Reflection

     After doing this project I realize how much advertising there is... We can't escape it! It is actually kind of scary because media surrounds us, but to advertisers, it's not enough, they want us to suffocate and choke on advertisements for their products. I have also realized that all media is pretty much the same. Although some media represents itself differently, they usually use all the same techniques and ideas. My "media consumption habits" have changed because I feel like I can no longer look at an advertisement without analyzing what it is trying to make me think or feel. This project made me realize that I have to be more conscious of the things that advertisers are trying to make me do, otherwise I will be too easily swayed. By having media literacy, I can control my own feelings and not let advertisements try to make me think or feel a certain way. If I'm not an educated consumer, I could be tricked into buying something I really don't even need or want. After doing this blog, I feel like I can be smarter than the advertisers because now that I know what they are doing, I can use my knowledge to prove that they don't control me, and I can outsmart them. Overall, media is a scary thing. It interrupts your life and tries to take over every aspect of your thoughts and feelings so that you will spend your money on their product. Media literacy is important for everyone to have so they don't get scammed out of their hard-earned cash. I'm glad I did this project because I can analyze all the things around me and figure out how they affect me.

Media Log #12: BABIES

     I LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL! It is the cutest thing in the whole world! Everything about it is awesome and adorable. That baby is so cute and pudgy and adorable. The lighting in this commercial as well as the voiceover is very calm and soothing, like it's talking to or appealing to moms who want a little peace and serenity, especially if they are trying to raise a newborn. This commercial uses Transfer/Association because the advertisers want us to associate Johnson and Johnson with a happy, calm frame of mind and a happy, calm baby. If they used a screaming, upset baby then people would think their product caused this and the advertisers want us to think the opposite. It also uses Plain Folks because this looks like an average mom and her child, doing a normal thing. It could also be using Glittering Generalities because if you use this product then you will have a happy child and you will be a good mother. However, one flaw that I think should have been addressed is that the voiceover lady didn't actually say the name Johnson and Johnson. If she did that, then it would have connected it all together and it would have been the last thing the commercial leaves in your mind. Thins commercial uses the "need to nurture" because there is a little baby and he needs to be taken care of by his mom. Also the "need to feel safe" because parents always want their children to be protected and in this commercial, the mom is protecting the baby by using Johnson and Johnson. I think this commercial also makes the assumption that women are the main caretakers of children and they are usually the ones doing all the work for their children.
     Overall I think this commercial is very effective. It definitely attracts a woman's attention because of the cute little baby and for a majority of women, what the voiceover says is totally true and so it feels like the advertisers really know and understand us. Although, I still think they should have said the name Johnson and Johnson out loud to make us remember what the commercial is actually about. Otherwise I think this commercial is spot on.

Media Log #11: A Little Too Wild...

     This commercial is so weird! It really doesn't make sense to me, but even if it is weird, it makes me laugh. I have to admit, it is pretty creative and original and memorable, but i can't take this commercial or the product seriously. Then again, that might be what the advertisers want. Jerky isn't normally thought of as a fun silly product that makes people laugh, so the advertisers probably want to change that image and make people associate Jack Link's Jerky with humor and fun, so it is therefore using Transfer/Association. I didn't know that a sasquatch would like football so much or that a person could be so stupid as to trick a sasquatch. All this ridiculousness is Wit and Humor because it is creative and funny and especially weird. Although, I'm not quite sure what a sasquatch has to do with beef jerky. Their slogan doesn't even have anything to do with beef jerky. "Feed your wild side." There is no connection with jerky in that slogan, it means nothing to me. This would qualify as Diversion because if I just saw part of the commercial I would have never guessed that it is for beef jerky. It also uses Plain Folks because these are just some "average joes" eating some beef jerky. There is also an assumption that only guys play football and eat jerky and go outdoors and are adventurous. This commercial uses Red Herring fallacy because it starts out with a couple of guys and a sasquatch and from that, we would never guess that it is a beef jerky commercial. This commercial addresses the "need to aggress" because a guys gets kicked by a sasquatch, really hard.
     Overall, I would say this commercial is effective at getting my attention and making me remember it, however, I don't think I would buy this product because it is a little far fetched and it's not making enough connections to the product to tell me what it is actually about. Also, I feel a little insulted because I feel like the advertisers are saying this product isn't for women and you can only have it if you are an adventurous man. I believe the advertisers should appeal to a wider range of people and should focus more on the product, and not trying to be funny.