"Every Body"

I will be looking at the following Victoria's Secret ad:

 Supposedly, this campaign slogan used to read "The Perfect Body." They changed it to the above because of how angry people got. Although this is more a more inclusive slogan, I still find this to be a controversial ad.

Yes, there's 10 different women on this ad and they're all wearing a Body bra. How is the ad about bras for "every body" supposed to represent that if they all have a similar body type? All of these women are fit, slender models. Where is the representation of curvy women or women who have had kids or women who don't work out everyday?

These women are beautiful, fit, and have enviable figures. Just because they have societally beautiful bodies, that doesn't mean they represent every body type. It's true that most women who see this ad will be jealous of their bodies. Also, these women are most likely retouched and they definitely have to work to keep their bodies like that.

I, for one, don't look like this and probably never will. I feel like my body type, as well as many others are not represented in this ad. This ad appears to be inclusive of all body types, but is in fact, shutting out all body types but one specific one.

Coco Mademoiselle

One of Chanel's perfumes, Coco Mademoiselle, has a couple ads starring Kiera Knightley. Here's a link to the ad that I'll be examining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZAZD3ylG6Y.

The ad follows the man as he searches for Kiera Knightley's character. It all starts out in a black and white room, with fancy people wearing all-black. She ends up disappearing and the next time we see her is when she's cruising down a river on a small boat and under a bridge where the man is standing. The ad ends with them making eye contact, followed by a view of the actual product.

One thing I noticed in the ad was that the man is the only one who seems to notice her. If everyone appeared to notice her, I would say that it appeals to the need for autonomy. Because he is the only one who sees her, this seems to appeal to the need for attention. There is a bit of a need for escape because of the apparent adventure in chasing after Kiera Knightley's character.

The fact that Kiera Knightley is the main focus is a use of testimonial because, although the ad is more of a story, she is still a very recognizable actress. Just her presence in the ad makes the ad memorable because of how famous she is. She doesn't even speak in the ad, but that doesn't make a difference. It actually adds to the mysterious aspect of the ad.

The music in the ad has a mysterious and almost magical quality to it. It establishes a mood that makes viewers want to follow the story. The lighting in the first part of the ad is artificial and very fluorescent. The end of the ad uses real lighting, with a sun setting in the background.

Disney's Brand Experience

Everyone knows the name "Disney." It's everywhere in our world; we are constantly bombarded by Disney sales, stores, and new movies. This isn't to say that I have a problem with all of this- I personally love Disney and find everything they produce adorable and/or magical.

Disney has created a huge brand that comes along with a certain experience. Disney is associated with being magical; they have created a world full of gorgeous princesses, fighting princes, and swashbuckling pirates. Something that I've found really encapsulates this brand experience. What I'm talking about is a gallery of Annie Leibovitz photographs with celebrities playing the roles of popular Disney characters. I'll include a couple of my favorites below, along with the link, so you can check them out before you continue reading.
http://www.doctordisney.com/annie-leibovitzs-image-gallery-of-disney-dream-portraits-celebrities-as-disney-characters/

These photographs are not only beautifully done, they create an image in viewers' heads about Disney. These photos perfectly capture what Disney is about- having a magical experience and letting yourself dream.

 

These ads aren't selling a product or saying that's what you'll see if you go to one of their Disney Parks. They are selling an idea; an idea that it's wonderful to dream and to imagine the possibilities of a fantasy world. They make it seem like that fantastical world we've dreamed of is one step closer.

 

These photos/ads are also genius because of the multiple demographics they affect. These don't just target little girls obsessed with princesses. They target the older generations because of their realism and the easy-to-recognize celebrities. These photos also capture the attention of little boys who look up to the bravery of classic Disney male heroes.

 

In summary, these ads are a genius way to target different demographics and sell the true Disney experience.

Going from a Stud to a Dud

I'll be analyzing the following Papa Murphy's ad:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=papa+murphys+%22bolder%22+ad&view=detail&&&mid=39AD8149DEA80F540ECF39AD8149DEA80F540ECF&rvsmid=39AD8149DEA80F540ECF39AD8149DEA80F540ECF#view=detail&mid=39AD8149DEA80F540ECF39AD8149DEA80F540ECF

Okay so first of all, this ad shouldn't have aired due to its' blatant sexism towards men and its' seeming support of parents choosing other activities over their children. This ad is apparently aimed towards mothers whose husbands have been too busy taking care of their children to worry about being stereotypically "manly," which they disguise by using the word 'bold.' Just because they use a word other than "manly," it doesn't mean the message of the commercial isn't obvious.

This commercial doesn't portray the mother or the father in a healthy way. The woman is disappointed when she realizes her "stud" has become more of a dud and feels that being manly is higher on the priority list for her husband than being a good father. After the father is "boldened," he pretty much ignores his two daughters. He goes from being an attentive father who plays dress-up with them to being a manly man who pays more attention to football than his daughters vying for his attention.

People who are like the mother obviously don't find being a good parent attractive. Instead, all they care about is if their partner fits that gender stereotype. This points out a whole other issue- the fact that men have to do stereotypically manly things in order to truly be man. This is not okay for anyone to do to anyone else. As a true feminist, I believe that men shouldn't have to conform to standards either and this commercial embodies one of the main stereotypes that men are supposed to conform to.

As a girl who enjoyed playing with her father when she was younger, I think this commercial undermines how important father-daughter relationships are. Just because my dad took time out of his day to hang out with me and play dolls with me, doesn't make him any less of a man. In fact, it makes him more of a man because he didn't feel the need to conform to men's standards of masculinity.

George Orwell Applied to the Refugee Crisis

To apply a question from the Orwell assignment, I'm answering the following question:
"How would you describe the tone of this article from CNN? Does the tone range from one part of the article to another?"


The tone of this article about the refugee crisis (http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/syria-refugees-unhcr/index.html) is very misfortune-focused. The author aims to expose both the hardships in Syria and in their temporary homes. What seems lesser known about the refugee issue is that they are experiencing nearly or just as many hardships as the place they escaped from. This article is very apparently sympathetic to the refugees and their plight as they flee one danger zone, just to enter another. CNN uses stories in the article about women being harassed and violated in their new homes in order to really pull on the heartstrings of readers and show that the refugees do need help from outsiders. The author also uses quotes about the refugees' struggles and statistics demonstrating the horrors that the refugees have experienced to demonstrate the sympathetic, activist tone. This tone stays constant throughout the article, even including a link at the bottom titled, "How to help refugees." The author and news source are obviously in favor of helping out the refugees, the people who are searching for a safe home for themselves and their families.

My Relationship with Media Today...

Media effects my life in various ways, sometimes without knowing it.
I don't listen to an extreme amount of music. I'm not prone to listening to music between classes and I don't listen to it whenever I get the chance. Sure, I listen to music more this year than in the past, but unlike others my age, I don't need music to do things.
I enjoy watching TV shows, especially if I can binge watch them on Netflix. Watching TV shows without commercials gives me less of a media influx in my head; there are less media tricks to assault me with.
I thoroughly enjoy watching movies of all kinds, which exposes me to different kinds of media tricks due to the different audiences they're aiming for.
I think social media has the biggest grasp on my life. Although I don't have many social media platforms, I still feel like I'm most affected by it. Instagram is my main source, in terms of social media. The only other social media platforms I have are an unused kik and an occasionally-used Pinterest. I don't have Snapchat, Tumblr, Facebook, or Twitter, but I am still strongly effected by what social media spurts out.
Even though I don't always realize how strong a hold the media has on my life, it is an ever-present shadow, lurking in the background.