The Superbowl has always been one of my favorite television events to watch, even as a kid. Now, as an "adult" it's even more compelling. Why? Because of my fascination with ads. One of my favorite ads from the Superbowl was the Coca-Cola (Big Game) commerical. It featured a wide diversity of people from different countries, doing different activities. What they all had in common however, was their love for the fizzy drink. It actually warmed my heart how such a big brand can incorporate that many ethnicities, even including a woman wearing a hijab, to advertise it's well known brand. Not only that, they had different people sing in different languages sing the National Anthem through out. Packed with its beautiful cinematography, and beautiful diversity, this commercial was one that really stood out to me.
There was also the Budweiser "puppy love" one. Although I felt it was completely irrelevant to the product it was selling itself, just showing such a heartbreaking and adorable story about a friendship between a puppy and a horse, was a great marketing campaign to get people talking and thinking about its brand.
(Unposted from February 3rd)
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Consumer Behavior
One recently failed product, that some people probably don't even know came out in 2013, is the BlackBerry Q10. You might've thought the BlackBerry was a thing of the past - and it rightly should've been. Why? Because the technology is outdated to consumers. Touchscreen has been the it thing in these modern times. It is incredibly easy to work a touch screen, so it has become the new and most important feature to get for consumers. Because of this, releasing a new BlackBerry, especially still with a equipped with a clunky keyboard resulted in dramatic failed sales. The one thing that was valued by BlackBerry users, was the BBM (BlackBerry Messenger). But even that has been turned into an app for iPhone users, making the BlackBerry virtually useless now to current consumers who want to stay current and not be held back.
They competed with top brands like Samsung and iPhone, so they did not stand a chance, what with not updating its general outer interface. In a time where touch screens prevail, its release of another clunky keyboard added to the weight of its downfall.
They competed with top brands like Samsung and iPhone, so they did not stand a chance, what with not updating its general outer interface. In a time where touch screens prevail, its release of another clunky keyboard added to the weight of its downfall.
Environmental Campaign
Greenpeace UK is one of the stand outs in environmental campaigns. Their focus is campaigning against the arctic drilling and oil fracking. One of the main reasons for its success is probably it's use of digital technologies and media to spread the word out. They have produced a commercial that has become very popular, and has almost one million and a half videos on youtube.
With it's tale of relevance and heart pounding scenes, it's no wonder they've been able to win the support of thousands. This is one of the smartest uses of digital technologies to help with the campaign.
Another way they've used digital technologies to help with their campaign is their website, http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/
The website is a very articulate and well informed guidebook into their campaign, describing what the campaign aims to do as well as giving updates on news about the well being of the Earth.
But probably the most important feature of all of the website, is the ability to directly donate to the cause on the site. There is also a "Campaign Online" button, where you can use your own abilities to spread word. They also include links to where you can sign up for updates with your email, or RSS feed. It's a very modern and up to date way of campaigning.
With it's tale of relevance and heart pounding scenes, it's no wonder they've been able to win the support of thousands. This is one of the smartest uses of digital technologies to help with the campaign.
Another way they've used digital technologies to help with their campaign is their website, http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/
The website is a very articulate and well informed guidebook into their campaign, describing what the campaign aims to do as well as giving updates on news about the well being of the Earth.
But probably the most important feature of all of the website, is the ability to directly donate to the cause on the site. There is also a "Campaign Online" button, where you can use your own abilities to spread word. They also include links to where you can sign up for updates with your email, or RSS feed. It's a very modern and up to date way of campaigning.
Parks & Recreation & Diversity
The show, Parks & Recreation, is one of my favorite television shows, with its clever comedy and heartwarming stories. It is also one of my favorites because of its colorful characters. And by colorful, I mean colorful. This show does indeed reflect racial and gender diversity to a very high standard. Though the cast is mainly white, major characters in the show include an Indian man, an African American woman, and a very apparently mixed woman. The characters are also very diverse in the gender department, having more than half the cast women, and the star of the show itself being a strong and empowered woman.
In fact, many of the jokes on the show address the issue on racial and gender stereotyping. Tom Haverford, the Indian man previously mentioned, was born in America, and the show addresses how he often gets annoyed when people assume he was born in some Indian country.
Leslie Knope, the main character, who embodies a strong woman running for office, has daily struggles with being in a head figure in the government and also a woman. She receives countless backlash just for being a woman. They have portrayed many ignorant characters in the show who believe that Leslie should just calm down in the government and stay at home and get a normal "woman job." The show actually largely focuses on the issue at hand. They tend not to stereotype the characters by race or by gender.
In fact, many of the jokes on the show address the issue on racial and gender stereotyping. Tom Haverford, the Indian man previously mentioned, was born in America, and the show addresses how he often gets annoyed when people assume he was born in some Indian country.
Leslie Knope, the main character, who embodies a strong woman running for office, has daily struggles with being in a head figure in the government and also a woman. She receives countless backlash just for being a woman. They have portrayed many ignorant characters in the show who believe that Leslie should just calm down in the government and stay at home and get a normal "woman job." The show actually largely focuses on the issue at hand. They tend not to stereotype the characters by race or by gender.
Racial Stereotyping In Advertising
Judging from a morally compassed view, I don't believe it's ever right to racially stereotype for advertising purposes. Even if the ad agencies believe that their profits will become higher if they decide to use a certain race specifically instead of another one, I don't think it's ever right to use ethnicities for that purpose.
That being said, I do believe that most advertising today has not felt the need to racially stereotype in their commercials anymore, or at least more vividly aware of the controversial affects that come with it. Instead, they have been attempting more to focus on diversity. Advertisers have been incorporating it, such as the Cheerios commercial with the African American father and the Caucasian mother, but viewers don't often take a huge liking to it.
That being said, I don't believe racism in advertising is a thing in the past. As long as America still has ignorance coursing through their veins, there will always be advertisers who feel the same. And if they're not directly racist themselves, they will be worried about the affects of being diverse in their advertising because they might be scared about how America will respond. But I do believe racially stereotyping in advertising has gone down a lot, and advertisers have made more of an effort to put it to a stop.
I do think they have an ethical responsibility, as human beings to include diversity in their ads. They must recognize that the entire nation views their products, so they must include diversity to reach and relate to a large amount of people. Although, it is entirely up to them (being a decent human being), whether they choose to do that or not.
That being said, I do believe that most advertising today has not felt the need to racially stereotype in their commercials anymore, or at least more vividly aware of the controversial affects that come with it. Instead, they have been attempting more to focus on diversity. Advertisers have been incorporating it, such as the Cheerios commercial with the African American father and the Caucasian mother, but viewers don't often take a huge liking to it.
That being said, I don't believe racism in advertising is a thing in the past. As long as America still has ignorance coursing through their veins, there will always be advertisers who feel the same. And if they're not directly racist themselves, they will be worried about the affects of being diverse in their advertising because they might be scared about how America will respond. But I do believe racially stereotyping in advertising has gone down a lot, and advertisers have made more of an effort to put it to a stop.
I do think they have an ethical responsibility, as human beings to include diversity in their ads. They must recognize that the entire nation views their products, so they must include diversity to reach and relate to a large amount of people. Although, it is entirely up to them (being a decent human being), whether they choose to do that or not.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Gender Stereotyping & Rose Petal Cottage
The first ad, about the Rose Petal Cottage obviously stereotyped girls, even at a very young age to WANT to do house chores, such as the laundry, cooking, and even taking care of a baby. This is obviously a toy, so this ad is stereotyping young girls and women to have fun while doing these activities, which is really not the case.
If the roles were reversed in the second video, there would be lots of problems. It would be a bunch of guys gawking at a woman taking off her shirt, which would make it instantly derogatory to women, although when women do it to men, it does not seem as bad (whether you want to accept it or not).
If the roles were reversed in the second video, there would be lots of problems. It would be a bunch of guys gawking at a woman taking off her shirt, which would make it instantly derogatory to women, although when women do it to men, it does not seem as bad (whether you want to accept it or not).
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