Report on Advertising During a Favourite Show
You do not need to say something about every advertisement! See if you can provide a general sense of the messages and what they convey to you. Is there a connection between the commercials and the show itself? Enjoy the show!
Substances as Stress Relievers: Deconstructing Advertisements (full handout, in colour, of today's advertisement; includes alcohol, cigarettes and candy)
17 comments:
I watched Jeopardy and had the first impression that there were tons of commercials. I counted 23 during the 30 minutes. Three were repeated. One was an incredibly sexist view of women who attended a class on using bleach. The teacher was a peppy young guy wearing a garish orange “Spray ‘n Wash” sweatshirt. He condescended to the all-woman class and they lapped it up. Disgusting! The other interesting repeat was a Lotto Super 7 ad with a disheveled looking young guy (jeans and sloppy sweatshirt) standing in a garage full of exotic and expensive cars. This is the one product I do buy sometimes, so it was interesting for me to see the “ultimate” toy this guy had bought with his winnings—a monster truck with two-meter high tires. I sure hope real winners do better than that, but maybe by exaggerating the Lotto corporation meant to make me feel superior to him. A McDonald’s ad had a stereotypical black male executive in a goatee, but played him against type as a fuss budget (and a stickler for proper punctuation!). I found it quite fatiguing to pay such close attention; in the end, advertisers probably prefer a half-hypnotized viewer.
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Last night while I watched America’s Next Top Model and commercials during each break time, it was quite overwhelming moment for me. I counted 31 commercials being aired in total, and each break time, there were quite a few of gum commercials, hair products, foods, and mostly about cosmetics, usually from the sponsor’s company, and two were repeated. Since there were many commercials being aired, I became very sceptical about the commercials because most of the advertisements were obvious; the commercials were telling us to buy more, more and some more stuff that we don’t need. One example of that was; there was one furniture commercial, and it was very interesting to look at because there was a big white background with only chic sofas showing repeatedly and I began to wonder who would buy that can only be displayed in a model home, or only be looked at? After watching the commercials closely, I feel like switching off the TV, and throw the TV out the windows.
-172 words.
While I was watching House last night, I counted a total of 34 advertisements. Some of these advertisements included the following: cell phone providers (TELUS), weight loss supplements, allergy relief solutions, food (McCain pizza and brownies), BC lottery, government information on diseases, Tylenol (arthritis and migraine relief), cologne, community colleges, run/walks for cancer, TV programming promotion, credit cards, run/walks for cancer, BC hydro power saving tips, and furniture. The message that these ads are giving off is : they are great products/services and you should feel the need to spend money on them. Most of the goods and services that I see advertised on TV are probably not necessary or useful. Sometimes, however, the commercial can convince you otherwise. If it is a strong advertisement with good marketing, then it could cause many people, myself included, to go and make a purchase that’s not necessary. I normally don’t buy products after seeing them on TV because they may not be as great as they claim to be. I did see many of these ads twice, and a few were even played back to back (just in case you didn‘t see it the first time, 20 seconds ago). While taking more notice to the commercials, I found that depending on what channel you are watching and the time of day, you will see different types of ads that appeal to different demographics.
I watch a regular comedy series during the time half past six to seven o’clock every afternoon. Today, my daughter and I paid more attention to the commercials, and she counted the number of them—there are fifteen during one show. One of them was repeated three times, and another one two times. The story in one ad shown about chewing gum happened in a quiet office. A young black guy with beautiful teeth picked a piece of gum from a pack and slipped it into his mouth. All of a sudden, his teeth started to sing in an odd voice that sounded like “thank you”. Simultaneously, the happy teeth and the gum were making the man’s lips dance crazily out of control. The unexpected voice attracted all the people in the office, and the guy covered his mouth hastily. My daughter is interested in this super product, and we plan to have a try of it. Another impressive one was about “Egg for energetic people”. One by one, a huge egg was clicked by different people who were busy with their own lives. Through touching the egg, everyone got new energy to deal with their tasks. This ad conveys an idea not only about the products in a certain company, but also about a healthy concept of life. I think some ads are as entertaining as the programs they interrupt.
As a professional watcher and intellectual artist, I have been learned to choose what I watch, as well as what I read. I cannot watch TV shows because I look at them with critical views all the time. Then, my husband and I, as dramatists, prefer to watch TCM Channel. In the TCM environment, any professional drama and filmmaker feels relaxed and free of silly commercials and advertisements. I watch the movie without any break outs that makes the story lost its attractiveness and excitement for me. I do not miss any natural climax or catharsis that the writer and the filmmaker wanted me, as a watcher, experience. There is no irritable commercial between the movies that makes me nervous and exasperated. It is so stupid to watch a series of advertisements between scenes of a movie. In TCM, between each complete movie there are some advertisements going on, but even those are professional too, like introducing websites, books, videos, annual magazines and so on, or commercial for a specific movie that will be shown in the upcoming days or weeks. I apologize that I couldn’t waste my time to watch an ordinary show.
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I watched "Desperate housewives" today. I just watched 20 minutes and found 12 advertisements totally. They came in three breaks and nothing repeated. They are involved in various products, including cosmetics, hair care products, food, wireless phone, and car insurance, coming movie, even band aid. I am fed up with these advertisements. They almost take half long of the drama. I have to admit that I get some information through the commercials, such as Fido has a 15 bucks month plan and some cosmetics could “repair” wrinkle. But I am not going to buy any of them. Can you believe the cosmetics will get rid of my wrinkle? You know, it is not painting the wall with Benjinming Moore. If I am eighty years old, this product could make me look like 25? Impossible! Of course I am not a impulse costumer. About shopping I have my judging ability to decide what to buy? For something with overstatement I never believe. Furthermore, I have my shopping model. Convenience, reliability, and economization will be taken in consideration for shopping. I bought car insurance at BCAA because it is close and reliable, meanwhile, they have lots branch.
In the present world, everybody has become, if not used to, numb to the intrusive commercial ads between or within TV shows. I like to watch a TV drama during my dinner time because I find eating the dinner while watching television is very relaxing. However, I have noticed that this hour-long drama is routinely interrupted by three commercial breaks, and during each break four or five ads are displayed. Some ads are interesting, some are funny, but most are nonsense. I remember one ad that I have seen over and over again from a retailer who sells healthy foods. Some assumed consumers are advocating that retailer’s foods are both better and cheaper. Ridiculous! In China we say that paying one more penny gets you one more pennies worth of goods. So, I would use this to teach my four-year-old daughter something important: “My sweetheart, if someone tells you that something is not only better but also cheaper, he/she must be cheating you. Remember it, my angel.” Whatever these ads are about, most of them are nothing to do with the drama itself. But, they do offer a break for me to do something else, like feeding my daughter some spoons of her dinner.
When I was watching Much Megahits, there were commercials after every three music videos. There were 20 commercials in two breaks, and two were shown twice. One was a handsome guy dressed in white dress shirt, swaggering on the street to show how sexy and good men feel if they use the “Hugo” fragrance. In the other commercial, was a pretty lady with sparkling teeth and the tooth paste, Crest, that made her teeth that white. I laughed cynically because my brother had bought the “Crest” tooth paste before and our teeth are still the same, not even a tiny spark when we laugh. Another commercial, which was played only once, was a guy who sprays himself with a perfume and turns to a chocolate when he goes out. Some girls were licking his body, and when a car passes by him, a hand stretches out and breaks his arm as the car speeds by. Who would want to wear a perfume, go out and then return home with a broken arm? It was appealing, but the exaggeration might scare the buyers.
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I watched Survivor last night for the report on advertising. During this TV program which lasted one hour, I counted four breaks and 33 advertisements. Many different kinds of products were showed in these advertisements such as food, car and cosmetic, even an advertisement for Canadian Force. In these commercials, three are repeated twice. Generally, I think these commercials are created well and have excellent vision effect. But a good advertisement is not the main reason for me to buy something though sometimes it will influence my decision. For example, there are a lot of commercials of cars on TV, but I won’t make decision by them because TV advertisements can not provide the detailed information about the cars. I will try to find more information and compare the specification of different cars and then choose the one which meets my requirements best. So normally I won’t buy anything I don’t need even though they are showed in a wonderful advertisement. On the other hand, I will try some new products that I’m interested in when I find them in the commercials. After all, commercial is an important way for us to get the product information. Then we can understand why the companies spent so much money on the advertisements.
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I watched The Martha Stewart Show in channel 3-CBC Television. She is a famous business woman in USA and she was in jail for a while because of illegal stock internal trade. She is so talented woman that she regained all of her reputation within few months after released from jail. I had seen the program before but this time I found that there are 29 advertisements during the show which last 1 hour. The kinds of advertisement are widely varied from program guide of the channel to the Football Game of 2010 world Cup in South Africa. After showing the recipes of cookies for 25 minutes, there are 13 advertisements are presented continuously at once. Then she visit the factory which produce pad foods and talking with the manager of the factory for a while. It would be one of another advertisement. Then there are 5 advertisements more and she move to a greenhouse of a certain university and introduce simple seedbed for salad growing, what would be connected with cultivation of President’s family at the backyard of white house. Generally speaking, most advertisement is skillfully produced in order to not feeling bad for the audience. But it is obvious that too many advertisements are presented in a short time.
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I decided to watch Sportsnet Connected. This program highlights the different sporting events of the day. I thought it would be interesting to see the demographic that advertisers tried to target. My deduction would be that a sports show typically caters to males. There isn't any target race in my opinion and the target age ranges from teens to seniors. Now to see if the commercials coincide with my theory! During the hour program I counted only 29 advertisements. The first one that stuck out is a commercial for CIBC. It featured a good-looking fellow wearing a brown leather jacket and a wide smile. In the ad, he is walking from room to room, each with different stages in a person life. He gives a message about planning for "your financial future" and how CIBC can help. He walks quickly giving the impression that life moves fast. His smile and body language are warm and inviting; he can be trusted. Next there is a commercial for Rogers Wireless. I've seen this series of commercials before. The theme is a group of college students and their adventures with cellphones. Well, it's not exactly that, but it's the simple way to put it. In this one, a male student is playing with his cellphone (sliding it open and close) and showing off the full keyboard feature. His friends start to crowd around him, jaw-dropped, staring with amazement. So what I extrapolate from this is: youth are simple-minded and flock to new gadgets. The more depressing thought is how true that statement is. The consuming public are a lot like fish at times; they get lured by the shiny things. I found my initial theory did not hold. There weren't too many commercials that were geared directly at males. In fact, it was hard to pinpoint a single demographic. I did notice the different strategies advertisers use: from how cheap a product is, to how much it will benefit you, even to how popular you will be if you buy it! It's easy to see why marketing is such a big business. I've seen so many commercials and my brain will filter most of them out. There has to be something different and special that really makes it stick.
Last night I watched Trading Spouses at channel 41. This is one of my favourite TV show because it’s all about family relationship. There were two families involved and the two moms of each family swapped for one week to experience what it’s like on the other house. Before, I usually change the channel every intermission because it’s kind a frustrating to wait. Then, yesterday I watched the commercial of the show and I’ve noticed that there were 30 advertisements shown. Some of the commercials are Dominos Pizza, Verizon Wireless, Burger King and so on... One of the ads that caught my attention was Colgate and they presented it twice. I observed that there was only one woman displayed who is very pretty and has perfect white teeth. The ad was attracting to me because of the woman’s flawless teeth and they also announced that Colgate is recommended by dentist. I think I will try to use the product because it was approved by experts. Overall, I think producers use advertisements to reach the people’s attention and let them know about the product and services.
Advertisements basically used to inform and updated the consumer. Just to keep the consumer’s loyalty to the products being endorsed. Yesterday morning, while my son and me watching, “Super Why” at PBS kids TV. I’ve noticed my son was focused and uninterrupted. Surprisingly, there were no advertisements! My son seemed so interested which lasted for ten to fifteen minutes. Like my son, “super why” became my favorite, too. But, PBS kids shows aired only in the morning. So, after the show, I switch channel 56 which is “the tree house TV” , this kids is twenty four hour and seven days a week show. The advertisements were the schedules of its shows. But, unfortunately when I change the channel on “Family TV” I was so shocked in the advertisements: namely; toys, hot wheels, cereals, candy bars, Barbie. I was stunned by the reactions of my son from the advertisements saying, “Look, mommy I want that nice hot wheels!” And, one after each advertisement, my three year old son said, “mommy can you buy it for me, please!” I pause, and ponder. And I thought, I don’t want my kids to be motivated by materialism. So, TV time is limited!
199 words
I was watching a move on the Cantonese Channel 151. During one hour, there were four breaks, and each break was about four advertisements. The advertisings were about Chinese specialty restaurants, laser skin care clinics, weight loss spas, and reflexology spas, etc. I observed two advertisings of weight loss spas. In one advertisement, the owner was coming out to testify that his spa is the only trustworthy spa in Vancouver. However, I noticed the owner was quite fat himself and carried a big belly; I just wonder if the weight loss is effective, why he himself didn’t lose the weight first. The other weight loss spa presented a dancing naked teenage girl in front of the camera, the camera had a close shot on every single parts of her body except the point between the legs, and she used two hands to cover her breasts. For my understanding, it was just a show at a strip bar. Maybe, that should be the advertising targeted to male audiences who were looking for a “weight loss spa”? After I watched these two advertisings, I made up my mind that I would definitely not go there.
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While watching Judge Mathis I found the advertisements to be exhausting and repetitive. There were commercials for Aladdin Bail Bonds, Mike Gallagher (explaining how he will fight for your visitation with your children), Car dealerships (no credit no problem) and several college commercials. It seems as if this type of advertising is driven towards those that feel that the world has done them wrong and are unwilling to take control of their own lives – the only glimmer of hope in this myriad of horrible advertising is the college ad. Maybe it motivates the odd person to get educated, but truthfully, how many employers will look at the degree from the school as anything more than a piece of paper. A university degree in a year? Let's get serious, people. I never really paid attention to these commercials, as I was always so occupied with other things during the time they were on. Had I known what I know now about how the advertising was programmed for that show, and it's effects on society, I probably would have turned the TV off a long time ago.
I watched You are What you eat which was about forty minutes show. During the show I watched 21 commercials. One commercial was shown three times:starting, in the middle,and closing (2X Ultra Tide).It was simple and easy to remember,so consumers could recall that item when they are hard to decide what to buy. Also I remember a insurance commercial because it took the whole commercial time. A white guy in fifties told about what this insurance covers,why they are so important and how they are easily accesible. The commercial kept showing happy family in the background and repeated its merit again and again. The guy told the happy family could be yours when you are coverd with this insurance because the insurance protect your family. What I found is this insurance company is really big sponsor of this program(I might wrong). And the others? I don't remember. They were so short and passed so quickly. Also, I found concentrating on TV commercials is too much for me. I overwhelmed. Another thing I found on commercials is Simplicity and repetition meke me remember those ads.
In just 30 minutes, I watched 23 advertisements including my favourite TV show "Destroyed in a second" on Discovery channel. It tells us that some horrible disasters or terrible happenings for a moment. After the show, I enjoyed lots of commercials: perfume, clearer, Auto, movie trailer and many variety commercials. In my opinion, the most popular commercial is house supplies, foods and introducing cars. Moreover, I was interested in the auto commercial that introducing about Lexus 460h the most. It was brilliantly organized. The first scene was a man who is father of two children was driving at downtown in a rainy day. One of his daugther saw a dog and the dog was barking at her. They were able to hear the dog's barking, however, they were just listening a classical music with comfortable faced. I think it means that the car is very quiet and gentle. During the driving, they saw two cars' accidents but they did not care about it. One of worker suddenly jumped on the street, but the car was slowing down quickly and turned easily. It tells us that car is very smooth and safe. The scene changed to car's exterior details with "Hybrid" logo. Lastly, the scene showed car's special intelligent specifications and running on the beautiful bridge.
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