No More "2:30" Feeling?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu9pmHIMdOM

We've all seen these 5-Hour Energy Commercials. It's supposed to help people stay awake whenever they need that extra push of strength. This little shot of energy has as much caffeine as a premium cup of coffee. What would happen if someone took more than the daily recommended amount (which is two bottles)? Can this actually be an addicting thing? Coffee drinkers usually have a cup every morning before they begin their days. Some usually drink more than one cup a day. Could these 5-Hour Energy Shots have a larger effect than a regular cup of coffee? Is this something that should be purchased by someone who is suffering from ADD or ADHD? Since this drink is considered a dietary supplement, should it be banned from anyone under the age of 18? 

Don't Drink and Drive

I personally am curious as to whether our American society has limits to what it is willing to portray to communicate something with such depth. This anti-drink and drive advertisement is not ashamed of going to the extreme of showing a very graphic death to make it's point. There doesn't seem to be a particular audience either, it seemed to be a very universal structure to the way that alcohol is conveyed. However I am still curious as to whether this ad actually does anything. 


Does seeing this just make the audience angry of drunk drivers or does it really convict the people who are drinking and driving? Does the audience feel compelled to be more responsible with their alcohol consumption just by the way this is presented to them?


Also what do you think the purpose of showing a parallel between the driver and the child who dies is/does? What does showing the similar cloths and activities (soccer) try to say? 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymiF-okrdMg&feature=related

http://www.memefrog.com/albums/college-freshman/college-freshman-meme-00038.jpg

The above picture was found on Google images. I chose to post this because I thought that it would provide a strong foundation for discussion, and was also appropriate for its rhetoric for the class. These images, called “memes” are popular now because they take previous pictures and attach words to them to manipulate them. Because of this, these photos and advertisements can convey several different messages based off of the statements that are written on them. The young man is clearly on a college campus and listening to his music. The fact that he is listening to his music contributes to the strength of the statement in the picture because of the fact that it mentions rap songs and how alcohol is mentioned in these songs. Many of these images are meant to be comical and humorous, but is a photo such as this really that funny? Does it hold a large amount of truth? What is it really trying to tell us? What is implied in this image? What is the significance of this photo being in a college setting? Who does this photo appeal to?  Why is this statement/stereotype assumed to be true?

Above the Influence - Hurt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grB6Hm_NI4Q&feature=related

Many anti-drug ads only deal with the effect that drugs will have on the user. This Above the Influence commercial focuses on the effects that it will have on the people surrounding them. It concentrates on a younger brother, how he is also “hurt” by the decisions that his older sibling makes. They end the commercial by say, “smoking weed hurts more than just you”. What is your reaction to the commercial? Does having a little boy in the commercial make it more effective? Do the actions of older siblings truly have such a strong impact on younger siblings as this commercial implies?

Sex sells in Plumbing commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7fz0jpuLkM&feature=relmfu

This is a commercial made by liquid plumber. It is a very clear representation of how companies try to over sexualize something to sell their product. This commercial I feel has gone further than most companies are willing to go, as it uses clear double-endras to try and catch the viewers attention. Clearly they believe this will get them sales. Does this style of marketing really help to increase sales? Also, is this the furthest companies will go to catch your attention, or will they only make them more sexualized in order to make money?

Video of Retired Cop Asking Obama to Legalize Marijuana Wins White House Youtube Contest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IpiATxdR4&feature=player_embedded

This video is a submission to a contest held by the White House for questions to ask President Obama. This particular one is of a retired LAPD Deputy Chief asking the President to legalize marijuana because of his stance that he has taken from his years on the job. He views the U.S. drug policy as a failure and a gigantic waste of funds. He also points out that more Americans are now in favor of legalization rather than the continued prohibition of marijuana and confronts the President on what he plans to do to change this during his term, which will soon be over. What questions does this raise about the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana? What statement is being made about America as a whole as our country progresses through this social era?

"Denial is a Drug" Youtube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_vWAvpvKR0

The “Denial is a Drug” Youtube video is sponsored by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, which educates families about teen substance abuse and addiction. The television commercial opens with a boy saying, “I was in junior high the first time I caught my mom using denial.” He then admits to stealing his mother’s prescription drugs. He explains that he can get away with almost anything because his mother is on the drug called denial. The video shows the boy and a friend sorting his mother’s pills. His mother observes them, but chooses to ignore the situation. At the end of the video, the mom is shown finding a bag of marijuana in her son’s room. Finally, the commercial ends with, “denial is a drug” and urges parents in denial to seek help. The commercial caught my attention because it takes a different angle on drug abuse by highlighting that denial can also be considered an addictive drug. This commercial definitely makes a statement to parents who may be in denial of the reality of teenage drug use. What is your reaction to this commercial? How do you think this commercial takes a different stance on drugs and the role of parents? Do you think denial is a drug? How does this commercial make a lasting impression on viewers?

College Advertisement

http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/demotivational-posters-college.jpg

College, according to numerous movies, is known for its parties, beer, beer pong, and well, beer. This demotivational poster plays on that with its direct audience of college students. The two largest words in this advertisement and poster is "College", which plays a direct correlation with it's intended audience. They also choose to use white lettering over a green and black background to make the words stand out. .What is college for? To further educate yourselves and this advertisement plays on this as well. "Smart Scholars". Why would the advertisement suggest that you are a smart scholar playing beer pong even if you save a few dollars? The items portrayed are essential to beer pong, but is it essential to college? Is college parties and beer pong actually a part of college or is it something totally blown out of proportion by other propaganda and being utilized by organizations that could profit off of this assumption?

Also I noted with todays economy and the average college student struggling with finances such as tuition, books, rent etc, this advertisement hits home when one sees the "savings". They also chose a prime location, at the end of the isle where everyone walks past. Not just in an isle where some people might not need anything in said isle and skip it.

Shards O Glass Commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbQ4JNpXPTY

Using a Super Bowl commercial as well, I chose the "Shards O Glass" commercial. This commercial, produced by truth.com, makes fun at big tobacco companies by saying that they too can sell a product that doesn't make sense. People see freeze pops as harmless food, but this company puts glass in them that obviously harms people, just like the tobacco in cigarettes. As stupid as Shards O Glass is, what the tobacco companies are doing is exactly the same. They market their product to be fun and harmless yet millions of people die from the toxins inside. The spokesman of the commercial addresses the main problems of Shards O Glass freeze pops by saying there is no safe way to consume them and that they are for adults only. But what is ironic is that in the commercial it shows hundreds of freeze pops still being made and they will obviously appeal to young people because freeze pops are not usually a adult only food. Do you think that this parody of a tobacco company is accurate? For something as unrealistic as Shards O Glass freeze pops, do they make you think of cigarettes and how dangerous they can be? Does this commercial make you think differently about how tobacco advertising works? Or do you just disregard this commercial because it doesn't stand out as much as their other commercials (such as the one we watched in class with the mannequins)?

Budweiser Prohibition Advertisement

If the video doesn't load use the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGgosT-v5sw

With the spirit of the Super Bowl I thought a good post would be of one of the new commercials this year. Budweiser released this commercial that deals with the Prohibition Era and opens by saying that Budweiser drinkers were forced to go without it during the 13 years that alcohol was banned. The overwhelming excitement that came over everyone when prohibition ended spread through the video and the people abruptly ended what they were doing to run outside and celebrate. The Budweiser signature Clydesdale horses are shown bringing the beer back after an eternity of no Budweiser and is welcomed back with cheers and everyone celebrating the bar opening again. This ad shows Budweiser as a spirit of America and dating back to 1876 with the video produced in a kind of "old" style video with dim light and a city full of people from the time of prohibition. Alcohol companies as well as other advertisements use a "signature" object or phrase such as the Clydesdale horse for Budweiser or Captain Morgan and "Got a little Captain in you?" to help market their products. This ad uses American spirit and the signature Clydesdale to help sell its product to the audience especially during the most anticipated and watched commercials of the year, the Super Bowl. Why would Budweiser use this scenario to sell their product? Is there a negative or harmful effect of celebrating alcohol the way this ad does? Does this ad appeal specifically to men because the majority of the ad used a masculine approach? Is the signature object such as the Clydesdale horse or Keith Stone useful in marketing beer?

Blue Mountain State Intro

Blue Mountain State Intro

This is the introduction to a television show on Spike TV called Blue Mountain State. The show is a comedy series about a group of college football players for the fictional school BMS.

The intro clip pretty much flashes back and forth between images of football, and partying with alcohol and attractive women. What is significant about the way that alcohol is portrayed? How would this clip influence a young football player, or someone who idolizes football players? Is there a specific audience that the creators of the show are trying to appeal to? The first thing I think of is that they are trying to draw in heterosexual males.

According to Wikipedia, 45% of Spike Tv's viewing audience is women. Does this trailer seem to appeal to a female audience in any way?

I'm interested in what you guys have to say, let's discuss!

Arnold Schwarzenneger and Marijuana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmN6FDYp6zk&feature=related

Arnold Schwarzenneger, known for being the governor of California as well as a famous actor and bodybuilder, clearly displays a positive view on marijuana in this video. The video begins with Arnold responding to an interview question by stating it would be fine if voters decided they wanted to legalize marijuana. It then cuts to a video of himself smoking weed in his famous bodybuilding documentary, and afterwards he confirms that he did smoke and inhale the drug. He even seems to find it amusing when he says that some people questioned whether or not it was fake and if he actually inhaled. Arnold seems to be downplaying the negatives of marijuana. Do you think Arnold's stance on weed would have an impact on the different aspects of his career, either as a politician, an actor, or a bodybuilder? Also, would this harm the views of his fans or those who see him as a role model? Should he even be worried about the reaction since has found so much success in a variety of areas?