Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Your Cereal Reflects You as a Person.

TEACHING ASSISTANT Kelly George, a doctoral student in the School of Communications and Theater, lectured today on advertising and its relationship with journalism. Here are a few things that stood out for me:

- "Communications is a symbolic process whereby reality is produced, maintained, repaired and transformed" (as stated by James Carey).
- Advertising can create consumerism but consumerism also already exists in society.
- Advertising began in a rational fashion. Today, most advertising now appeals to the audience's emotions (for example, the Broadview Security ad, which was parodied by Saturday Night Live).

- The history of advertising parallels the history of journalism.
- The first advertising agency was created in Philadelphia in 1869.
- Railroads connected the east and west coasts, creating a national mass audience.
- Magazines were the first media to take advantage of and serve that national audience.

- Advertising relies on a prosperous economy.
- The creative side of advertising became very influential after World War II.
- Advertising often relies upon stereotypes to make a connection to the audience.
- Advertising has the ability to strengthen connections, forming community.

Kelly talked about a Wal-Mart employee who was trampled by Black Friday shoppers. Who was responsible for that man's death? Advertisers? Journalists who rely upon advertising to support their endeavors? The shoppers?

What stood out for you?

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed Kelly's lecture on the relationship between journalism and advertising. In order to make the change we want to see inevitable in the field of journalism it is important to understand the unique tie journalist have to advertisers. I thought it was very interesting when Kelly emphasized the powerful impact the relationship is between advertisers and journalist. In order, for journalist to progress and advertisers to progress as well their relationship is vital. The take away message I received was advertisers give us the image or message they want us to take as the ultimate truth. Journalist on the other hand give us the truth and its up to us take journalism at face value and decide whether or not to take the truth as the inevitable.

Frankito29 said...

i actually enjoyed the lecture! well, it wasn't the same without miller, i missed his jokes! but overall (content) it was great. it was very interesting to be able to understand the relationship of advertising and journalism, it's very exclusive. its a win-win relation that is always going to stay around.

P.S: i think advertisers are EVIL. they make me shop unnecessary things! :-(

Anonymous said...

The death by advertisement is definitely the fault of the shoppers, ultimately. (particularly the one who trampled him). Kelly did a great job and I think the idea of language as merely symbols (pix are the universal)is interesting.

Connor Showalter said...

I think Kelly did a great job of connecting the history of advertising with the modern form it has taken today. I also liked how she presented old-fashioned ads that were straight forward and text-heavy.

Coffee said...

What stood out to me was I felt that we, as a class (or as a society?), blamed the advertisers for the ills of consumerism. As spectators of various forms of media, it's our own prerogative if we want to buy what is blatantly and subliminally presented to us. It is not as though Coca-Cola and Gatorade are pouring their products down our throats. But, from what I heard in class, people made it seem as though commercials force them into doing things they don't want to. I just wonder if this stems back to an inability of our society to accept responsibility for their own actions.

However, I do hold a strong contempt for advertisers at times. When I witnessed Regis and Kelly sashay from Commerce to TD Bank, I wanted to burn every billboard I saw of them. I feel that they abuse the trust people put in them, and sell products and services they don't necessarily believe in, but push for the sake of a paycheck.

But, in the end advertisers are providing an importance service of funding the media we watch, and the power is in my own hands to choose what I buy and don't buy. TD Bank surely won't get my business apart from converting my change to dollar bills. And it's unfortunate that I use AT&T, because I hate being part of this feud between the cell phone companies. I'm embarrassed to be represented by fat Luke Wilson.

Sarah Sibel said...

I enjoyed the class a lot. As for the Walmart incident, I feel that it cannot really be associated with advertising, because ultimately, shoppers are going to go out on Black Friday regardless of what products are having large sales. Half the time when I have been out on the holiday I have not had a plan ahead of time, but merely bought what intrigued me at that moment. Since so many different products are on sale on that day, it is impossible to tie the advertising, no matter how large a campaign, to an incident like that.

It was very much the fault of crazy shoppers who are inconsiderate and greedy, and let their morals and values go in a time of craze and therefore, allow an innocent man to die. The situation was avoidable and completely unnecessary, but it is the fault of the stores and the shoppers and the way in which they see the products that day, not the advertisements seen ahead of time.

Berryman, A said...

I think Kelly did a good job in discussing advertising and using older advertisments in her class lecture. i also feel like the death of the shopper on black friday, was due to the shoppers. It haad nothing to do with the media and/or journalist in my opinion. On Black friday people are overwhemled by the prices and sales that they are unable to control themselves. If anything it has nothing to do witht he media gettng the word out their about black friday, but the stores for their low low prices.

Geo said...

Low, low prices? Where? I want to go!

The point is that without the media, you wouldn't know there were low, low prices.

- George
(the teacher who hates to shop)

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