Siri Agrees With Me

Daily we see about 10 ads or commercials per day, whether were watching TV or being forced to watch 30 seconds before watching stupid videos on YouTube. We are all exposed to advertisements. While we may think that advertisements are meant for our enjoyment, the true purpose is to sell a product. The companies of these ads are all competing to have the most users and to sell the most products. A particularly strong company is one we all are familiar with Apple. After becoming an iPhone user I see how I fell into the scheme of iPhones incredibly detailed ads.

Android, one of Apples major competitors released their newest phone the Samsung Galaxy S4 in the March of 2013. The phone received a profuse amount of attention, putting the Apple Company to the backburner to the public. Apple responded by publishing this ad on their website along with their comparison of battery life, retina display, and camera of all iPhones. Apple seemed to have been put on defensive mode, when releasing this ad, but it seems their defense strategy was full proof.

Looking plainly at the ad, you can notice the large arrogant phrase in the largest black font “There’s iPhone. And there’s everything else”. The words “There’s iPhone “appear to be the most eminent words on the ad. Centered and focused these words are meant to be noticed first. This gives the effect of paramount significance. Followed by “And there’s everything else.” This creates an effect that everything that isn’t an iPhone is subsequently insignificant, and nothing can compare to an iPhone. In a lighter and smaller font, Apple uses a quirky and insolent tone, to describe why apple users prefer the apple brand.

Next your eyes are trained to look at the not one but four iPhones bellow the text.(as if one wasn’t enough). The use of white iPhones gives us the sense of purity and cleanliness because in society we associate white with perfection. Colorful images placed on each of the four screens white iPhones attract scrutiny from the viewers. Placed on each of the IPhones perfectly un-cracked (but soon to be) screens are apps specifically made for iPhones. Placed specifically based on the fact that our eyes are trained to read left to right the most important iPhone lies on the left. The farthest to the left iPhone has the editing function especially made for iPhones. One of the things Apple pride themselves is the quality of their camera and editing features. The other iPhones display apps such as Tumblr, The App Store, and Catch.  These iPhones laid in perfect symmetry compared to the words shows the amount of diligence and assiduity when creating the ad. The brightness of the ad makes the iPhones seem almost unrealistic, because we all know the iPhone we see everyday look nothing like these.

With the knowledge that iPhone published this ad on its website after Android released its newest phone the Galaxy S4, shows the competition aspect  for advertisements. Although Apple was very blatant with very their flagrant ad, it shows Apples superiority over competing phones. It is not as simple as other phones, but it is simpler to use. The technology is so advance that nothing can compare and this is proved with the statistical data released the same time as the ad. An evitable fact is that ads are meant to sell product and it is obvious this what Apple is doing. Apple may have taken an arrogant approach but the fact of the matter is that people buy into statistics. Apple showed their superiority over other companies by releasing this ad, putting iPhones into the hands of thousands of new users. Including me.

Dont Choke While You Bite on A Piece of Society

In mainstream society, we see about 10 ads or commercials per day, whether were watching TV or being forced to watch 30 seconds before watching stupid videos on YouTube. We are all exposed to advertisements. While we may think that advertisements are meant for our enjoyment, the true purpose is to sell a product. Regardless if hamsters are dancing out of a car, or a random guy is having the worst day simply because he didn’t pay his cablevision bill, ads all want money. Subliminally all ads send a message to society, all these messages create “norms” and majority of people inevitably follow some of these norms. While some of these norms may seem simple like “girls want to smell fruity so buy VS” others like this advertisement create a norm that is not so normal or easily accepted.

 In the above advertisement, a blonde haired, blue eyed, Caucasian woman opens her mouth with wide eyes for the incoming “ BK Super Seven Incher”. With first glance there is a great amount of inappropriateness, why will a sandwich “Blow her mind away”. It won’t, but there is an amazing play on words. Without a doubt there is an unreasonable amount of provocative-ness in this ad, even without all the fine print, that include “ fit your desire for something long, juicy and flame grilled…”. A mother might make her 10 year old son close his eyes at the sight of this but why? Admittedly, women are often the main ones portrayed in commercials, usually in a sexual manner. Over the years women’s bodies have become over-sexualized so much that schools have banned spaghetti strap shirts and “pom pom” shorts. Women rather than becoming the strong figures of society we would like to be seen as today, are seen as sexual objects. Objects that are meant for pleasure and maybe even worthy a 7-inch sandwich.

This advertisement not only plays on the roles of a woman but on the norms of a man. This plays into the common phrase that “size does matter”. Considering the woman in the ad is so enticed by the “7 incher” coming her way, this places a social norm on men that if you’re not seven inches, you’re doing something wrong.

Another way to analyze this is using the argument that sex and food can become one to females. Rather than having a sexual relationship why not take a bite out of a 7-incher than will last so much longer in your stomach to digest.

In an ad that would only take one second to catch your attention there are so many messages hidden subliminally. Without taking that second glance, there are so many things you can miss other than the 6.25$ 7 inch burger that will blow your mind away.

Caillou Character Analysis

As a child we all watched TV. Whether it was in the form of a VCR, DVD, or an actual satellite television we all experienced it. Half of our parents shoved us in front of a tv when we bothered them, or when we refused to go to sleep. Whether or not this was a good decision made by our parents we will never know. The writers and producers of American television try to create a utopian society which they display for millions of children to see. They use our social norms and cultural values to create characters that subliminally  project what they want to see in the world.

 In a children's cartoon named Caillou, Caillou is a 4 year old boy who is very imaginative, and creative. He tends to imagine situations and solve his own problems with the help of his father. He is the poster child for four year olds. Rarely does Caillou get in trouble although he does troublesome things. 

Caillou has the 3 family members and one cat. His mother, father, and a little sister.

The mother is the typical household mother. She is a middle age Caucasian woman that she cleans and cooks and takes care of the children. She doesn't have a job nor does she often leave house unless the children accompany her. She tends to stand in the background while the father usually helps Caillou with his problems. She reinforces Calliou’s emotions, and tends to offer emotional advice rather than strategic advice to help solve problems. 

The father is the typical strong household man. While the mother cleans and cooks the father works and exercises inside the house. He is considered Caillous hero because he offers strategic advice to all of his problems.

Cailluos younger sister is named Rosie. She is about 2 or 3. She is just beginning to speak but is able to understand all of her surroundings. She is sometimes a menace to Caillou but in the end they are one big happy family. She doesn't fit in with Caillou and his friends because she is younger so she tends to be with the mother for majority of the time. 

Another minor character is Gilbert the cat. It seems that most typical families have one animal living in the household.

Other characters include his three friends who are of different races. There is an Caucasian teacher who teaches Caillous kindergarten class. 

Feeding into the mainstream ideas that a perfect family has two children typically one boy and one girl and a happy couple as the parents. The show Caillou perfectly demonstrates the utopian society that most Americans believe in. The Caucasian parents are happily married with no financial difficulties. The son typically is imaginative and caring of his little sister. While the little sister helps the mother clean and stays out of the way.  The father is the role model of the family and supports the financial needs of the household. There are only about 5 characters that are monorities.  Most of the Caucasian characters appear in each and every episode while the minorities tend to appear once every 3 episodes and play an extremely minor role. 

Although it may seem that Caillou is a typical children's show for 2-6 year olds. There is a subliminal message created that in America a typical family should be Caucasian with four people and an animal. There should be no financial problems and each person in the household has there own place. 

Sent from my iPhone

Catholic Church Visual Argument

This is a photograph of a Catholic Church in Roanoke Virginia. The photographer was probably affiliated with the church. The creators’ attitude toward the image is extremely positive. This can be shown through the lighting, and the cleanliness of the church. The media is used to communicate words and images because it creates a utopia church where every seat has a bible and the lights are fully lit, and the floors are perfectly polished. The positivity image given off by the photograph of the entire church gives off the message that the church has a calming environment, and is a place that should be respected and praised.  The visual text assumes that its readers and viewers will most likely be religious and preferably Catholic. Considering Jesus on the cross is the centerpiece of the entire photograph, the creator assumes that the viewer has a religious stand point that positively associated with Jesus. The media is used to communicate words and images by creating positive environment therefore creating the idea that the church is a positive place. The presence of cleanliness, order, and bright lighting all work together to positively reinforce the viewer that this specific church is  a great environment to worship and go to church in. Since there are no words in this photograph there can be no interpretation of the text. The overall impression that the visual text creates in me is that if I were Catholic this would be the ideal church to go to. The single room is spacious, and it seems as if they really value God, and Jesus since Jesus on the cross is the center of the photograph. The cultural value that this visual text evokes is harmony, and stress free. This visual reinforces the argument that anyone Catholic or any religious person should attend or support their church. The visual text is composed in a very  fashionable manor. The centerpiece of the photo is Jesus on the Cross, the blue arches attract your eyes and make you travel down them to see the cross. The next thing that attracts your eyes are the lights above all of the seats. This allows the reader to see that the audience is the second most important thing in a Catholic church. This visual argument makes me want to visit a Catholic church although I am not Catholic.