Reflection

People are exposed to thousands of pieces of media every day in forms such as music or advertisements in television, the radio, magazines, newspapers, or anywhere in the street. I’ll admit that before I started analyzing things I saw in the media, I never really paid attention to the way that the media portrays the world. However, after doing these media blogs and analyzing the media, I see all the detail and thought put into advertisements to get me to notice them and the way the media acts.

One thing I realized was that many of the advertisements and commercials that I see are aimed at my age group. Advertisers assume that teenagers have money to spend and that they are easily fooled by appealing things like color or the desire to be “cool.” In a way, they’re right; if people see a recurring theme in media, it might seem like a cool new trend that everyone will want to follow to fit in. I used to think that advertisements never really affected me, but now I realize that if I simply notice a product, that’s good enough for the company. Companies try to create a variety of ads to target different groups of people. This way, the name or product gets more widespread. They also try to associate the company with ideas like family or love, as if to seem like they’re caring people instead of companies trying to make money.

I notice ads even more now, but it’s probably not the way the advertisers want me to. While an image from McDonald’s might want to make someone buy a lot of food from McDonald’s, I notice how the background, font, and lighting make the food seem good and how the restaurant is trying to make themselves seem prominent. Of course, the advertisers don’t want people to think this. They depend on the fact that people are not all media literate and won’t be able to notice how every detail is making them think.

Another thing that really stood out to me was how the media portrays women. This is one thing that the media doesn’t try to make subtle—women are displayed and objectified as sex object in pretty much every form of media. However, after watching Miss Representation, I realized even more how every detail can effect how someone views a woman. All that the media does is cheer it on. Whoever decided that men were superior to woman? It’s considered normal now for women to be objectified, and none of it is even questioned. Before I started media blogs, I mostly just noticed that women were objectified with their bodies. Now I realize that simply calling a woman by “Mrs.” instead of a professional title diminishes her power. Before this, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to details like this.

I think that I am more media literate after looking closely at all of the media surrounding me. I don’t try to ignore the media; it’s not like this blog made me want to never watch TV or listen to the radio again. Now that I see more techniques that the media uses to affect us, though, I pay attention to it more and try not to get fooled by it. I would like to think that shutting out all of the messages that the media is trying to embed into my mind is possible, but I know that it’s not. However media literate I am, it attacks me from every angle and will still affect me. Analyzing it has been very helpful to me. It has opened my eyes to all the tactics and tricks used against me daily, and because of this, I try to think like myself instead of how I am taught to think instead.

Media Log 14. Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke (MissRepresentation Blog)

Yes, I realize that when people hear the words "Blurred Lines," people either get their pitchforks and torches ready, roll their eyes because "that song is so old," or whip out their iPod and turn the volume up. When things bug me, I don't usually get all fired up about it rather than ignore it, but with this song, I'm more of a pitchforks-and-torches type of person.

When I heard that this song was number one in 2013, I got really mad because this song is so offensive, and many people don't realize it. I found it ironic that everyone exploded at Miley Cyrus's video for "Wrecking Ball" but not at "Blurred Lines," because putting your own body on display is obviously so much worse than having naked women parade around while spelling out rather *ahem* crude words in balloons.

Here are some of the lyrics:

"Okay now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you"

These words make Robin Thicke basically sound like a creep who doesn't know that no means no. He's saying that women are there for men's pleasure and that they're wild and dependent on men.

"I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it (x3)
But you're a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty"

These lyrics show Robin Thicke's idea that men are better than women and their needs or opinions don't matter. He's saying that there's no way anyone wouldn't want him. If any girl is grabbing at him, though, it's most likely to choke him.

"I feel so lucky
You wanna hug me
What rhymes with hug me?"

He totally read my mind, because at this point I'd love to slug him in the face.

Overall, this song to me is just another example of how media portrays women: as inferior sex objects that are there for men. The fact that a woman who displays her own body, such as Miley Cyrus, is labeled as a "slut" when things like this go unnoticed isn't right.

Later on in an interview, he said "What a pleasure it is to degrade a women." Media has made it okay to insult women and objectify them. If there had been men instead of women in the video, my guess is that people would have gotten really angry or the video would have been available to a limited audience. The sad thing is that videos like this are normal in today's media. Luckily, his misogyny hasn't been completely ignored. Many parody videos, such as "Defined Lines," have been made in protest.

Media Blog 13. iPhone Photos

This commercial may focus on the iPhone's ability to take photos and capture memories, but I think it says less than it needs to because everyone knows about the iPhone. They're everywhere; this ad only shows its ability to take pictures because Apple knows that everyone already knows about the features of an iPhone.

This ad is targeting teenagers because it shows features like Instagram, which is used mainly by teens. Apple knows that teens want the ability to take pictures of everything and share stuff with their friends. It is such a widely used and known product that all Apple has to do is show a few clips of people taking pictures and sharing them.

A lot of colors are shown in this advertisement, mostly because it flashes from so many different scenes. The different scenes and colors are appealing because they show fun experiences, such as two friends jumping on a bed and laughing. It shows the many possibilities where an iPhone can help you, from capturing a wild concert to a simply taking pictures of your food.

I think that this targets the need for affiliation because many of the scenes they show are people with their friends. They have scenes of people at concerts, skateboarding, hiking, and friends taking pictures of themselves. It's as if to say that people will become closer to their friends if they can connect with them using an iPhone.

The music is really soft and bubbly. It makes it seem like a happy time for all the people in the commercial. The scenes switch to the beat of the music. There aren't any words or lyrics, drawing attention to what's happening in the scenes and making it all seem really happy and calm.

Media Blog 12. Santa's Secret

Oh, the holiday season; a perfect time for family bonding time and, of course, advertising. Samsung took advantage of the holidays by releasing this commercial for the Samsung Galaxy Gear. In it, Santa shows a crowd of elves all the features of the Galaxy Gear, which is basically a mix of a watch and a phone.

At first, the target audience seemed to be little kids who were amazed with the ideas of Santa Claus and elves, but I figured it couldn't be that because little kids don't need and probably wouldn't buy Galaxy Gears. Instead, I think the ad is targeting teenagers who want the next big thing. It makes Santa seem a little bit like a joke and more like an advertiser, appealing to teens who no longer regard Santa the way little kids do.

At the end of the commercial, it says, "The next big thing is here." This uses the technique avant garde. Sicne is says that the product is the next big thing, it makes it seem like no one really knows about it yet, and people who do have one will be cool. It makes it seem like people who own this product are one step ahead of others and are trend-setters.

The scene really popped out with the excessive use of Christmas colors like red, green, and white. This made it seem like it was a really happy time. It was all set in a dark place, making the colors and lights pop out more against the black background. The Christmasy colors do pop out against the black, but it's the blue that pops out against the Christmas colors. The blue is from the Galaxy Gear, drawing attention from its bright blue color and making the audience focus on it.

The music is really loud and lively. This adds a sort of fun, party feel to it. Even though it may be a party between Santa and his elves, it still makes the Galaxy Gear seem cool.

I think this ad is effective because it lists all the features of the Samsung Galaxy Gear but also makes it seem cool. The commercial itself seems lively and fun and grabs viewers' attention.

Media Blog 11. Cheerios

I think this commercial is really cute, and it makes me sad that there's been a lot of controversy on it because of the interracial couple in it. First of all, the people they are using is an interracial family, which would appeal to people who would be happy seeing an interracial family on TV. It kind of backfired on them though, because people didn't like this commercial because of that.

One thing I noticed was the setting. It seems to take place in an average, middle-class person's home, but everything in the first scene is brown and green except for the kid's colorful outfit and the bright Cheerios box. This makes the girl and the cereal pop out.

Also, there isn't much music present until a little bit at the end. The sound is mostly just the actors talking. The little girl has a high, childish voice, which is really adorable and might appeal to parents. The music at the end is really upbeat and fun.

At the end of the ad, the word "Love" pops up against a screen the yellow color of the Cheerios box. The font of the word is the same as the font for Cheerios. Also, there are Cheerios bouncing all over the screen, which associates the cereal with love and family.

The mother tells her daughter that Cheerios is good for your heart with whole-grain oats that can remove cholesterol. This slips in a fact about Cheerios, saying that not only does it bring the family together and taste good, it's also healthy.

Overall, I think this ad is appealing to me, but many people don't agree because of the interracial family. I think that's really stupid because the commercial seems really cute to me.

Media Blog 10. Extra's Origami Ad

I think this commercial is so adorable. It definitely targets parents and associates Extra gum with connecting with their kids. Parents want to be involved in their kids lives, and this ad makes it seem like chewing Extra gum will help them do that. It shows the father looking at his daughter and being there for her when she grows up. He experiences a lot of important moments in her life, whether she's sad or happy, and each time, there is gum. This uses repetition; each time an event happens, Extra gum is there to make the girl feel better.

One thing that I noticed was that the music was really happy, laid-back, and inspirational. The scenes and movements all lined up with the beat of the song. This makes the music affect the actions in the video and the way the viewer's see the ad, but it's not so loud that it overpowers the message of the commercial.

This ad appeals to parents' need to nurture. When the daughter is crying and going through other important events in her life, the dad is always there to help her and make her happy. This associates Extra with good parenting and the ability to brighten someone's day.

There are only a few words spoken in the ad. At the end, a gentle voice says, "Sometimes, the little things last the longest. Give extra, get extra." This is saying that little things in life can sometimes be the best, but it's also because Extra may seem like a small stick of chewing gum, but it can lead to bigger things. In this case, the thing that lasts the longest is the father's relationship with his daughter.

Overall, I think this ad is effective. It's really cute and has a little bit of a plot that might capture attention. Even though I'm not a parent, I thought it was really interesting and appealing.

Media Blog 9. Coca Cola vs. Pepsi

This Halloween ad began as a Pepsi advertisement. It said, "We wish you a scary Halloween!" with a can of Pepsi disguised as a Coca Cola can. The image on the left is Coca Cola's unofficially released comeback: it's the same image, but it says "Everybody wants to be a hero."

I think both of these ads were clever. The picture is focused on the can, and the bold red and blue colors make it stand out against the gray and green of the background. This draws attention to the two very well-known can designs, and it might want viewers to pay more attention to the ad. Since Pepsi and Coca Cola are major competitors, both of the can designs in the same picture might interest people.

The two images use different tactics and ideas from the companies. Instead of focusing on the quality of their products, Pepsi and Coke are attacking each other. Pepsi's version of the ad is saying that Halloween would be scary if Pepsis looked like Cokes, since Pepsi is better. Coca Cola's version says that Pepsi isn't as good as Coke but is trying to be. It might take a few seconds for viewers to understand what each company is trying to say, giving the ad just enough time to affect people.

Overall, I think both versions of the ad are really interesting, and it was funny seeing how Coca Cola responded to the original ad.