Media has control? I think not.

     Over the course of a few weeks, I have learned so much about media and its cruel intentions. It is still surprising to think that advertisers use the media and us to brain wash ourselves. Updating this blog makes me realize that I spend too much of my time consuming media and actually believing what they say. Now that I am aware of media tactics and how it is applied, I am more able to think twice about what actually matters. Every time I see a commercial or sign, I cant stop myself from pointing out several techniques such as avant garde or plain folks. Because of this, I am thankful that I can actually stop myself from buying into their words and prevent myself from getting fooled. This is exactly why having media literacy and being an educated consumer is important. We need to stop ourselves from being cheated. Now that I know why and how the media manipulates me, I try to stay away from it. We are giving media the ability to fool us so, it is up to us the be educated and prevent such things to happen. We give media its powers, therefore it is we that need to stop it.

I'm happy so f*ck off.

     Watching miss representation was not shocking to me. I've seen how much the media may influence a person. What kindof took me by surprise however was to see the average percent of teenage girls who try to alter themselves in order to fit within society's ideals. I knew that some girls were unhappy with the way they looked but I didn't know that 62% of girls go on diets etc in order to look a certain way. Also, another thing that was shocking to me was the idea that girls have been influenced ever since they were young. For example, Disney princess Ariel is seen wearing only a bikini and showing alot of skin. Because tons of little girls admire Ariel, they too would be wanting to wear tiny bikinis in order to be just like Ariel. Almost every single show that has a female playing an important role is skinny. I dont think I've never seen a show where the leading female actors are fat, "normal-acting" people. If there were, they would probably be seen as the stereotypical b*tch or comedian. An example of this would be "Sadie" from Awkward or "Fat Amy" from Pitch Perfect. Even if seen as bitchy or funny fat girls, there would always be a scene where they try to look better by losing weight. "Sadie" appears to be strong and objective to "skitches" (skinny b*tches) but ends up starving herself in one of the episodes. The media's intentions of promoting good health for all is great but its stretching the idea of "good health" too far. Instead of promoting society's idea of the prefect, healthy, and toned body, maybe they should start promoting self confidence. This needs to be done as soon as possible. A person should live life happy and not restricted to society's unrealistic ideals. If a person is happy at 200 lbs, regardless of health issues, so be it.
                                                    

It may be stupid but its also dumb

 

     In Merchants of Cool I learned that a Mook was stereotype made from marketers in order to target teenaged boys. In order to boost up sales, marketers are able to sell the idea of permanent adolescence in which boys are stereotypically obnoxious, carefree, stupid, and in your face. After learning this, the character Patrick Star came into my mind and is a perfect example of the Mook. The show Spongebob Squarepants was created to target an age group typically 18 and under. The show itself is able to sell the message in which friendship is valuable through two idiotic friends which happen to be both males. Because the two main characters are male, the gender specifically being targeted is male. Both characters are idiotic, loud, and carefree but Patrick Star is extremely exaggerated. Patrick Star is so stupid that he cannot tell the difference between a trumpet and mayonnaise. However, there was an episode in which Patrick switches his head and becomes smart. At the end of the episode, Patrick chooses to switch his head back and become stupid again because he values friendship. After, he returns to being loud and stupid. So, both friends return to having endless fun through idiotic adventures forever.

Do whatever we want with Miley?

     After watching Merchants of Cool and learning that a stereotypical Midriff was a creation, made by marketers in order to target females that are prematurely adult, one female singer came into my mind. Miley Cyrus. Over the course of a few years, I was able to grow up alongside Miley Cyrus and see her transform from an innocent appearing southern girl,  into a wild and carefree woman. As she was younger and reached her fame through the character Hannah Montana, we saw that her fans typically composed of the ages between 5 to 15. As she continued her career as Hannah Montana however, I was able to see that her popularity had declined. Today, she has made a comeback as a wild and carefree women who does not care about the opinions of others. In one of her songs she says, "Remember only god can judge ya, forget the haters, because somebody loves ya". Yes, Miley's intentional messages towards adolescence that it is okay to be unique and not to be ashamed of themselves because of societal norms is great. But, is the technique she uses in order to sell this message appropriate? Many critics have argued that Miley is the embodiment of the stereotypical Midriff. She, in my opinion, is exposing sex and drugs to prematurely adult females. This can be seen through her wild performances, her instagram accounts, her website, and all throughout the media. In her performances, she is basically nude, dances very sexually (twerks) , smokes weed, etc in order to tell young girls that it is okay to be unique. Is this really necessary? Apparently, yes. Although i don't agree with this technique, it is clearly effective with all the fame and money she is making. She is targeting girls are are maturing and are realizing their sexual desires so she tells them that it is okay to be able to express this desire.


Link to a video of her smoking a joint as she receives an award:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoF0PpgUalQ

Tall, Blonde, and Gorgeous is the trend. Get with it.

 

  I was scrolling through my feed on Instagram and I came upon a picture of McDonald's fries that included a caption of "Tall, blonde, and gorgeous". Then I realized that this was a perfect Ad for my media blog because the meme of the fries explains why the billboard is appealing.

     The advertiser used the technique of wit and humor and sex appeal in order to divert attention to its product. The phrase "Tall, blonde, and gorgeous" is used to appeal to those who seem to find an interest in tall, blonde, and gorgeous, people. I find it smart that McDonald's used gender friendly words and did not use words to specify if it were used towards male or females. Wit and humor was used because the phrase "Tall, blonde, and gorgeous" was used in describing McDonald's fries. When people purchase fries, they often do not describe their fries using these words. Because of how strange and outrageous for someone to describe fries as tall, blonde, and gorgeous, it is funny. So, the audience is entertained.

     Sex appeal was used because the words are often used to describe people that are typically models. This touches on societal norms in which the idea of superiority is composed of those who are tall, blonde, and gorgeous. The need for affiliation is used. Since majority of people are not considered a part of that societal norm, the advertiser is telling you to purchase the fries in order to become closer to that norm. Although you may not be receiving a tall, blonde and gorgeous person, you would still be able to receive tall, blonde, and gorgeous fries. So, the phrase, "There's a McDonald's for everyone" was used in order the support the idea of, every one can achieve superiority if they purchase McDonald's fries.

Do you like you?

 
  A song that I have grown attached to after hearing it air on the radio several times is the song, "Try" by Colbie Caillat. The song reflects on society's beauty ideals and questions those who alter their image with makeup, clothes, etc. The question proposed is whether people alter their image to please others or themselves. She suggests that you don't have to try to please others but in fact please yourself. Many people accuse her of arguing that you should not change your physical appearance. They say she assumes that everyone changes for others. However, people don't understand that she is not opposed to changed. She understands that not all people change themselves for others. She just urges people to do it for the sake of your own happiness and not others.

Wait a second,
Why should you care, what they think of you
When you're all alone, by yourself
Do you like you? Do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to bend until you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try

     She clearly says you don't have to try meaning you have a choice. If you want to try and it makes you happy, then go ahead! No one's stopping you!

     I fell in love with this song even more when I saw the music video. In the beginning, it showed women of different sizes, colors, shapes etc. They all were "dolled-up" with makeup, fake eyelashes, etc. As the video progressed, each one of them started to take off their makeup revealing their natural face. A woman even took off her wig revealing her bald head. Although the women took these stuff off, they were happy with themselves. 

     When I hear this song, it gives me a sense of confidence. It reminds me that I don't need to change myself in order to fit in. I can be happy just the way that I am. I wear makeup too and I do it because I love applying it on, not for society's idea of perfection. Others like to paint a canvas but I like to paint my face with makeup.

How to be an active Dad

     Ever since we started analyzing print ads in class, I do not think i will ever look at print-ads the same anymore. I can not look at an ad without pointing out a technique the advertiser used in order to sell a product. Recently, an ad that caught my attention as I was flipping through one of Cosmopolitan's magazine was Vicks' Dayquil and Nyquil. This caught my attention because it was the only ad that did not seem to fit in a magazine full of women, fashion, and cosmetics. The ad displayed a split picture of a dad during the day with his children and the same dad sleeping at night. Words printed in bold labeled, "DADS DON'T TAKE SICK DAYS. DADS TAKE DayQuil NyQuil" It also listed several discomforts that the medicine claims to treat.
     I noticed that the picture itself was trying to advertise the basic appeal of the need to achieve. By including a  picture of a dad taking care of his kids during the day, the advertiser is claiming that DayQuil would help you achieve obstacles during the day. In this case, the the father is achieving the obstacle of having to take care of three children regardless of his discomfort. The other picture claims that NyQuil would help you achieve more sleep by treating your discomfort. Thus, you would be ready to achieve more obstacles the following day. The ad was also advertising the basic appeal of the need to nurture. The ad was able to appeal to paternal instincts by including a father and children. This suggests that the product would enable you to nurture your children with ease.
     The advertiser also used the technique of weasel words that claim the product to fully function without making any guarantee. The list claims to treat "...coughing, sniffling, sneezing, aching, fever..." but does not actually guarantee that the product will work. Using the word, "DADS" and a picture of a dad, they advertiser was able to target specific demographics of middle-aged dads. The phrase "POWER THROUGH YOUR DAY" was used to target Psycho-graphics of those who are active and have a can-do attitude.