter what. Because of this class I have become a lot more vigilant when it comes to media. I've learned that what most people say while trying to advertise something is not usually true, or it's true but it's a huge exaggeration. Knowing this, I have stopped being as distracted as I had before by media. I've realized that not everything that advertisers try to sell, do what the advertisers say. This realization has definitely made my media consumption go down. Knowing that most TV shows use direct product placement during their show is kind of annoying, especially when you have commercials every ten minutes anyways. I have also realized that since most of the commercials out there, as well as most media out there is a lie, I need to learn to rely on it less. Being an educated consumer, and being media literate is important because a lot of advertisers use direct ways to get people to buy things. They find a lack of something in someone's life, and use that in the commercial to get the consumer to feel the need to buy it, same with the techniques they use. For example, if an advertisers target market was a nerdy boy or girl in high school, and they used need for affiliation and avante garde in their commercial chances are high that the target market consumer would go out and buy the product. In this situation it's highly doubtful that the product would actually make said consumer popular like they were hoping. When one is able to see these techniques being used and realize the product isn't going to fill the gap in their life that it says it will, the consumer saves the money they would've spent and can now spend it on something useful. Keeping this blog was really fun and really interesting. It gave me a first hand look at the media that is actually involved in my life on a daily basis, and now I am not as reliant on media as I was at the beginning on this semester. It also helped me be able to realize the little tricks people put in their media. Whether it is some weird, often unused, technique, or an obvious product placement in a commercial, I can notice it now easily. I really enjoyed keeping this blog, as well as taking this class. This is one class that is obviously going to be very helpful later in life, and I'm really glad I got the opportunity to take it, even if it did start at 7:18 in the morning.

Entry 14: Carl's Jr Ad

This ad uses a lot of technique and needs to capture attention. First, they use physiological needs. That sandwich looks extremely appetizing, and it would satisfy any hunger anyone had. Of course once you order the sandwich, it doesn't look like that, but that is besides the point. The picture on the ad just needs to attract someone, and they'll want to try it.

The second technique this ad uses is sex appeal. It shows a girl who is wearing a lot of makeup, with a wide open mouth. Right under her mouth and the sandwich is the word blow. This is a weird way to capture attention, but I would guess that it would attract a lot of attention from guys.

Entry 13: Range Rover Print Ad

This ad caught my eye really easily. To start off, it has a picture of two rhinos and then a Range Rover. Rhinoceros are typically thought of as strong, enduring animals. Land Rover wants people to associate the Range Rover with a rhinoceros, or it wants people to think that the cars are really strong, and able to go through anything. The fact that they can handle anything satisfies the need to feel safe. If one is ever stuck in a tough situation, but they have a good car, they can get through it.

The ad also uses the need for prominence. Range Rovers are known as high class, expensive cars, and they still maintain that reputation while in a pool of mud. The car still looks extremely clean, yet it is in a pool of mud.

Entry 12: Geico Insurance Ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saIXzCoGHbU

One technique this ad uses is wit and humor. This commercial is funny because they use an old childhood story, the pigs and the market story, in order to try to make their business more appealing to a bigger audience. Not only do they use this story but they take it to the next level by having the pig be in a human's car being dropped off at home.

This ad also uses the need to feel safe, because the insurance agency wants you and your possessions to be protected. They're using the story of the pigs and the market to back up the fact that Geico will save you money. They are saying that Geico, not only, saving you money, but also keeping you and your possessions is as true as the pig saying "Weeee"all the way home.

Entry 11: Lay's Print Ad

This ad used two main advertising techniques. The first thing they used was magic ingredients. They say that 3 ingredients can make you smile, instead of the 12 muscles you have to control your mouth. They say their only ingredients are potatoes, oil, and salt. To me, that does not sound very appetizing, so it seems like they would need special ingredients in order to get their chips so appealing.

They use physiological needs because whenever I see a picture of Lay's, or a bag, or anything at all to do with them my mouth instantly starts watering. I would bet that anyone who has ever tried them has the same reaction I do. They use physiological needs to appeal to your inner appetite, and frankly, it works.

Entry 10: Tide Commercial

I was watching Catfish during winter break, and during it I saw some commercials that did not seem to fit. Catfish is about people who meet online, and it is on MTV, so to me, it seems like the show is more directed to teenagers who still live with their parents. Knowing this, one of the commercials I saw was a Tide commercial. I thought this was weird because the commercial itself was really bright and colorful, and seemed like it would attract teenagers, yet it was for laundry detergent. Regardless of whether a teenager does their laundry themselves, most would not buy detergent for their family. I thought this was really weird because they are paying for their commercial to air, but its airing to the wrong people, which seems pointless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JmhdBpLx2k

Entry 9: Taken 2

Over winter break, I watched the movie Taken 2. Within the first ten minutes I noticed a product placement. The daughter's phone is a white iPhone, a typical teenage girl phone, which is also a stereotype. Throughout the movie, she uses her phone a lot to communicate with her father who has been kidnapped by his enemies. Without her phone, she wouldn't have been able to find him. To me, this implies that Apple wants you to think that their phones are really reliable, and even able to save you  or a loved one from death.

It's stereotypical that the girl has the white iPhone, because most girls I know my age have the white one, and Apple wants the audience to think that if you are a teenage girl, the white iPhone is something you can get to be cool, in other words, they use the need for affiliation.