Media Log #8- Volkswagen Commercial 5/22/12

The target audience for this Volkswagen Commercial is middle to upperclass adults going through a mid-life crisis and are in need of a brand new "change for the better" in their life. This mainly targets upper class folks because as you see in the commerical, the house is pretty fancy, not to mention HUGE compared to the average middle class house. And most people don't have that big of a backyard with a gigantic pool to add to it unless you have a little extra money in your pockets. This whole commerical is emphasizing the improvement that was made to the new edition of Volkswagen automobiles, as well as the transformation it has made from the older, boring version to the new, better version. It uses the advertisment technique of Wit and Humor because it isn't common to see a dog worrying about thier weight and wanting to work out to become what it may have looked like a couple years ago. The funny aspect of it is that many middle-aged adults can relate to the dilemma the dog is currently going through, as many strive to look like how they looked 20 years ago. It may also be Simple Solutions because it is trying to say "if you buy a Volkswagen, you can solve your problem of being old and outdated because now you have this new shiny red toy to show off." This fufills the physiological needs for a person to feel younger by buying this new and improved volkswagen. This commercial isn't really trying to sell their product directly as catch people's attention with the humorous clip of a dog working out, then after watching they laugh and associate the funny commercial to the Volkswagen company, making that person want to buy one. Overall, I thought this commercial was hilarious and funny to watch, and has definitely had a lasting impression on me.

Media Log #7- Hallo Commercial 5/15/12

First off, this isn't even an official commercial that has premiered on television or sponsored by a big name brand company paying him to do the job. The main guy in this commercial is just an average guy who makes singing and commedy videos on youtube with his friends, and happened to make this clever commerical promoting his friend's newly created app for the iPhone called "hallo" which is an app that allows you to post voice messages anytime and anywhere onto your own "hallo acount page" where people can Follow and Friend you just like Facebook or Twitter. This commercial takes us through the ages, where at the beginning of time, all we had were stones and cave walls to communicate through, moving on to the piligrimage era where paper was invented, but all you could do was write a message on it and simply give it by hand. Then, it shows a scene where the same guy in the first two scenes is now at war, trying to get a hold of his family back home through what seems like a wire and button, and a couple decades go by and now a new and improved fax machine is invented, allowing one to send a message through that. Next, came the hidden message code where one would create a series of numers corilating with letters to send a secret message to whomever they choose.  Then came the invention of texting, where with one click of a button your message would be sent 1000 miles away almost instantaneously. But finally, the best new invetion out there is not text text messaging, but voice messaging, where the guy on the screen can tell his girlfriend "i love you" even where they are 50 or somewhat miles awayfrom one another in a huge city. This storyline shows us how the way of communicating with one another has evolved over the centuries, with the hallo app being the newest invention of this era. The target audience for this advertisement is definitely teenagers and young adults who are msot associated with the social media today. It is more specifically geared towards couples where they could send their loved ones a simple voice message that could make all the world's difference. This commercial uses the common advertising technique Gestalt, leaving us guessing what this commercial was really trying to advertise until the end, when the name of the product popped up on screen with bold blue letters that stood out from the white background. The music is very prominent, as that is only heard throughout the commerical except the words "i love you" where spoken. This was intentional because it was trying to get the point across that communication from long distances has never been able to send a voice text message instantly until the hallo app was invented. It also used the Avante Garde technique, giving the impression that you are ahead of the times if you use this product. It also uses the appeal of need to achieve, where as once before you couldn't instantly send a voice recording, but now with this new product the difficult task can be accomplished. This commerical also uses the appeal of satisfying phisological needs, making the concept of sending a voice recording a wanted desire like sleeping or eating. Overall, I thought this was a clever way to promote this product and an interesting commerical to watch. I applaud them for their hard work. 

Media Log #6- Clearasil 5/15/2012

I was flipping through one of my old Seventeen Magazines when I came across this advertisement for Clearasil, which is an acne wash claiming the results gives you perfectly clear skin. The target audience for this ad is geared towards teenage girls struggling with acne, being this was found in a magazine mainly read by girls. This advertisement is filled with Weasel Words all over the page saying "Visibly clearer skin in as little as 12 hours" and "You want clear skin fast" and finally even the name "Clearasil Ultra Rapid Face Wash." The words visibly and clearer are very vauge terms which could mean possibly anything, they are just thrown in there to make the product sound better than it actually is. Again, is the second passage, clear and fast are also very vague and most of the time are are not true. I myself struggles from problematic acne and knows from experience that it takes time for most, not even all of the acne to clear up. Even the name they went a bit overboard with the Weasel Words to glam up the product using Ultra Rapid. Again, very vague terms and they made an attempt to use the "bigger, better, faster" effect to make it sound like their product is the best. This advertisement uses the basic appeal of need for affiliation, targeting teens who are insecure about their skin and want to belong with the rest of the group and achieve perfectly clear skin. Leading to the next appeal which is need to achieve. Every girl wants to achieve the impossible and get clear skin to be like everyone else and hide their insecurities. This advertisement makes a big assumption that clear skin is good, and everyone wants clear skin, especially teen girls struggling with acne. Also, the picture of the young woman in the advertisement with perfectly clear skin was probably added in so girls can look and believe that since that girl used Clearasil, she has beatifully clear skin... I want to be like her so I and going to purchase Clearasil! This advertisement is totally unbelieveable and did not sell me at all. Please do a better job next time Clearasil and tell it like it is. 

Media Log #5- T-Mobile Alter Ego Commerical 5/6/2012

I was flipping through the channels on the television when I came across this T-Mobile commercial. Like any other advertisement out there, T-Mobile is trying to persuade its audience that their product is the ultimate best brand out there compared to all its other leading competitors. In this commercial, the spokesperson for many of the newer T-Mobile ads is dressed like the "girl-next-door" wearing a pink dress as she goes to her closet to find something new to wear, only to find all of the same pieces of clothing. The camera pans to her face as her expression shows something "new" has caught her eye as she then strips off her old clothing and comes out dressed in a more edgier, daring pink and black jump suit. She jumps onto a motorcycle with the words popping up "No more Mr. Nice Girl" and she speeds off into the night. This transformation of hers represents the innovations of T-Mobile and how it’s back in business with a bigger, better, faster 4G network. The target audience for this commercial is mainly geared towards guys, as there is a "pretty girl" in a girly pink dress literally changing and taking of her dress transforming in that "hot biker chick" who is then wearing a tight jumpsuit. This commercial uses the Avante Garde technique suggesting that T-Mobile is "America's largest 4G network" and ahead of its time. It also uses the Gestalt technique leaving the audience with unanswered questions about what the commercial is really about until the end when its name brand 'T-Mobile' pops up on the screen. To emphasize the transformation from old to new, the colors are intensified; white being very prominent in the first half of the ad, but once she changes, black becomes the new prominent color. The sound also becomes gradually louder and faster as the commercial progresses. After watching the full commercial it gave me the impression of "out with the old, and in with the new," and kind of making me wish I was as bada** as the girl on the screen. And after hearing the infamous T-Mobile sound they are known for, it clicked in my mind and every time I hear it now I automatically think of that girl speeding into the night on her fancy motorcycle all because she has the new and improved T-Mobile 4G network plan.

Media Log #4- Abercrombie and Fitch 5/6/2012

If the name "Abercrombie and Fitch" was covered on both of these bags, I am sure most if not everyone would still be able to guess where they came from. Abercrombie and Fitch is well-known for having these types of bags with half-naked guys on the front of them with cloth material for handles and looking as though it costs a bucket load to make just one bag. But with all these naked guys seen all over the place on the shopping bags for a clothing store, shouldn't the models at least be wearing their store-brand clothing or logo or even something at all to advertise for a, shall I repeat again, a clothing store? This just shows they are using the common advertising technique of Sex Appeal to lure in their customers by putting pictures of naked guys on their bags, in their stores, and even having real-life models stand at the entrance of the stores from time to time. Their target audience is definitely teenage girls around thirteen to early twenties, assuming that the common teenager finds the above attracive and appealing. I myself have to admit that I have fallen under the spell of the "oh so amazing" bags with ruggedly handsome half-naked guys, and many times faceless bodies with ripped six packs and toned biceps on both sides of them. I am ashamed to say I even have a collection going in my room with a bag full of empty Abercromie bags sitting in my closet. But still, that is a huge assumption to make, considering everyone is different and has their own sense of what that like and dislike. I have to admit though, this clothing industry has become probably one of the top stores a mojority of teenage girls shop at mainly because of the naked guys being practically everywhere.

Media Log #3- Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash 5/1/2012

Flipping through the pages of my Seventeen Magazine, I came across this advertisement for Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. I have seen this multiple times before and I am always so intrigued by it. The picture especially. When I look at the picture of a pink grapefruit splashing in water it gives me that refreshing, clean feeling. Also anything that is pink automatically brings me in, but that is my own preference and not everyone is like that. The second thing I noticed was the product’s name “Oil-Free Acne Wash.” In my opinion, this is a very clever way to bring people to buy their product. The words Oil-Free is a smart addition to their name because who would want oil on their skin? I know for sure I wouldn’t. One of the cleverest things about this advertisement though isn’t the picture on the page, but the words “A powerful acne cleanser couldn’t possibly smell delicious. Scratch that thought. Sniff this.” There are many weasel words in this phrase, such as powerful and delicious which are extremely vague, but definitely make the product sound hundred times more amazing. And the special add in of the scratch-and-sniff so people can see for themselves how truly “delicious” it smells was definitely another plus. But they didn’t just say scratch and sniff, they added the word “smile” to make scratch, sniff, and smile. Genius right? I thought so. But the thing that confused me was that they are focusing on the smell of the product instead of its actual function, which is fight off acne. It reminds me of red herring from the fallacies, as this advertisement attempts to distract the audience away from the real job this product performs and focuses of another characteristic, such as the smell, as this ad does. This is probably one of the better advertisements have seen out there, but still is a bit cheesy. Then again most advertisements are. Overall, I thought this was very creative and original.

Media Log #2- National Tenn Pregnancy Prevention Month Ad 5/1/2012

I came across this advertisement for National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month while reading my Seventeen Magazine. Even just based on the title of the foundation, I am sold on the message they are trying to send, the audience obviously being teenage girls. But based on the picture, it really caught my attention because of the bold black background and a huge quote right smack dab in the center of the page. It was interesting that they chose pink as well, maybe for the reason being the color pink represents a baby girl being born or it was just a pop of color to the picture. For whatever reason, it was a good addition to the advertisement. Oddly though, the baby bottle in the background wasn’t really noticeable to me until after a while of assessing the ad, but I understand why they put it for the reasons of pregnancy and babies. Now for the big bold words in the middle of the page. That definitely caught my eye and just the “750,000 teenage girls” in bold black made me want to read exactly what it was about. Although this is a very persuasive way to stray people away from what they are trying to prevent by adding proven facts, it still has some trickery within, making the information on the page not totally true although it may seem at first. When it says nearly, it is a play on words making it sound more sophisticated and seem as though a total of 750,000 girls will become pregnant each year, when in reality that number may have never been reached. It is similar to using “up to” or “close to” never giving an exact number or limit. It also is trying to make it on a personal level by saying “Don’t be a statistic!” and asking “Did you know…” Overall, I believe this advertisement would be very effective on most teen girls and anyone who happens to read it just as it was on me.