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.
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ReplyDeleteThe target of this image is, more than likely, college students. The "essentials" to collegiate life, according to the creator of the image, are related to everything not having to do with an education. Possibly appealing to the idea that some students enter college expecting to party through an education, the creator throws his/her thoughts out for all to see. By ironically pointing out that school is for education, the creator focuses the attention of the audience towards how college is famous for its drinking/partying. Maybe the creator disagrees with the placement of partying so high on the college "to do list"?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the actual advertisement in the store plays towards the idea that a smart scholar would buy these college "essentials". More than likely near a college campus, the placement of the items shows that many people want easy access to the so called essentials.
Prompt 6: I think the advertisement listed here could bring up a lot of controversy to the audience/customers. Some people, most likely students or adults who are reminded of their college years, would find this advertisement funny. They know how much drinking takes place in college and can find humor in the play on words. However, some people, most likely adults or some students who chose not to partake in such activities in college may roll their eyes at it and take a little offense to the fact that the advertisement is overlooking what college is all about and all the hard school work that takes place. However, a way to look at this that I think everyone could relate to and hopefully not be offended by is that these things the store is advertising, promoting beer pong and drinking to college scholars, is essential in addition to the scholarly activity that occurs in college. I think it’s important to recognize that the advertisement does reference the education that is gained in college to make students into scholars. This, to me, changes the whole goal of the advertisement. It’s saying that they know that students go to college to learn, become smarter, and become scholars in a certain field but there’s more to life than just that. Someone once told me “there’s more to learn in college than just what is in your textbooks” and I think this somewhat backs up this advertisement. It shows that it’s also essential to learn to relax and to see that life doesn’t always have to just be about the serious things. That getting out there doing something you enjoy, meeting new people, and using life experiences to find who you are and what’s important to you is as a very important part of the college experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying and the advertisement is rather ambiguous in nature. Like you mentioned, the audience can take away two very different messages depending on their views and experience. I believe this advertisement is saying much more than just beer pong being a must have for college. The saying, "Smart Scholars, Save Dollars" reflects on a much broader scale than just activities relating to beer pong. I agree that college should be balanced with fun and education and while I do not agree with beer pong, it is naive to assume that it does not take place in college and the advertisement shows that it happens and why not save money? Something every college person is looking to do.
DeleteMost students start college expecting to be involved in the party life on more than a few occassions. Many people have excepted the reality of this, and it is definitely more excepted than it once was. College students are always going to have the urge to party, so finding things on a budget catch their eye, especially when it come to a favorite pastime such as beer pong. They attract students by making their price lower and putting it out in the open, like how you mentioned it is at the end of an aisle where it catches everyone's eye. Things such as beer pong being advertised should not come across as wrong, it is just the excepted style and life of things that happen in the college life.
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ReplyDeleteCollege is suppose to be a place of learning and finding yourself. So they fact that this picture shows a sign of college essentials above pong balls, solo cups, and a long table, makes you wonder what this store is really trying to say. I feel as if this store is trying to suggest college student to play beer pong, especially when they add "Smart scholars SAVE dollars". They are suggesting that school is a place of drinking and drinking games. But that is not what colege is suppose to be about. So this picture makes you wonder why kids really come to college. Whether it be for freedom, or drinking, or school, there is always a reason.
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ReplyDeleteI think the picture is trying to portray college as a place that people go to learn as well as party. It uses a smart combination of font and colors to seem "scholarly" and intelligent while it also appeals to people who associate college with partying. Using both of these elements, it separates itself from other advertisements by convincing potential buyers that it is a smart way to save money in order to enjoy yourself. The ad leaves students wondering what the true lure of college is: either furthering one's education or having a great time.
I believe the concept here is the fact that the immediate image of college now that pops into people's heads is what is displayed in that photo. The perception is no longer of academic prowess and achievement as much as it is about partying. The store from this ad is not stupid. They are profit-motivated and, as such, will put products out on the end aisles that will sell. The persuasion here comes in the words at the bottom of the photo, stating that these things are "essential" to being in college, which is a stretch. The store could care less about what they are implying by this setup. The perception that is incorrect and should not be brought up is the idea that beer pong and being a scholar are related when they really aren't at all.
ReplyDeleteThis advertisement appeals to the college subculture that holds drinking in high regards. This is a clever advertisement, and does a good job to undermine the fact that college is for education and further promotes the drinking culture. It is embracing the fact that a lot of drinking happens in college houses and at partys.
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ReplyDeleteAs most people have stated, college life is thought to be about partying and having a good time. However, it is in no fashion like this at all. Incoming freshman look at the cups, balls, and tables and immediately feel like these items are necessities for college. In no way are these items essential for college. However, this is a great way to make money. Incoming freshman are unaware of the financial crisis that college causes students and do not feel as if it is too big of a deal to drop a couple of dollars on items like these. The end of the aisle is a perfect location due to the fact that when incoming students are looking for things for college for the first time, they tend to buy things without near as much thinking as they would when they are in college. As I have stated previously, I believe this advertisement is solely attracting first year students. The "smart scholars" statement at the top attempts to influence new students to buy the items but also study hard, although there is a very minute correlation.
I believe that this poster's purpose is demotivational. Yes, Beer Pong is a part of university life, however, it is an activity that does not need to be marketed in a Bed Bath and Beyond or a Walmart Store. "Smart Scholars" I believe is an ironic phrase strategically placed to spurn this new-aged glamorization of binge drinking in American Universities. I don't believe that these two words are insinuating that "smart scholars" can also regard beer pong supplies as "essentials." This attitude, that alcohol-related activity is "essential" is not an intelligent attitude as binge drinking is hazardous. I think that it's positioning on the end of the isle is aiming to criticize where priorities lay in American students, and moreover, to disapprove of these large corporations' exploitation of the propaganda regarding drinking as being a college staple.
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