Demonstrable demographics!

After reading several of my peer’s blog, I remember coming across these ad’s before. That said, it is evident that these ads have done an amazing job in getting their message across. Why? Reason is if few of the target audience find it to be memorable, then the person who created the advertisement has accomplished their goal. What I do notice is the trend and pattern that my peers have pointed out. The way media hails us is by grouping us, and they make us feel or believe they are one of us and we are one of them. Not only that, I noticed in most ad that tries to sell their product, it is very gender based, they will more likely to lean to one, and try to make it appealing for that gender.  

In Shai-ann’s blog (http://shaiannrichards.wordpress.com/) brought up the Justfab.com commercial. First few seconds of this video and it is very clear who they are trying to appeal to. Shai-ann mentioned ``Even with in the advertisement, we can see forms of socializations and society`s view o gender roles. Gender plays a crucial role in who we are and what advertisements appeal to us`` This commercial does a great job by interpellating /hailing young women, for exactly what Shai-ann has mentioned in her blog. Looking closely, we will noticed that man are hardly in these Justfab commercial, making it evident who they are trying to target, and by adding the moaning to the end, states that these shoes are very sexy and trendy. After teasing you, they lure you in by adding that most shoes are starting at $39.00. As a girl, we know that it is hard to find cheap shoes that are sexy.  This commercial does the perfect job to please women.

Aside from targeting women, men are just as an easy target as we are. In Kalib`s blog (http://ihadatoughtimecomingupwithanameformyblog.wordpress.com/). As mentioned earlier, I have stated that media makes us feel like we are one of them, and they are one of us. Kalib wrote in his blog that the advertisement addresses him as a hockey player, and interpellates him into the culture of hockey. ``We see how they do this first of all in the language. It continuously uses the word ``you``, not as in you specifically, but you as a group such as hockey player or athletes or even just being a fan. Its attempting to make you feel like Sidney Crosby and bring you into that culture of sports and athletics. `` Also, the advertisement does a great job by linking Gatorade to all time best player Sidney Crosby, it is clear the target audience are adolescence boys that are into sports.

Lastly, my all-time favorite commercial is brought up by Chloe (http://chloejocelyn.blogspot.ca/) This advertisement does a great job by grouping us, and addressing their target audience which is attracting my demographic. Chloe brought up ``..If I didn't identify as female, I wouldn't find this ad so amusing and effective.`` For most of my friends, I know that their period is the worst thing in their life, so the commercial does an excellent job convincing women out that by using their product, you will be doing yoga, and twirling. Whether is true for all women, most women are willing to switch over in order to have a happy period as they try to present to you.

Media is a scary thing, that Im always surrendering myself to. Whether media is false or real, we are always lured to what they sell to us. 

What the Hail?!

There is no denying the rise in Nicki Minaj’s popularity these past few years. Just as she stated in her verse in “Make Me Proud” featuring famous rap artist drake “I’m the realest deal, the best legal team so the deal is ill, its Mac, OPI, and a fragrance too” Translation for those that don’t speak Nicki, she is stating that she’s taking over every business venture she can. She has a deal with MAC (cosmetics), her own nail polishes with OPI, and is working on a fragrance and clothing line. That being said, it was smart for OPI to use Nicki Minaj in their advertisement and let her have her own line. According to the textbook Media and society written by O’shaughnessy & Stadler “the sports section hails the reader as male the social pages readers as female…” (pg 186) & “gender is central to identity, and gender socialization is one of the earliest process of interpellation” (185) That being said, OPI needs to know who they are targeting, and It is evident that OPI’s audience is majority teen girls. As mentioned earlier in my blog, I believe that media as powerful weapon such as a gun that’s in the wrong hands that could be triggered anytime. Media has made me become a victim and I’m ready to surrender to them. Media affects what people think, and what they believe, and after seeing this ad, I was ready to buy all the colours. In fact, I did go out and buy a few of these colours. Reason why Nicki has made it so far in this business because unlike most male rapper, she carries herself out so well as a strong and independent women. Most teens look up to her, so her having her own nail line, we want to wear what Nicki approves, that will help us feel more connected to her. Nicki is bold when it comes to fashion, and if she approves of something, you’re going to feel obligated to have it.  To go and show how much Nicki has on the world of media, she goes on and helps Pepsi advertised their product.

          Overall, I believe this advertisement by OPI is very successful to have a celeibrity like Nicki Minaj because just like myself, many girls went out and bought the product. Also, still today, Nicki Minaj has been very influential, that is why she went off and became an American Idol. This shows how much she can influence people.

Do we get the media we want, or want the media we get?

Between the two relationships media and society, we look at two models. The two models that the textbook written by O’shaughnessy & Stadler include: media reflect the realities, values, and norms of a society versus media affects what people think (p.42) Based on my experience, I believe that media does affect what people think, what they believe, and how they behave. Instead of society creating a path for media, I do think that media affects our society and controls the direction of society. At times, I would compare media as a powerful weapon such as a gun that’s in the wrong hands that could be triggered anytime.

According to the textbook Media and Society, this model believes that “the media construct our values for us and have a direct effect on our actions” (p.43) On average, one will watch television for 8 hours, however, one may not consider the influence that it has on us. The news that we watch and hear every day helps us stay connected, however, the media could easily influence your behaviour and thoughts of a story. That said, let’s take the 9/11 attack of the twin towers, after the event, so many people have looked down on Muslims because of the way media portrayed them. This shows how media affects how and what we learn about the world.

When mentioned earlier as media being a power weapon, by this I mean that the message that is being conveyed is not always direct but it is rather hidden. Although they are not exactly telling you what is considered the norm, we know what the media is presenting to us and what is considered acceptable. For example, what we should wear, how we should look and what we should buy. Although, one may not feel the same way, I do find that at times people start to adjust and adapt what media presents to them to fit in. Now a days, to not have a smart phone would sometimes be look down upon and be considered uncool.

All in all, I do believe media creates a path for us. By this I mean media does affect what people think, what they believe, and how they behave. Therefore I believe we want the media we get.

-       Ingga

1F25 – BLOG RESPONSE – MEDIA IMPACT ON OTHERS

As mentioned earlier in my blog, I have stated that mass media has affected us one way or another. After reading several blogs by my peers, I realized many of them shared the same view as me; on the other hand many viewed mass media as a negative thing that I have not thought about to a full extent.  When writing my blog, I was only focusing on what did media do for me, rather than what did mass media do for the society as a whole.

I found Brandon Lewis’s blog (http://brandonlewis94.wordpress.com/) to be humorous and fascinating to read. A line that had caught my attention is when Brandon mentioned “ I am constantly checking the world of sports though, whether it be on my phone, the computer, the television, print (at times), or even just the word of mouth” because for I do it too.  We, as individuals are so intrigued with the latest news, that we feel like we have to always be connected. For instance, the royal baby, one might not follow the royal news, with mass media, you will know the gender of the baby before he or she even brought to life.  I’m constantly checking my phone for the latest basketball, or even celebrity news in hopes something new has happened, and when I’m not on my phone, I check my laptop. Even though I’m sure not much has changed within the 5 minutes interval from putting my phone down, to turning my laptop on.

With that being said, although I may view the mass media as a positive aspect in our lives, I didn’t realize the negativity that comes with it. In Alana Lutz’s blog (http://itsalanalutz.wordpress.com/), she brought up a side that I didn’t acknowledge. Alana brought up body image, which I think is very important to touch base on.  As she quoted in her blog “Body image for example, is an issue many young women face on a daily basis. These young women sometimes have very low self-esteem, and constantly compare themselves to what they see in the media" I agree with this 100%, I know many of my friends back when I was in high school, who would try to keep up with this image that is considered beautiful, that it got so unhealthy. Media sells you this idea that skinny is in, but in my opinion what happen to that sexy look that Marilyn Monroe had?  In reality, these models don’t even look like themselves especially not with the help of airbrush, and Photoshop.

Although mass media could affect an individual, I forgot how easily media could twist your whole view on a whole community. In Adelina Ferati’s blog (http://adelina23.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/1f25-post-1-media-impact/) she has opened up my eyes so much about mass media. I’m so caught up in the news they feed me, that I forget that it could have negative impact on one. Not all the time media shed positive lights, and with Adelina situation is being one. With the 9/11, media has made her and her family as a target. In her blog she wrote “I was raised and am a Muslim and after the 9/11 attack, students that knew I was a Muslim were afraid to talk to me and even criticised me. It’s not fair that the media can target a certain group of people just to keep their rates up.” The moment media has attach the word “terrorist” to Muslim, one will or may start to become judgemental. For example, for heartthrob Zayn Malik in boy band One Direction, receives this negativity as well because he Is Muslim.

It is great to know that there are so many views and thoughts about mass media. Has this changed my view? Absolutely, yes! Here I thought, mass media was an amazing thing that helps me stay well connected, but the moment mass media is brought into our life, there’s always a positive and negative side. 

How significant do you think the impact of the mass media is on your worldview?

When it comes down to mass media, I would say it has a huge significant impact in our modern culture. How huge you may ask? Well, definitely more than girls screaming for One Direction. Mass media keeps us up to date with important events and most importantly notify us what are the expected norms of society and how one is expected to behave. With that being said, without mass media, I would not be able to function how I would today. Nowadays, mass media is a daily and very important necessity for people. As mentioned in lecture, media comes in different forms such as magazines, commercials, newspaper and etc.  Let’s be honest, I get most of my updates globally, and locally through the internet. Don’t lie, you do too. There is no way you guys are sitting at home waiting every night to watch the 10 o clock news. It appears that people want what is convenient for them. That said one is able to access all the information they want in anytime.

Along with the internet, it comes with networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Being in University for four years now, I have not kept in touch with most of my high school friends. With Facebook making it easy to stalk, it helps me stay connected and know what’s been going on in their life. As well with twitter, that is how I feel connected with celebrities even though they do not know me. The media has made our lives more public, for example celebrities are constantly always in the public eye. You will always hear what the latest trend they are wearing is or what they are up to. Just like Facebook, we can easily stalk friends or even if it’s someone you met randomly at the club.

Mass media has done a great job in portraying images of what is considered in style and what is out. It’s advertised by several of ways but they have people to do their dirty work and that’s through celebrities. For you men, if you saw a commercial by LeBron James advertising shoes, that would have you talking… would it not? Ladies, don’t deny but we look up what celebrities are wearing and their styles and look up to them.

Overall, as time goes by, it is apparent that mass media has affected us one way or another. Whether it’s being updated by news, or being connected to friends, and or even keeping up with the trends, we rely on it to function in our everyday life.  

 - xo Ingga