Advertising Techniques Journal #4 - PowerBar

Give a brief description of the ad:

-This is an ad for powerbars, with a picture of traits other people may have of you for each set of weights.  The more the amount of weight, the higher other people think of you.

What propaganda techniques are used? Point out where/how each technique is used.

-Flattery, Over-Emphasized, Glittering Generalities. Flattery because the ad is trying to tell you that if you eat powerbars, then you will have enough strength to lift a huge amount of weights and get stronger.  Over-Emphasized because it is saying that you can do the maximum weight limit just by eating a powerbar first. Glittering Generalities because the words posted on the weights are words that stand out in the advertisement.

What effect do the techniques have? In your opinion, do they do their job?

-The techniques try to sell a better lifestyle by using the product, and trying to display false information to get more consumers.  In my opinion, I think that the ad serves it’s purpose, however the message of the ad is clearly not realistic.

Who is the audience for this ad, and how do you know?

-The audience for this ad is people that are not strong who want to become strong, and for people that work out that want to become stronger.  Because the adjectives in the ad are more masculine, it also displays that this product is more for men than women.

What is omitted from this ad? What is the effect of the omission?

-Realistic information, as well as what this product does to even suggest that it could work in the occasion that the ad is serving for the consumer.  The effect of the omission is that without information, it leaves a potential consumer hanging after looking at the ad.

Would different audiences have different reactions? Explain!

-Yes, people who have tried something like this product would already have the experience to know that it will probably not work as advertised, while inexperienced people would readily be willing to accept the risks of the ad.

What message, lifestyles and values are encouraged and/or portrayed through the ad? Make connections to what is in the ad.

-The lifestyle portrayed in this ad is that if you eat powerbars, then you have what it takes to have big muscles, and you can have a better, more healthy lifestyle.

Advertising Techniques Journal - Spoof

http://www.adbusters.org/content/nike-shoe-sweatshop

Give a brief description of the ad:

-This is a description as to how nike charges a large price for their product, when the people making the product are paid next to nothing.

What propaganda techniques are used? Point out where/how each technique is used.

-Satire, Reality.  The fact that nike is a large company that operates by selling high end material for a high price, while they are greedy enough not to pay the employees that they are unwilling to pay them decent salaries.

What effect do the techniques have? In your opinion, do they do their job?

-The techniques give the feeling that people don’t really know or want to know what is happening before they can buy the product, and that all people really care about is the finished product.  In my opinion, this ad does a good job because it shows how Nike is unwilling to be fair with their employees.

Who is the audience for this ad, and how do you know?

-The audience for this ad are Nike consumers, because they should know what is going on behind the scenes, and not just the finished product.

What is omitted from this ad? What is the effect of the omission?

-Specifics are missing from this ad, such as you don’t know if the 83 cents is an hourly pay or etc.

Would different audiences have different reactions? Explain!

-People of ethnicities that are employees of Nike, and create the products would see this as something important that needs to be put out in public, a story that needs to be told.

What message, lifestyles and values are encouraged and/or portrayed through the ad? Make connections to what is in the ad.

-The message to this ad is that companies overcharge and as long as the company is bringing in more money, and has more assets than liabilities, then that company is operating well.

Branding Research

Apple

Demographics: consumers with $100,000 or greater income (80 percent), and 18-34 year olds (78 percent).

Apple's why message is that "Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo.

Apple functions by creating devices and new forms of technology that change the way people look at technology, and completely revolutionizes the field of technology.

Apple’s products are being sold and are being consumed by their majority 18-34 year old population because of the presence of peer pressure and the idea of keeping up with the Jones’. Also, since Apple keeps producing newer, and more advanced technologies, our youthful population that relies on technology, has a desire to use the newer forms of technology.

https://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_100326.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391929,00.asp

Pop Culture Poetry #1

Persuasion

(a poem convincing consumers to buy into a company)

America,

Home of the Free

Land of the consumer

Where we are told

“Buy in bulk”

“Bigger is better”

“Get more for your dollar”

And we are consumers

People that have given into:

“Just Do It”

“One Stop Shopping”

And “the next big thing”

Michigan

Home of the Fords,

North Carolina

The Wright Brothers,

And so much more,

But today what it has come down to is:

“the new iPad”

“pc mag’s best rated computer”

“the top safety pick”

“the best luxury vehicle”

People have given into companies

Without any thought,

And the persuasion of the ad

Has become the face

of America.

Media Ownership

1. What strikes you about the way media ownership is divided?

How uneven ownership is by different corporations.  For example, Walt Disney has a $40.1 billion revenue, while Tribune Company has a fraction of Walt Disney’s revenue, having a $3.2 billion revenue.

2. How consistent is the information you found? If it's consistent, what does this tell you about the sources? If it is not consistent, do you have any ideas about why the info doesn't match up? Consider source legitimacy, date of research, etc.

The information I found was consistent.  This displays that the sources have used the same sources or have found their research directly from the companies that they were researching.

3. What are the pros or cons of the way media ownership is currently divided?

Pros:

-Companies can focus in specific areas of media.

Cons:

-Some companies and medias are at a disadvantage because they don’t have revenues that are large enough to keep that media area successful, while another media with larger revenue companies have more to try to get ahead.

4. What questions do you have about what you are noticing, or what do you want to know more about?

For companies that focus in several areas of media, how much of their focus is in each area?

Advertising Techniques Journal #2 - Obama

Give a brief description of the ad:

-It’s Obama’s hope campaign poster.

What propaganda techniques are used? Point out where/how each technique is used.

-Glittering generalities. The word hope stands out trying to represent how Obama is the right fit for president.

What effect do the techniques have? In your opinion, do they do their job?

-It gives the feeling of comfort in voting for this potential leader.

Who is the audience for this ad, and how do you know?

-Anyone interested in politics, anyone who may be a liberal.

What is omitted from this ad? What is the effect of the omission?

-There is no information as to why hope should be placed with Obama. The effect is that people are going to want to know more.

Would different audiences have different reactions? Explain!

-Yes, conservatives would be less interested in these advertisements.

What message, lifestyles and values are encouraged and/or portrayed through the ad? Make connections to what is in the ad.

-The message is that Obama is a trustworthy potential leader and people should feel safe with him as a leader.

Advertising Techniques Journal #1 - Corvette

Give a brief description of the ad:

-The ad is saying that car makers follow the lead of a Chevrolet Corvette, and try to compete with the Corvette.

What propaganda techniques are used? Point out where/how each technique is used?

-Bandwagon, Symbolism. The symbolism is that Chevrolet leads the way in making cars. Bandwagon is evident in that if you are someone who wants to be the first or wants to have the best car, then they will make a transaction for this type of car.

What effect do the techniques have? In your opinion, do they do their job?

-The techniques have the effect of trying to get a potential client to buy this car by claiming that it’s the best and the leader of the revolution.  In my opinion, this ad is a little vague but does a good job.

Who is the audience for this ad, and how do you know?

- Young to middle aged adults, because the idea of driving a fast car usually fits this age demographic.

What is omitted from this ad? What is the effect of the omission?

- There is no detail on how the car is better than others, so it loses potential clients because it doesn’t say how it’s better.

Would different audiences have different reactions? Explain!

-Yes, because they don’t think the same and would probably weigh what their needs are more than what they want.

What message, lifestyles and values are encouraged and/or portrayed through the ad? Make connections to what is in the ad.

- Messages to be a leader and to own the best car for your wants is portrayed in the ad.