Media Reflection

First off, I enjoyed this media assignment more than I though I would. It was actually quite fun keeping up a blog. I'm glad that we got to keep up a blog instead of doing a notebook with articles in it. 

How much media do you consume? How does this impact your life?
Personally, I consume not a lot of media. I am only on the computer for my homework, researching for projects and helping people with homework over Facebook. I don't watch T.V. or YouTube so all in all, I consume about maybe 2 to 4 hours of media a day--depending on my homework load. This media consumption impacts my life in  many ways. First off, when I am researching for projects, it provides me with quick and easy information right at my finger tips. Since there is so much media, I have to be careful of false information. Also, I love helping people. I am on Facebook pretty much every single day helping people with homework or answering questions. 

How does being aware of your media consumption change your interactions with media?
Whenever I hear or see advertisement, I find myself not paying attention to the commercial but picking out what advertising techniques and appeals the advertisers use. 

Have your media consumption habits changed this semester?
My media consumption also has stayed at the same amount as it was when I first started this assignment. Since I don't consume much anyways, it hasn't fluctuated at all.   

Why is it important to have media literacy?
It is important to have media literacy so when you are consuming media, you don't fall into the pitfalls it leads you into. Also, you are more careful about the messages it sends you and how you respond to them.

Why is being an educated consumer important?
Being and educated consumer is important because if you are educated about what the media portrays products as, you are less likely to give into what they are telling (or falsely telling) you. If you understand advertisement  you know what you really want to buy. Personally, because of this unit, I don't have impulses to buy things when I go shopping. Before I would have impulses but now, because I am an educated consumer, I spend less money on things I don't need and buy only things that I can actually utilize. 

What did you get out of keeping this log?
This log helped me pick out the advertising techniques and appeals that are used in the media. Now whenever I am reading a magazine and I see advertisements, I can automatically pick out if Bandwagon or the Need to Achieve is used. It is actually quite fun deciphering the messages the advertisers are sending to me. 

Other thoughts on media and media literacy?
I have no other thoughts but I had a fun experience with this unit!

Maybelline

The main goal of this ad is to attract viewers by using the need for autonomy and magic ingredients 

This ad consists of an attractive, young blond model in the top left hand corner with bright red lips. She is holding a sheet of paper or something with two lip prints. One is crumbly and the other isn't.

The ad appeals to 18-25 year old females. Well, I mean, guys wouldn't wear lipstick ahhaha. The main appeal of this ad is need for autonomy. It says, "No other longwear lasts longer. Period." This implies by wearing this that you will stand out from all other girls who wear lipstick.

I also noticed that all the important messages that it wants the viewers to notice are all in bright red, like the colour of the lipstick. The rest are just grey and black. My eyes were first attracted to the red so I read it first. Quite effective advertising if you ask me.

The magic ingredient of this product is Micro-Flex. I mean what the heck is that? Maybe the advertisers want you to be curious to see what this Micro-Flew does. Maybe they are hoping you will be curious enough to go out and buy this product.

Also, the media is conveying the message that girls need to look beautiful by using make up and cosmetics. This ad is playing off those messages. It is taking advantage of what the media is saying girls must do and it is providing them a product to buy so they can be what the media tells them to be.

Olay Total Effects

I thought the main goal of this ad was to draw in the audience by using advertising technique Simple Solutions.

The first think I noticed were the words under the model's eyes. This got me curious so I read the rest of the ad. The main technique of this ad is Simple solutions. The words, "dab dab smear dab smudge dot dot" appear under her left eye and under her right eye the word "sweep" appears. The words under her left eye are in a font that is kind of crazy looking. This give the impression that these words have a negative meaning. The word Sweep under her right eye is in a near, fancy font which gives the impression that the word has a positive meaning. Also, there are 7 times as many words under her left eye compared to the 1 words under her right. This gives the impression that it take a lot of work to cover up dark circles with other brands but it is easy to cover up dark circles with Olay.

I think this ad is effective because it provides one single, non complicated solution to fixing dark circles.

Nescafe: Coffee Stuffs

I thought the main goal of this ad was to draw in the audience in by the need to satisfy curiosity and physiological needs. 

The first thing I noticed when I saw this ad--well the first thing my eyes were drawn to, that is--is that red cup in the center of the page. The red cup against the white back ground come across to us as being simple and serene. Then you see the words, "To Know Us Is To Love Us." The advertisers are implying that because of the simplicity of their product, you will love it. 

Also, the words, "Taste For Yourself." have an air of confidence to them. The advertisers are trying make you curious about how their product tastes. If you are curious enough, you will go out and buy it to try for yourself. 

It is also addressing physiological needs. If you happen to read this in the morning and you are a coffee person, this ad will appeal to you. 

Personally, I thought this ad was effective. It made me curious about how their coffee tasted. Personally I don't drink coffee but if I did, I would go out and buy this product to try it our for myself.  

Are You Living with a Paper Monster?

On the top panel of the ad, it show a messy, chaotic desk with a monster made of paper. Ahhh what a nightmare that would be. To bad we can't do anything about it--oh wait, yes you can! Underneath the upper panel it shows a nice, neat contraption: The NeatDesk. The NeatDesk is a desktop scanner that allows you to scan documents and have an ultimately neater desk, one without a paper monster. 

This ad uses Need to Achieve. Many people are too lazy to take the time and effort to clean up their desk. The advertisers are saying that with this Neat thingydoodad, it is easy to clean up all the papers on your desk. You can achieve a clean-desk status! 

I think this ad is effective because provided a simple solution to a messy desk. Just scan papers here and wah-laa! All neat. 

McDonald's Happy Meal Ad

Ew McDonalds...lets see hmm well first things first, the target audience are moms with young girls. On the ad, it shows a happy young girl holding a Happy Meal being hugged by her mom. When moms to see this, the advertisers want the moms to think: "I want to buy this so my little girl is happy too!" and go buy a Happy Meal. 

Also, for every 'i' in the text, they replace the dot with a heart. I think this contributes to the Need to Nurture because as you read the text, you see that when you purchase a Happy Meal, the Ronald McDonald House Program donates money to help families find hope and a home. But how much money do they donate? I looked over the ad and at first I thought it didn't say anything about it, but as I looked over it again I saw in a very small print almost matching the background colour that the Program donates a penny for every Happy Meal sold. A penny...that isn't a lot. Makes my need-to-nurture feelings go away. 

All in all I think this ad is quite effective. Its use of Appeals and word choice in the text made me want to go buy Happy Meals. 

Campbell's Slow Kettle Soups

The main thing in this ad is Physiological Needs. If you come across this advertisement before lunch or before dinner, the big, steamy bowl of soup looks real appetizing. Campbell's is trying hit our need for good, tasty food by advertising their new line of soups. I also thought this ad's placement in the magazine was quite interesting. A couple pages before it was an article on how to prepare steak and tri-tip Martha Stewart style. Within the article, there were several pictures of nice, steamy, juicy steak. Then BAM, right in the middle of the article there is this Campbell's ad. Very strategic placement if you ask me. Because of its placement, I think it was an effective ad. You get hungry looking at the steak and tri-tip then you get even more hungry when you see a bowl of soup.