I am come from a country where a lot of the films produced are commercial. Not in the sense, that it shows any brands in the movie. But, it is much glamorized and not really connected to reality, although it is enjoyable. The Indian audience has just started getting doses of so-called reality shows like singing competitions and Indian versions of Fear Factor and Survivor. The concept of advertising upcoming movies through television shows did not exist until past several years. So, now whenever new movies are released, the actor of the movie becomes of the guest judge of the reality show or comes to give some kind of advice. A trailer of the movie is aired during the show or during its commercials. Even ads of the brands sponsoring the movie are shown. So, it is a win-win situation for the corporations.
This kind of intertwined marketing does bother me a lot, and one thing I have noticed about such movies is that they turn out flop ninety-five percent of the time. It also indicates to me that the movie is not of my taste no matter who the actor is. The other five percent do turn out pretty well. It does not really influence my opinion of the artist or the actor because they are doing their job and trying to achieve their goal the best possible way. They are trying to reach as big audience as possible and in India; television is the best way, then comes the radio. Basically, they are advertising themselves.
If the film or actor or actor is supporting brands that I don’t approve of, and then I feel that it is trying gain money in a cheap way, without caring for the public. Therefore, it describes the character of the person or the corporation and it does influence our opinion.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Media consumption LOG # 5
Saturday, September 27 2009
09:00am- 9:00pm
A) Working on the laptop
-Using YouTube
-watching movies
-pop ups before a movie and while watching a movie
- Ads in a magazine
B) While traveling
- Ads inside and outside the bus stop
- Ads on vehicles like bus and car
- Ads on the Billboards
- Ads on the street lamps
- Ads in street TV
- Logos of several companies
Reflection:
-I have to admit, that week by week my media awarness is increasing or maybe I maybe I am just starting to admit what I noticed a along time ago. If you take a certain area for example, the whole of Ramat Aviv, I think the ads change on a weekly basis. I noticed that ads usually belong to at least 3-4 different companies. Those ads are repeatedly placed in the whole area. For example, this week was full of ads by Diesel, Bezeq and two other brands. I had seen them everywhere so many times, that I was completely SICK of it!!! I had them by heart. Advertising in Israel is amazing, the corporations here book a timeslot for their advertising and achieve to implant their message in our brains by repeatedly advertising themselves. It was scary.
-All the pop-ups were on the same subjects like cell phones, tarot cards, dating websites etc. But, I found something that freaked me out, over the week I have seen a scientology advertisement at least 5 times each day. Since when did religion started getting advertised?!!! Overcome by curiosity, I clicked on their video and it was nice and heartfelt like a some discovery channel documentary. I didn’t go on the main website, because I was seriously scared that it might hypnotize me. I found thses ads mainly in website ad spaces.
-I also noticed product placement in several places. A) Beyonce’s song Diamonds advertises the perfume called by the same name which actually under Armani. In fact, many singers actors whoever launch perfumes advertise it somehow in their songs like Hilary advertised her perfume ‘With Love’ by placing it in music video. B) I am a fan of cricket, so I saw during the IPL, the corporations owning the teams always had Bollywood movie star with them, and the supporters as well as the owners were wearing shirts with the corporation name on it like The Kingfisher.
-I saw the ads of the movie Informant just about on every website I went. It’s the fisrt time I have seen a movie advertised so much on the web.
- The ads which I found explicit were the dating sites and the Diesel ad which were the usual girl-boy image. The target audiences were people above the age of 17. And some ads were subtle like the perfumes featured in the music videos. And the Kingfisher ad in the cricket matches. While buying clothing items, I would probably chooses Diesel over some other brands, because I know it’s widely advertised, which proves me the level of quality. As fir the dating sites I have no interest in them. Here a lot ads don’t influence me because they are mostly in Hebrew and I don’t know what they are advertising.
09:00am- 9:00pm
A) Working on the laptop
-Using YouTube
-watching movies
-pop ups before a movie and while watching a movie
- Ads in a magazine
B) While traveling
- Ads inside and outside the bus stop
- Ads on vehicles like bus and car
- Ads on the Billboards
- Ads on the street lamps
- Ads in street TV
- Logos of several companies
Reflection:
-I have to admit, that week by week my media awarness is increasing or maybe I maybe I am just starting to admit what I noticed a along time ago. If you take a certain area for example, the whole of Ramat Aviv, I think the ads change on a weekly basis. I noticed that ads usually belong to at least 3-4 different companies. Those ads are repeatedly placed in the whole area. For example, this week was full of ads by Diesel, Bezeq and two other brands. I had seen them everywhere so many times, that I was completely SICK of it!!! I had them by heart. Advertising in Israel is amazing, the corporations here book a timeslot for their advertising and achieve to implant their message in our brains by repeatedly advertising themselves. It was scary.
-All the pop-ups were on the same subjects like cell phones, tarot cards, dating websites etc. But, I found something that freaked me out, over the week I have seen a scientology advertisement at least 5 times each day. Since when did religion started getting advertised?!!! Overcome by curiosity, I clicked on their video and it was nice and heartfelt like a some discovery channel documentary. I didn’t go on the main website, because I was seriously scared that it might hypnotize me. I found thses ads mainly in website ad spaces.
-I also noticed product placement in several places. A) Beyonce’s song Diamonds advertises the perfume called by the same name which actually under Armani. In fact, many singers actors whoever launch perfumes advertise it somehow in their songs like Hilary advertised her perfume ‘With Love’ by placing it in music video. B) I am a fan of cricket, so I saw during the IPL, the corporations owning the teams always had Bollywood movie star with them, and the supporters as well as the owners were wearing shirts with the corporation name on it like The Kingfisher.
-I saw the ads of the movie Informant just about on every website I went. It’s the fisrt time I have seen a movie advertised so much on the web.
- The ads which I found explicit were the dating sites and the Diesel ad which were the usual girl-boy image. The target audiences were people above the age of 17. And some ads were subtle like the perfumes featured in the music videos. And the Kingfisher ad in the cricket matches. While buying clothing items, I would probably chooses Diesel over some other brands, because I know it’s widely advertised, which proves me the level of quality. As fir the dating sites I have no interest in them. Here a lot ads don’t influence me because they are mostly in Hebrew and I don’t know what they are advertising.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Corporation Vs. The Ad and the Ego
Consumerism affects our media environment in negative way because it manipulates us and further exploits us emotionally and sets up unhealthy trends, this often bars the public’s ability to remain informed as they are being bombarded with distorted ideas. The corporations use consumerism to make us believe that they are helping us whereas it is quite the opposite. The level of damage caused to environment as well the people by the corporation has increased because of its greed to earn more and to increase its influence.
The first documentary ‘The Corporation’ talked about how the corporations have started exploiting their aim of “just” serving the people. It has now become a race for acquiring money at any cost. For example, the milk corporation started the factory system of farming where the corporations try to fit as many cows as possible on a plot of land. Then they are injected with hormones into the cow so that it produces as much as milk as possible. But this means that we are not getting a good quality of milk. Another example for greed of money is the Walt Disney Company. Disney is known for the clean and general content material it provides the children. Who could have guessed that the Disney also caters to a higher age group and under different names? Hollywood Records music label owns Miley Cyrus and various other artists. Touchstone Films produced the movie ‘The Pearl Harbor’. Yes, they are all Disney owned. In fact, Coca Cola was so eager to spread its drink in Germany during the holocaust that it changed its name to ‘Fanta’ to avoid any shame. Therefore, the corporations get so involved in their race for money that public healthcare and eco-friendliness loses meaning for them.
The documentary ‘The ad and the Ego’ shows us the effect of advertisements as well as how they function. Today, certain trends have been set up advertisements which are impossible to break. It is exactly what Neil Postman mentioned in his book ‘Amusing ourselves to death’, the media decides the culture. Over the past several years, advertisements have set up the idea of what an ideal woman should look like. She is someone who is blond or brunette and slim with perfect skin and hair. In India, there is a trend of having fair skin. The advertisement always starts of with a girl who doesn’t get a job or doesn’t get married because she has dark skin, but, after using the skin fairness cream she accomplishes her goal with pride and dignity. Ads are made to make the target audience feel incomplete or insecure unless they get that product. They target our acne, our non-silky hair etc. A visa card shows that all the money spent is priceless in comparison see our babies smile with cake on his face. And if we really think about it, it’s very unrealistic. Ads often just show what we want to see, and they are in no way related to the product. For example, what is the connection between family happiness and a car, or the connection between a pack of cigarettes and Cowboy riding horses? It does not only negatively affect us but also the environment because advertisements drive consumerism.
In conclusion, ‘The Corporation’ and ‘The Ad and the Ego’ show that today corporations have deviated from their original. We cannot live without some of the necessary products like milk, rice and vegetables. But, when corporations look over the public welfare start using us, then what do we do? They have no right to degrade us by defining imperfection let alone pointing at our imperfections. Therefore, documentaries such as these two help us to remain informed of the reality.
The first documentary ‘The Corporation’ talked about how the corporations have started exploiting their aim of “just” serving the people. It has now become a race for acquiring money at any cost. For example, the milk corporation started the factory system of farming where the corporations try to fit as many cows as possible on a plot of land. Then they are injected with hormones into the cow so that it produces as much as milk as possible. But this means that we are not getting a good quality of milk. Another example for greed of money is the Walt Disney Company. Disney is known for the clean and general content material it provides the children. Who could have guessed that the Disney also caters to a higher age group and under different names? Hollywood Records music label owns Miley Cyrus and various other artists. Touchstone Films produced the movie ‘The Pearl Harbor’. Yes, they are all Disney owned. In fact, Coca Cola was so eager to spread its drink in Germany during the holocaust that it changed its name to ‘Fanta’ to avoid any shame. Therefore, the corporations get so involved in their race for money that public healthcare and eco-friendliness loses meaning for them.
The documentary ‘The ad and the Ego’ shows us the effect of advertisements as well as how they function. Today, certain trends have been set up advertisements which are impossible to break. It is exactly what Neil Postman mentioned in his book ‘Amusing ourselves to death’, the media decides the culture. Over the past several years, advertisements have set up the idea of what an ideal woman should look like. She is someone who is blond or brunette and slim with perfect skin and hair. In India, there is a trend of having fair skin. The advertisement always starts of with a girl who doesn’t get a job or doesn’t get married because she has dark skin, but, after using the skin fairness cream she accomplishes her goal with pride and dignity. Ads are made to make the target audience feel incomplete or insecure unless they get that product. They target our acne, our non-silky hair etc. A visa card shows that all the money spent is priceless in comparison see our babies smile with cake on his face. And if we really think about it, it’s very unrealistic. Ads often just show what we want to see, and they are in no way related to the product. For example, what is the connection between family happiness and a car, or the connection between a pack of cigarettes and Cowboy riding horses? It does not only negatively affect us but also the environment because advertisements drive consumerism.
In conclusion, ‘The Corporation’ and ‘The Ad and the Ego’ show that today corporations have deviated from their original. We cannot live without some of the necessary products like milk, rice and vegetables. But, when corporations look over the public welfare start using us, then what do we do? They have no right to degrade us by defining imperfection let alone pointing at our imperfections. Therefore, documentaries such as these two help us to remain informed of the reality.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Media Consumption Log # 4
Friday 18 September
8:00am- 12:00pm
- Using Laptop to finish the homework
- Watching videos of Youtube
- Ads of games and apple products and Tarot card readings
12:00pm-9:00pm
-Ads on the Internet
-Watching movies on Internet
(During a walk)
-Ads on the streetlights
- Ads on Huge TV Screen
-Ads on Billboards
-Ads inside and outside the bustands
-Ads on the side of the bridges
-Using products of different brands such as Lux soap, Dove soap, Nivea lotion, Colgate Toothpaste, Sunsilk shampoo and Conditioner.
- Connecting Laptop to Wide Screen TV
-Using CD player, listening to only one CD
-Using Ipod touch to surf on Youtube
Today I took notice of media stuff that I don't usually take notice of such as the different products that I use. I also mentioned different technology such as Sony tv and Cd player that I usually use during the weekends and never on weekdays.
8:00am- 12:00pm
- Using Laptop to finish the homework
- Watching videos of Youtube
- Ads of games and apple products and Tarot card readings
12:00pm-9:00pm
-Ads on the Internet
-Watching movies on Internet
(During a walk)
-Ads on the streetlights
- Ads on Huge TV Screen
-Ads on Billboards
-Ads inside and outside the bustands
-Ads on the side of the bridges
-Using products of different brands such as Lux soap, Dove soap, Nivea lotion, Colgate Toothpaste, Sunsilk shampoo and Conditioner.
- Connecting Laptop to Wide Screen TV
-Using CD player, listening to only one CD
-Using Ipod touch to surf on Youtube
Today I took notice of media stuff that I don't usually take notice of such as the different products that I use. I also mentioned different technology such as Sony tv and Cd player that I usually use during the weekends and never on weekdays.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Comparing reviews of ‘Supersize Me’
‘Supersize Me’ is a documentary blaming the McDonalds fast food industry for the increasing obesity in United States of America. The director, Morgan Spurlock undergoes a 30 days diet of McDonald’s fast food. It shows the drastic changes to health caused by the fast food industry and how this industry encourages poor nutrition among the population. This documentary received generally positive reviews. But reading the negative reviews was as interesting as reading the praises about the film.
According to New York Times, “The movie goes down easily and is worth losing the appetite for”. But, TCS Daily opposed the documentary saying that the movie was wrong in blaming just the fast food industries for the growing obesity in the country. Let us see, the point of the movie was to show why the fast food industries should be blamed. The negative review claimed that there were other constituents also to be blamed for this such as desserts, salty snacks and Mexican food. I agree that there are things to also be blamed for it but we can also say that no other industry has greater outreach than the McDonalds. Therefore the higher the influence, the more it is to be blamed. It is natural human behavior to pinpoint at the big powers. The documentary showcased one of the biggest reasons for growing obesity; it never said the only reason. TCS Daily was right in saying that it was not just the cheese burgers and fries that was making everyone fat; it was also the calorie dense food which was being in eaten in excess.
I believe that both the reviews are right in their own terms. I can see how Spurlock’s documentary can be misleading because it shows the fast food industries as main culprits. A small portion of the population might have McDonald’s for their daily meals otherwise we all know that we have other things such Hershey’s chocolate bars and cookies, Doritos, cheese balls and cans of Coca Cola and Fanta stacked up in our kitchen cabinets. If the documentary is to be rated on showing the effects of fast food industry and its manipulative nature, then it should be given a top grade but blaming only McDonald’s for the increasing obesity is wrong. Although, we would love to slam to McDonald’s with worst possible accusations, blaming it alone is wrong judgment.
According to New York Times, “The movie goes down easily and is worth losing the appetite for”. But, TCS Daily opposed the documentary saying that the movie was wrong in blaming just the fast food industries for the growing obesity in the country. Let us see, the point of the movie was to show why the fast food industries should be blamed. The negative review claimed that there were other constituents also to be blamed for this such as desserts, salty snacks and Mexican food. I agree that there are things to also be blamed for it but we can also say that no other industry has greater outreach than the McDonalds. Therefore the higher the influence, the more it is to be blamed. It is natural human behavior to pinpoint at the big powers. The documentary showcased one of the biggest reasons for growing obesity; it never said the only reason. TCS Daily was right in saying that it was not just the cheese burgers and fries that was making everyone fat; it was also the calorie dense food which was being in eaten in excess.
I believe that both the reviews are right in their own terms. I can see how Spurlock’s documentary can be misleading because it shows the fast food industries as main culprits. A small portion of the population might have McDonald’s for their daily meals otherwise we all know that we have other things such Hershey’s chocolate bars and cookies, Doritos, cheese balls and cans of Coca Cola and Fanta stacked up in our kitchen cabinets. If the documentary is to be rated on showing the effects of fast food industry and its manipulative nature, then it should be given a top grade but blaming only McDonald’s for the increasing obesity is wrong. Although, we would love to slam to McDonald’s with worst possible accusations, blaming it alone is wrong judgment.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Media Consumption Blog # 3
September 12 Saturday
10am-4pm
-Watching Movies on Internet
-Advertisements coming in between before opening Megavideo
-Listening to music and watching vidoes on Youtube
4pm-10am (On my way to school for Spaghetti Dinner)
- Advertisements on the Bus
-Ads on the bustops
- Multiple-Ads on the billboards
-Ads on street lights
-Logos of restaurants and cinema halls and boutiques on mall buildings
-Listening to CD in the car
-Replica of Pepsi Max on a factory along with names of other drinks.
- Using Laptop to finish homework
Normally on Saturdays my only source of meida is the laptop and the internet. But since we went out, it was comparitively more.
10am-4pm
-Watching Movies on Internet
-Advertisements coming in between before opening Megavideo
-Listening to music and watching vidoes on Youtube
4pm-10am (On my way to school for Spaghetti Dinner)
- Advertisements on the Bus
-Ads on the bustops
- Multiple-Ads on the billboards
-Ads on street lights
-Logos of restaurants and cinema halls and boutiques on mall buildings
-Listening to CD in the car
-Replica of Pepsi Max on a factory along with names of other drinks.
- Using Laptop to finish homework
Normally on Saturdays my only source of meida is the laptop and the internet. But since we went out, it was comparitively more.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Media Consumption Blog
4th September 2009
Before Reaching School: 3:00-8:00
- Cellphone Alarm
- Physics textbook
-Ads on the bus
-Perfume and Clothing ads inside the Bustops
- Food Ads outside the Bustop
- Ads on the street light poles
-Billboard with multiple ads on the side of the road
-Ads on the Flyovers- maily in Hebrew
- Listening to radio in the van- Hebre station- lots od ad jingles
- Ads where multiple roads connect has been changed
- A Life size model of Pepsi MAX can in Netanya
- A poster of Gilad Schalit near school
-AIS logo on the school Building
During School: 8:00-15:00
- School Textbooks- Precalculus, Physics Textbook
- Using Webspiration and the laptop for Biology
- Watching 'The Corporation' for English
-Using computer for Yearbook
-Using Smartboard for Precalculus
After Dismissal till I reach home: 15:00-16:00
- Cellphone Alarm
- Physics textbook
-Ads on the bus
-Perfume and Clothing ads inside the Bustops
- Food Ads outside the Bustop
- Ads on the street light poles
-Billboard with multiple ads on the side of the road
-Ads on the Flyovers- maily in Hebrew
- Ads where multiple roads connect has been changed
- A Life size model of Pepsi MAX can in Netanya
- A poster of Gilad Schalit near school
After I reach home:- Using internet to watch movies
- Lots of pop- ups were appearing when I either started the movie or paused it. They were mainly about Ipod cellphone, and some weird games and Tarot card reading, going to Vegas and winning lottery, Dating websites, Some sites wanted me to fill a survey if iwanted to watch a movie.I really get irritated with all these pop-ups. Some sites are completely filled with and I always get scared that I might acidently click on something. Because last time I accidently clicked one and the virus broke dowm my computer.
- Watching Indian News for 20 min
Reflection:
I have noticed on Fridays I am more exposed to Media because I like to watch movies on Friday and movie sites are filled with ads. I don't wacth news alot, I mainly read through headlines. I also noticed the billboards with multiple ads which flip after few seconds and how they are maily situated near the Traffic Lights so taht people can spend their time looking at it when stuck in the traffic.
Before Reaching School: 3:00-8:00
- Cellphone Alarm
- Physics textbook
-Ads on the bus
-Perfume and Clothing ads inside the Bustops
- Food Ads outside the Bustop
- Ads on the street light poles
-Billboard with multiple ads on the side of the road
-Ads on the Flyovers- maily in Hebrew
- Listening to radio in the van- Hebre station- lots od ad jingles
- Ads where multiple roads connect has been changed
- A Life size model of Pepsi MAX can in Netanya
- A poster of Gilad Schalit near school
-AIS logo on the school Building
During School: 8:00-15:00
- School Textbooks- Precalculus, Physics Textbook
- Using Webspiration and the laptop for Biology
- Watching 'The Corporation' for English
-Using computer for Yearbook
-Using Smartboard for Precalculus
After Dismissal till I reach home: 15:00-16:00
- Cellphone Alarm
- Physics textbook
-Ads on the bus
-Perfume and Clothing ads inside the Bustops
- Food Ads outside the Bustop
- Ads on the street light poles
-Billboard with multiple ads on the side of the road
-Ads on the Flyovers- maily in Hebrew
- Ads where multiple roads connect has been changed
- A Life size model of Pepsi MAX can in Netanya
- A poster of Gilad Schalit near school
After I reach home:- Using internet to watch movies
- Lots of pop- ups were appearing when I either started the movie or paused it. They were mainly about Ipod cellphone, and some weird games and Tarot card reading, going to Vegas and winning lottery, Dating websites, Some sites wanted me to fill a survey if iwanted to watch a movie.I really get irritated with all these pop-ups. Some sites are completely filled with and I always get scared that I might acidently click on something. Because last time I accidently clicked one and the virus broke dowm my computer.
- Watching Indian News for 20 min
Reflection:
I have noticed on Fridays I am more exposed to Media because I like to watch movies on Friday and movie sites are filled with ads. I don't wacth news alot, I mainly read through headlines. I also noticed the billboards with multiple ads which flip after few seconds and how they are maily situated near the Traffic Lights so taht people can spend their time looking at it when stuck in the traffic.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Corporation
After doing some research on the statement given by 'The Corporation', I am seeing the world of corporations in a new light. How ignorant have corporations become today? I had say completely ignorant. Money has the corporations doing things we would never imagine. And I must say they are doing a great job of covering it up. Millions of dollars are spent on advertising the products in a good light. For example, McDonalds with its appealing red and yellow colored advertisements and tasty burgers is able to attract millions into their restaurants. I mean, comeon who would think twice before grabbing one of their burgers?!! But those consumers who think out of the circle figure out that their is something suspicious about the mass production of meat. And when they question the corporations about the truth, I am sure the corporation would not hesitate throw another milllion dollars into staging how beautiful and clean their farms are.
So who will stand up for public good? Ofcourse there are ways. But some can get you in trouble. The corporate owners can be bad, but that does not mean those working within corporation are also bad. But if they raise their voice then they will lose their job. The media sorporations are interconnected in so many ways that it is like saying that it is keeping an eye on each and every rebel. So McDonals might have a contract with Fox News, and those persons within the agency who want report about animal abuse might not be able to. The government can help but unless and until there are stricty guideline this is not possible. A country might have against animal abuse, but they are only of use when implementes properly.But I think the main force which can really work is the force of the consumer. The public when united like PETA can help in overturning situations. It will take some time but if documentaries like The Meatrix are widely circualted, then it woll create more awarness. Just like protest in Bolivia against privatisation of water helped to stop it, public unity can work pretty well in bringing down animal abuse.
So who will stand up for public good? Ofcourse there are ways. But some can get you in trouble. The corporate owners can be bad, but that does not mean those working within corporation are also bad. But if they raise their voice then they will lose their job. The media sorporations are interconnected in so many ways that it is like saying that it is keeping an eye on each and every rebel. So McDonals might have a contract with Fox News, and those persons within the agency who want report about animal abuse might not be able to. The government can help but unless and until there are stricty guideline this is not possible. A country might have against animal abuse, but they are only of use when implementes properly.But I think the main force which can really work is the force of the consumer. The public when united like PETA can help in overturning situations. It will take some time but if documentaries like The Meatrix are widely circualted, then it woll create more awarness. Just like protest in Bolivia against privatisation of water helped to stop it, public unity can work pretty well in bringing down animal abuse.
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