Silence Kills...

For one of my blog entries I wanted to write about something other than commercials. No better time than the present!

For this entry, I wanted to focus on printed advertisements. I didn’t want to do too many, so I chose 2 that I will focus on. The 2 that I chose are caught my attention because of their illusions and because of their messages. 

VERBAL ABUSE

First, there is an ad about verbal abuse. The photograph shows a man with his mouth wide open like he is screaming. A fist protrudes his mouth and grasps the hair of a fearful woman. The pain in her face is obvious. She silently pleads for help as he verbally abuses her.

The advertisement had no words, but there was no need for them. The message is clear; verbal abuse hurts as much as physical abuse. The ad is powerful because we know the message without having to read it.

The Media and Stereotypes

Something that was interesting to me was that there are many advertisements similar to this one; however, none of them showed the reverse role. Though many of them showed young boys being verbally abused by adults, they did not show adult men being abuse by women. 

When ads show stereotypical things it makes me realize just how stereotypes come about. The media is perhaps the fastest, most effective way that we communicate in the 21^st century. If they are showing us that it is not OK for men to verbally abuse women, but yes it is OK that women can abuse men, then I believe that we, as a society, have a lot of improvements to make!


More Verbal Abuse Ads (Women)
Verbal Abuse Ads (Children)

Choking ...SMOKING

Another ad that I found interesting came about in Latin America. Regarding demographics, I believe the ad is targeted towards young Latino men. We know this because young men are a more prone to playing sports.

Unlike in the United States, soccer is the most popular sport; therefore, this ad would speak words to many of Latin America’s people. Besides soccer being the most popular sport, we know that this is geared towards Latinos because in small letters “Com cigarro tuda vira cinza” is written, which is Spanish. If translated to English, this means “with cigarettes, your life goes to ashes.”

I looked up the phrase on Google and found this information:

“Brazil has the world’s strictest governmental laws against smoking, consisting of highly visible anti-smoking campaigns, severe control on advertising, and very high taxes on smoking products. Despite these obstacles, the number of smokers in Brazil continues to grow. 

In 2006, there were approximately 44 million smokers in the country, up from 38 million in 1997.

Factors driving this trend include the low price of cigarettes, which are among the lowest in the world; the easy access to tobacco products as well as the actions taken by the powerful tobacco companies to slow down the anti-smoking legislation in Brazil (Eyes on Brazil - Word Press).”

Considering this, I would think that the ad targets Brazilians a large bit.

Cigs crush dreams?

This ad speaks directly to the target group because young Latino athletes would look at this and see that if they smoke, their dreams would fall apart.  If this ad was to be place in the US, they may have football players on the front, because people see athletes as role models. It is a young football players dream to become a football star. The ad shows that smoking is not needed in order to fulfill the desire to become a soccer player and in fact, it will hurt your chances of doing so.

I believe the purpose of this ad is to reach out to the young Latinos before they try tobacco and are already addicted. So in a sense, it is to prevent them from smoking. When young people see that smoking isn’t the “cool” thing to do, they may look at smoking adults differently.

The Young-Old Spice

Sex sells! The half naked man in the bathroom sells as well. With over 31,244,240 views on YouTube, the Old Spice commercial has topped many of the commercials that I have seen in the past year.

Aside from being hilarious, Isaiah Mustafa gives the feeling of sexy sarcasm. Though Old Spice is typically meant for men, the commercial is focused more on the woman (or man) in the man’s life.

It seems to me that the purpose of this commercial and others like it is to reposition the product in consumers’ minds. Old Spice is typically for older men, but the commercial brings the young, sexy side into the mix, though this does not change the “old people smell” of the actual product.

The commercial is filled with random lines and scenes that do not have a specific connection, which adds to the mystery and humor of the advertisement. 

The exact words from the commercial are: “Hello, ladies, look at your man, and now back to me. Now back at your man, and now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped using ladies scented body wash and switched to Old Spice, he could smell like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on a boat with the man your man could smell like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s an oyster with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again, the tickets are now diamonds! Anything is possible when your man smells like Old Spice and not a lady. I’m on a horse.”

Subliminal Messages???

I did not notice the intensity of the persuasion in the commercial until I read the article On Sumbliminal Manipulation and that Old Spice Commercial.

It points out the fact that the props used in the commercial have meanings within themselves, which I am sure are subliminal to the average consumer. For example, diamonds mean marriage and wealth, while a horse symbolizes grace, beauty, and freedom.

This, along with the half-naked man with a mesmerizing voice and humor has the ability to grab the attention of millions. I am not sure whether the video was popular because of the “sexy” Isaiah Mustafa or because it was not similar to the commercials we are used to. What I do know is that sex, and “sexy” DOES sell. 

Click here to view an interview with Isaiah Mustafa which gives details on how he creates his commercials and how he started doing them.

Late Night Snack

Why aren’t we supposed to watch television late at night? Maybe it’s because of commercials like THIS! Though it is not bad for Ruby Tuesday’s, it may be for the consumer, especially if they’re on a diet.

I saw this Ruby Tuesday’s commercial one night and instantly got an appetite. It’s a little funny because I do not even like seafood! 

This Ruby Tuesday’s commercial and those like it often place the thought of the food in the back of the viewers’ minds. I found myself thinking about the food on the commercial the next day at lunch. 

The commercial began showing the moving water, showing that the fish was fresh. It shows the fresh vegetables being sliced and tossed on top of the tilapia fish and pasta. As this occurs, they give an overview of what the meal entails which gives us the feeling that it will be the most delicious meal we have ever tasted.

They use key phrases that relate back to the seafood theme. They tell us to “dive” into the shell fish trio. Their goal is to get us to “set sail” through their seafood festival today.

On the night that I actually saw the commercial I was a little disappointed because I wanted food though I knew I was not supposed to eat. It was also frustrating because I had no way to get the food because it was so late and I had no transportation. 

If you have the same urge I do to snack at night, try this site!  How to Stop Late Night Food Cravings 

Sometimes I feel as though that is the purpose of the commercials. Obviously they want to put their product’s image in our minds, but I feel as though they are doing more. They put these images in our minds at the right time, when we are cannot get to the product. 

For me, this gives me time to think of all of my options. For example, on the commercial they featured seafood. Because I do not like seafood, I thought of other things that may be more satisfying to me.

Though I realize the intent of the commercials, sometimes they still catch my eye. 

I have only been to Ruby Tuesday’s once before. After seeing this commercial, I want to go again. I am hoping that I get enough so that I can save a bit for that late night craving.

After all, it doesn’t hurt to snack sometimes. =)   Ruby Tuesday's!!!

What about US???

Not just Strong, Army Strong. The army commercials redefine the meaning of strong.

I asked a few people that were sitting near me as I wrote this: “What does strong mean?” Besides the few “huh?” looks I received, some responses I got were: strength, muscles, and power.

While all of these are a part of what being strong is, the commercial makes me feel like there is more to it.

Define: Army Strong

The commercial really attempts to paint a picture of the “Army Strong” concept. In a way, they define it for us if we pay close enough attention.

The commercial starts with soldiers telling us their positions. It then goes to show other soldiers stating things such as “I will never accept defeat” and “I will never quit.” This shows that members of the Army are willing to persevere through anything.

Throughout the commercial we hear more things that make these soldiers “Army Strong.” They are men and women who serve our country. They tell us that they never leave a fallen comrade, meaning that they are dependable, loyal, and unselfish.

They stress that they are mentally and physically capable of fulfilling their duties.

So yes. Being Army Strong does entail strength, muscles, and power. But it means that you need to be a lot more than that. Dependability, team work, discipline, and the ability to fight for freedom.

America>U.S.

In a way, I feel as though the commercial stresses the “American” aspect. This is a little odd to me because though we are Americans, we are from the United States. We do not fight for America; we fight for the United States of America. Mexicans, Canadians, and those living in South America are also American.

Do we fight for them? No. Still, in the commercial they use “United States” twice, while repeating “America(n)” about six times.

Persuasion, the Army way... 

It is also obvious that the commercial is a persuasive one. Their “team”, the U.S. Army is described through the commercial. They illustrate all the qualities that anyone would want to have. Who wouldn’t want to be loyal and dependable?

I visited the http://www.goarmy.com/om/ website and found that it was even more persuasive. The first thing that popped up was photo that said “A world like no other.” I believe that in this time many young people want to be “unique” so something like “a world like no other” is an eye-grabber for them.

After scrolling down, I immediately noticed the “Your Education Our Mission” link. Clearly, going to college is not cheap! Not to mention, the government is cutting appropriations at a large rate. This is something else that may get people to become Army Strong.

too much timePHONE 4

Anticipation. Time. Belief. The few things that make the iPhone 4 from Verizon product and commercial effective. Something that is amazing about the commercial is the fact that it shows the reality of the product.

Verizon users hold true to their network...

The time factor in the commercial is essential because the iPhone for Verizon was presented to users months after it appeared at AT&T. The commercial shows the loyalty that Verizon customers have to their products. Not only did they have faith that Verizon would get the iPhone, but they waited for it as well.

Though the commercial uses little words, they have a large message.  

At first, the commercial gives no information about iPhone or its qualities, possibly because many already know about the iPhone 4. Known as the “phone that changed everything,” the iPhone 4 was presented to the world several times before Verizon consumers knew it would come to their network.

Told you so!

It is no secret what the iPhone is and how it operates. I believe the purpose of the commercial is to remind customers that the iPhone is available, just now, on a new service. Also, to thank Verizon users for sticking with them, and to tell those that did not believe they would ever get the iPhone that YES! We have the iPhone and you were WRONG! 

AT&T vs VERIZON...

The question remains: is the iPhone for Verizon Wireless as effective as the one for AT&T? 

From personal experience, I believe that Verizon has a lot of work to do to catch up to AT&T. The main problem is their lack of a 4G (4^th Generation) network. Without this network, the phone runs slower. 

Though I believe Verizon has better customer service, they still have many things to accomplish before being on the same level as AT&T. 

Verizon Wireless - The iPhone 4

Most Valuable Player

In the fall 2011 semester, St. Vincent University junior Ryan Nelson, 20, will have to choose between his two loves: music and basketball.

It hurt Nelson that he could not have both in his life, but it is beginning to be very stressful and taking up a majority of his time. In a sense, it felt like he was cheating on one with the other, as if music was his life and basketball was a girlfriend.

According to Nelson, he has been a musician ever since he could remember.

“My dad always had the best music on in the car and when you’re surrounded with great music, it drives the love even more,” he said.

His father would sing along to the Temptations and Maxwell as they traveled from place to place. Nelson caught on quickly and began to sing too. Eventually, he began to test out instruments.

“I didn’t play instruments until fourth grade because my elementary school only allowed us to at that age. Also, because my parents could not afford to buy me expensive instruments, especially since they did not know if I would continue playing them. I didn’t mind though; I still loved them,” Nelson explained.

At this point, it was obvious how much Nelson cared about his family. His sincere, yet calm tone matched his heart-felt words. He smiled and continued to elucidate his musical journey.

Nelson’s favorite instrument to play was and still is the saxophone, but he also plays the drums and piano. As he grew up, he focused more on the saxophone.

In high school, he played in a self-made jazz band called “The Vibe.”

There were two other members of the band. Both were younger than Nelson but had the about the same musical talent. John Thomas played the drums, while Brandon Flournoy stroked the keys of the piano.

Nelson’s best friend and musical supporter, Erin Hager of Carlow University has been at numerous performances that The Vibe has put on.

Hager specifically remembers his high-school talent show performance.

“Say Yes by Floetry is my favorite song that they played. I remember screaming and cheering along with the large crowd of students and family members.”

Hager describes Nelson’s music as “awesome” and said she will continue to support him in his future musical endeavors. Her face lit up as she spoke of her best friend. Her pearly white teeth shined like the star she thought Nelson would become.

Nelson’s musical talent didn’t come without support. He gives thanks to his high school teachers Mr. Watkins and Mr. Lane for pushing him and standing behind him and his dreams.

“They became somewhat of advisors for me. That really helped, because at the time, that’s what I needed. I would have quit without them being there,” he said.

Mr. Watkins and Mr. Lane are still in Nelson’s life after three years of college. They encourage him to do his best and strive for success. They teach him that success is what he makes of it. If he feels that playing music or basketball, or even a career in mathematics is successful, then go for it one hundred percent. This is where his dilemma began.

 When his horn wasn’t blowing the sounds of neo soul jazz, his Nike tennis shoes screeched down the basketball court.

Nelson says that since he can remember becoming a fan of music at the age of four, he can remember playing basketball.

It started with a game of H.O.R.S.E., which he describes as a basketball game for children and basketball beginners. The purpose of the game is to make each basket, because once you start to miss you begin to spell out the word HORSE.

One missed shot, H; on the second missed shot, O and the game continued this way until players were eliminated for missing five shots and there was one player left on the court. Nelson was always the last one standing.

Basketball was a way for Nelson to stay out of trouble and off of the streets. He says that being a black man is not easy, especially when all of the odds are against you. High school basketball gave him the motivation to continue in college.

Teammate Henry Utku, St. Vincent Sophomore describes Nelson as a “passionate” player.

“He plays hard, never gives up, and gives his all, which makes him a great player,” said Utku.

Nelson has loved the two, music and sports equally and will miss one of them dearly.

Because juggling a full time class schedule, playing music and sports is “chaotic.”

Nelson said, “I’m going to have to choose music or sports.”

He wants to become the best he can be at one, because splitting the dedication between the two is hurting him more than helping, he said.

He remembers that Mr. Lane and Mr. Watkins told him to give one hundred percent to everything that he would pursue. Nelson knew doing both was not an option.

He covered his face with his hands for about a minute. The room became a coping place for Nelson. It seemed as though he was mourning the death of his first love -- basketball.

In an instant, he pulled up from his misery and smiled.

He said “It’s ok. I will always have a chance at basketball and I can continue to practice.” A smile took over his face. It was obvious that he was content with his decision.

Playing professional basketball is now the least of his worries. Nelson wants to continue focusing on his education and his music.

Whether he is playing music or playing sports, and whether he 

is the most valuable player in the auditorium or on the court, 

Nelson continues to strive for the best. 

“I will never forget what Mr. Watkins told me on the last 

day of school,” said Nelson. “Always remember that 

perfection is something that we strive for with the knowledge 

that we will never be perfect. The harder you work, the more

 frustration will fade away."

Detroit 200

Are there any true similarities between Detroit and Chrysler? One of Chrysler’s newest commercial shows the power of the Chrysler 200 by simply comparing it to the motor city – Detroit. Each and every word uttered by the narrator speaks about the city of Detroit; yet, it refers to the car as well.

It shows that the city know about luxury and the finer things in life, because “the hottest fires make the hardest steel.” This statement shows that though the city has its problems, overcoming them is much more powerful which gives them the opportunity to create something powerful like the Chrysler 200.

The commercial is showing that a car is not only about whom it is for, but where it is from.  The commercial shows the true story of Detroit and Chrysler. It emphasizes that it is an American made car, and that Detroit is the motor city and cars are “what they do.”

Commercials with dual meanings are my favorite. I love that Chrysler not only markets its product, but the city as well. It also markets the American brand. Many things in the United States are made in China, Japan, and sometimes India. Rarely do we see a sticker that says “made in America.” 

Something that caught my attention was that they showed the full car only a few times. The commercial tells little about the car, except the fact that it is a luxury car. We assume that the car has everything we need and want because it says that it is luxury. It does not give us information about speed, gas mileage, safety, and other things that one should know when they buy a car.

In a way, If feel that that the purpose of the commercial is to connect with people who are not from the big cities. It emphasizes that the car is NOT from New York, Chicago, and other big cities, which I am assuming is a plus for the car. 

I am in the process of looking for a car for my graduation present (don’t tell my mom =D…) and given that no information was given about the car, I would not buy it. Whether or not the car is like Detroit, I do not know because I have never been. The commercial makes me want to visit Detroit over buying the car.

Click to view the Chrysler 200