Reflecting Upon Media...

Ever since I began this media blog, I have paid more attention to the world of media and advertisements around me.  I never really thought about the media's effect on us and the way that it has so much power over our thoughts and actions.  This blog has also caused me to actually watch and analyze commercials (the interesting ones anyway).  I've realized how utterly ridiculous the majority of commercials are, and by analyzing them, I've come to believe that it's practically impossible to create an advertisement without having fallacies or assumptions exploding in your face.  I now find it entertaining to mentally, or verbally point out everything that is wrong with commercials I happen to pay attention to.  The world of commercials is becoming quite absurd.  

I've also come to realize how much media I consume every day.  Living in a world with instant communication and social networking allows for media's messages to lurk in every corner.  I've become so used to media throwing messages at me that I either ignore it (or try to ignore it), unconsciously take it in, or let it somehow influence my thoughts/choices.  I admit to that last part, because who isn't affected by media? Even if you don't want to pay attention to it, it's still there.  Advertisements are constantly being launched at us, whether we like it or not.  

I have most certainly become more media literate.  I now know how to analyze media and determine the messages advertisers are trying to ingrain in our minds.  Like I said before, I've noticed that many commercials are really ridiculous.  However, I've also realized which techniques have a greater effect on me and which techniques get on my nerves.  For example, I find commercials that use simple solutions often make me succumb to my desire of a simple and easy answer.  However, techniques such as snob appeal often get on my nerves because I find it annoying when commercials paint this picture of a luxurious life that is all caused by one product (for example, liquor commercials).  Come on, at least make the consumer believe that the scenario is possible.  

Having the ability to be media literate is critical in this day and age.  As we live in a world filled with media, we often give in to its messages because we're so used to it.  Media has this incredible power over us and it's debatable whether media is a reflection of us, or if we are a reflection of the media.  Personally, I believe we have become reflections of the media.  We are so overwhelmed by media's messages that we can hardly make out what our own thoughts are from what the media wants us to think.  We need to be educated in media literacy in order to realize this and not succumb to the media's power.  For example, as  The Persuaders and Miss Representation pointed out, media has much more influence in society than we may think.  It affects the way we think, the way we act, and the way we view ourselves and others.  Media manipulates our minds so that we may be the "ideal consumer."  After all, media is concerned with money and power.

I've found this media blog to be helpful in my understanding of the world of media.  By analyzing advertisements, I have become aware of the way my own mind responds to media, as well as how the advertisers want me to respond.  This blog has allowed me to feel much more capable of being a critical thinker when it comes to media literacy.  

#12- Sensa Weight Loss- Incredibly Skinny

June 2, 2013

This weight loss ad was actually part of an animation that showed a woman using Sensa and becoming an incredibly skinny version of herself.   As society stresses the importance of being skinny, weight loss ads often provide a simple solution to our desires to be thin.  They show a heavier woman who uses the weight loss program, and then all of a sudden, she becomes really skinny.  Of course. this ad exaggerates the end product, because the cartoon woman has unrealistic proportions.  Her waist, neck, and arms are incredibly skinny and not proportionate to her head.  This is how the ideal woman is always portrayed as a cartoon.  She has curves yet a tiny waist.  We are exposed to this image as young children, since cartoons (especially Disney cartoons) portray women in one way.  If you look at Cinderella, Jasmine, Bell, or any other classic Disney character, they all have this body type in common.  

If we are exposed to this image of the "perfect body" from an early start, we are bound to have this ingrained in our minds.  Cartoons are constantly using this stereotypical thin woman, and as we grow up, the media throws images at us of skinny women who supposedly have the ideal body.  As we get older, the weight loss ads will begin to have more of an effect on us because we want an easy way to lose that extra weight and look "skinny" again.  Why do we need to look skinny?  Because the media says so.  Therefore, society says so.  

While I admit that I am affected by media,  I am not obsessed with being perfectly skinny and looking like a model who is a size zero.  There are too many different body types to strive for one image of "perfection."  It's ridiculous how obsessed we can get over our own image, and we have the media to blame for it.  Starting from such a young age we are bombarded by the message that we have to look a certain way, otherwise we won't fit in with society.  It's a sad thought knowing the media has such power over us.  However, it is still our choice on how we decide to react to media.  It's just hard to ignore something that constantly surrounds us.  

#11 Midnight Poison-a New Cinderella?!

June 2, 2013

This ad caught my attention immediately because of its creepiness.  Fragrance ads seem to be getting stranger because ads like these, in my opinion, are not successful in selling the product.  Unless you yearn to be a vampire or something equivalent to one, the ad is strange in its concept.  It's called Midnight Poison and says "A new Cinderella is born."  What kind of Cinderella is this?!  I guess I understand why they said "Cinderella," since the product has the word "midnight" in it, and Cinderella had to return home by midnight.  However, that is the only connection, and not a very good one I might point out.  I can't say the same for others but personally, I don't want to look deathly pale and be a vampire.  

This ad is all about the extremely pale woman whose face is illuminated as the rest of her body is soaked in a blueish color.  I have to say, the colors do stand out, since the white face provides a contrast to the multiple shades of blue.  However, while the ad stands out, the product isn't sold very well.  What does Midnight Poison smell like?  And does using it make you become a vampire?  That's what the ad seems to be saying.  In fact, it's also saying that Midnight Poison will allow you become Cinderella, except the creepy version of her.  

This ad uses the need for attention, as do most fragrance advertisements.  The woman certainly gets our attention and the ad is trying to visually stimulate us to evoke a reaction.  As a result, we are supposed to be curious to what the fragrance smells like.  The limited use of words also attempts to evoke our curiosity, but frankly, I wouldn't be curious enough to actually check it out.  The ad is visually interesting, but overall it does not focus on the product and instead distracts the consumer with the creepy looking woman in the center.