My Reflection on Having a Blog

Now that my semester with Critical Thinking is ending, I write my thoughts on my experiences.



First, writing this blog was a unique way for me to learn and apply Critical Thinking concepts to the various advertisements that I see in my day to day life. Prior to this class, I had little experience with ads because I didn't actively seek them out or registered the ones I did see into my subconscious. Now, I am more versed in the ways advertisers try to get my attention.



Unfortunately, I can't even walk into a WalMart without questioning or noticing every single ad and pointing out the techniques. No more quiet shopping trips for me. ):



How many times must advertisers show me the Bleach ad on TV? Or the PEPSI Next commercial? The repetition of ads just makes my head hurt nowadays. I suppose it is one of the consequences of taking a class that exposes the common techniques the companies use. The amount of media you consume will cause you to buy more aspirin. That is one proven effect of excessive media consumption.



I also enjoyed writing the logs. I developed a personal style over the months we wrote on the website. Now you can see pictures that make my point, have funny captions underneath them, and random memes that may or may not relate to what I was writing about on the post. It was an entertaining way to educate oneself on the media.



Despite the consequences of learning about the media's tricks and cunning ways, it is important to have media literacy. For one, you are less likely to be gullible when it comes to making further purchases. If you know the company's thought process, you can make plans or prepare against the onset of ads. The business attaches puppet strings to every single person who gets sucked into their pitch and this leads to manipulation. If a consumer can be manipulated into buying your product, wouldn't you try to get more people to be the same way so you can make the biggest profit possible?

As for me, I have decided not to delete this blog. It would be a waste to obliterate my work just because the assignment is no longer active. So I will maintain this site and post more about life, events happening around the city, interesting media logs, and memes. Maybe this site will develop into something interesting. So, if you are bored or are curious as to what I may have posted, please feel free to visit the site and comment. Just please, no trolling! If there is excessive, annoying comments or anything derogative, I may have to block it.

One final note: Thank you, classmates who posted music videos that were fun and catchy to watch. You guys made my day with new songs I probably would have never listened to on my own. If I didn't have this blog, I would not have learned about many of my now favorite songs such as Payphone by Maroon 5, Kingdom Come by Civil War, and Somebody I Used to Know. I benefited greatly and had a laugh here and there reading your blogs. But all good things must come to an end. So I'll see those of you who still want to read posts next week. Until then, see ya. :)

Is it fast? Well, it's got a lightning bolt on the side of it, doesn't it?

Is it fast? Watch to see on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtYPhBK61d0&feature=relmfu

A Volkswagen commercial is how I'll end this round of posts.

Ten speeds must be fast. Be sure to buy a helmet too, kid!

So we start with a kid with blond hair (pay attention, this will be important) asking the bike salesman, "Is it fast?" We automatically assume that he's asking about a bike since he is in a bike store. The bike salesman replies very coolly, "It's got ten speeds, my friend." Automatically, we get a sense of action by the almost action-like scene where a hero (in this case, the blond haired boy) gets equipped with something new and impressive.
For those of you who have watched movies like Spy Kids or Commando [with Arnold Schwarzenegger], there are similar scenes involving the protagonist getting a hold on something they didn't have before.
Then we see the boy again, but older?

Lightning bolts make everything faster, doesn't it?

Here we see the same kid, only several years older. He is now asking his buddy about a motorbike. Again, he says, "Is it fast?" The blond kid's friend says, "It has a lightning bolt on it, doesn't it?" This supposedly answers the hero's question about it being fast. However, I thought it was a diversion. Lightning bolts doesn't make everything faster. And just putting it on something doesn't mean that the speed of said object will increase. I also noticed the cool action music in the background going: duh...duh duh duh...duh duh duh...duh duh duhhhhhh. It grabbed my attention because I heard it once before in my life and it's catchy.

Again, with the leap in age. He certainly looks pleased with himself.

This is the final time the hero asks, "Is it fast?", and the salesperson answers in a vague way. For this round, the salesperson replies: "I don't even know if it's street legal."

I don't know about you, but when a person selling a car says that they don't know if it's legal, I would get worried. I'd go, "Well, onto the next car lot!" But this man above seems to have thrown all caution to the wind.

Finally the real purpose of the commercial is shown:

Who's the little babbi? You are.

We see who the target audience is at this point. Parents are more likely to ask if a car is safe which is what this man asks. His speech changes as well as the man who is selling the Volkswagen Jetta. The African American replies very simply with, "Oh, yeah. It's a Volkwagen." We also note the action music pauses right when that line is said.

What is the Power of German Engineering? A shiny car?

Then the final scene pops up with a phrase saying, "That's the power of German Engineering." So, I am to understand that a car being safe is due to the power of German engineering. I think the advertisers wanted me to go, "Hey, German Engineering can give me a safe car that is clean, shiny and also is the 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick." Well, this ad has failed then because I don't think one line about the car being a top safety pick and the AA man's explanation that Volkswagens must be safe is enough to get me to buy their product. I need more of the facts and figures they offer.

But until then, I will not purchase a Volkswagen based upon this advertisement.

AAAHHH!!! It's Justin Bieber!

For guys who scream like girls on sugar highs, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9sWPX_qkYo

Man, are you in for a ride, Justin.....

What the? My initial reaction to this commercial was that of complete confusion. Why are there guys screaming like fan-girls? And over Justin Bieber? Testimonial is used as our first advertising technique. Obviously, the actor here is the guy on the right: Justin Bieber. He is endorsing the Macy's Black Friday event by talking about it to his driver. His driver promptly screams like an over-excited girl on chocolate and doesn't say anything cohesive. Justin reacts like this:

Looks like someone needs to hire a new driver... Or give him bitter coffee.

Justin's face looks confused, just like the viewer would be at this moment if this is their first time seeing it. The technique used here is gestalt, because we don't normally expect a big, African American driver to start shrieking like a twelve year old girl. It leaves the unanswered question: "Why is he doing that?"
I think I would have the same reaction as Justin if I were famous and my closest employees start shrieking whenever they see me...

ENDORSEMENT! Justin Bieber is walking in Macy's who are selling his album! GENIUS!

Like the Morgan Spurlock video, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, we have endorsement in this commercial as well. What you understand from this ad is not only is Justin Bieber's album on sale, it's in Macy's on Black Friday, and Justin Bieber is going to Black Friday too! It is circular in a way...and it makes one's head hurt.

But wait! There's more!

Even the employees at Macy's are on sugar highs! You're not safe, Justin...

This scene adds Wit and Humor. Look. Two guys who look rough and tough...are shrieking like the other man before? Only now it becomes extremely annoying or funny.

One final thing I noticed around the ad was how many times Macy's logo or store or name was shown or mentioned. The one's above are just a few of the picture examples. It's repitition!

Now, where is a commercial that shows girls having deep voices and act like guys do towards a female actor?