Unit III - Favorite Commercials
Thurs., 10/29/15
We had fun today talking about several images as well as commercials. And, for homework, I asked you to share with me your favorite commercials. Please remember to include the link for the commercial as well as an explanation for why it is your favorite. I plan to post mine as well. I'm in the process of looking for it.
Don't forget the blog rubric found on your syllabus. Remember to use it as your guide as you respond. I look forward to "reading" these. Enjoy!
Dr. Jackson
I chose this commercial by Orbit gum because it is so funny. Humor is a common marketing tactic that is quite successful. People like to laugh and look forward to a funny commercial. Though they are able to keep viewers attention, sometimes, viewers can get distracted and miss the product at hand.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxmkiy9txBE
This commercial is hilarious, the tone of the commercial is angry and enraged. Negative connotations was used, the wife stated "you son of a biscuit eating bulldog". None of these words have a offensive meaning but the context the phrase was used in has an insulting demeanor. The husband kind of acknowledges that he is a cheater, I say kind of because he did not deny the accusations against him.
DeleteI found this commercial funny, I have seen it on television several times and laugh every time. At first it starts off as a serious commercial when I man gets caught cheating on his wife, then the name calling calls starts, but the name calling happens to be extremely funny. There was negative connotations use between the two women calling each other names but none was directed to a certain group. Most women who catch their husband cheating would call the lady home wrecker or other negative names.
DeleteThis commercial is one of my favorites. It really does get my attention every time I watch it. The tone of the commercial is serious but I didn't take it seriously. I saw a lot of humor in it. Also, this commercial does a great job of including Orbit gum.
DeleteI chose this commercial because it has a great musical element that I personally look for in commercials. It has been shown that the use of music in commercials helps sell the product and in this case, they definitely succeeded.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5TJV0wgEuo
The tone of this commercial is very upbeat and lively. Back to school is usually a stressful and in some cases a nervous time for kids and the commercial might encourage kids to get excited about shopping for back to school. The song is catchy and the commercial is overall very exciting and energetic.
DeleteI chose this commercial by AT&T because it brings out my inner child. AT&T has been making these commercials featuring children answering question for the "it's not complicated" campaign for a while. The children answer oddly, sweetly and hilariously to simple notions such as "what's better fast or slow?" I also resonated with the commercial because it is a positive commercial that individuals of all age can enjoy.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/VDL8V_Xu8us
This one is also one of my favorites. Using children as focus groups I'd one of the smartest ways to portray the way an innocent person thinks. Children are Blunt and unknowningly hilarious. In regards to the tone of the commercial, it was on a lighter more humorous note. The words used were basic to appeal to all different viewers.
DeleteI chose to use this commercial because it was straight forward in its method of marketing. The commercial directs its message to a specific audience, males who are sexually active but are not ready to deal with the responsibility of raising a child. In the commercial there weren't too many words. The text was short and to the point, minimizing the chance of viewers getting mixed messages. The commercial also catches your attention in the beginning by showing a kid who seems to be innocent but soon reflects an completely opposite characteristic.Though it wasn't trendy looking or had a jingle like most commercials, I believe this one was well put together and serves its purpose.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXthdWtU-A
I remember this commercial. I also remember thinking how only white folks were in it & the irony in their looks of disapproval at this white father. Like many, I thought it wouldn't happen with a black father.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpCqa0Rx0Yk
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite commercial because I thought it was funny when it was revealed that instead of a R&B music video, it was a commercial from McDonald's. I think this advertisement is near perfect in regards to how it was filmed and marketed. Overall the commercial is very funny and memorable.
As I watched this commercial, the memories of seeing it on television started hitting me again, and I remember thinking it was very entertaining as well. One wouldn't suspect it was a commercial about a fast food establishment, because it actually does look like a real, legit clip from some R&B music video, so when the McDonald's bag and the chicken nuggets are shown, it makes one stop and think, like, "Wait a minute, what?"
DeleteIt's also very easy to relate to, because let's face it, fries and chicken nuggets are the things people are the most stingy about when it comes to food, so it was rather humorous to see this common thing made into a song, dance, and full commercial. I agree that McDonald's did very well with it. Definitely a very memorable and enjoyable commercial.
I couldn't remember what this commercial was about until I saw the girl get out of the car. When this commercial would air on television, I would be so annoyed by it each and ever time. Clearly, Mcdonalds was trying their hardest to appeal to a black audience, but for me, as a black person, I was, even at the time in which the commercial aired, slightly insulted with this weird idea that people have which assumes that the only way to attract a black audience is through the use of song and dance. Of course Mcdonalds has always had their cute little jingles and their commercials have often featured music, but this commercial, which specifically features black people, was framed as an actual R&B video. That is what struck me as odd, and what still strikes me as offensive marketing. However, what I will say is good is their use of vastly varying skin tones in the commercial. The man is a deep chocolate, the woman a high yellow and they are clearly seen in some kind of relationship. That is representation, regardless of its effect.
DeleteI chose a Progressive commercial with lady Flo. I think all the commercials she does is funny. The commercial catches your attention because of the sense of humor she has. These commercials come on television non stop.Unlike most insurance companies who take a more serious tone and approach to commercials, Progressive tries to find the sense of humor in finding the cheapest insurance.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNJUHuIMhdE
I always enjoy the progressive commercials, although the way you state "Unlike most insurance companies who take a more serious tone and approach to commercials, Progressive tries to find the sense of humor in finding the cheapest insurance.", it's almost as if you're saying that progressive insurance is only humorous for the sake of profit.
DeleteOne of my favorite commercials is by Geico (Happier than a Camel on Wednesday) although I am insured with Progressive. I love this commercial for multiple reasons: the camel is so ugly that he makes me laugh (maybe its the eye lashes), the camel is SUPER excited about it being Wednesday. His excitement is from having a hump and Wednesday is referred to as "Hump Day" (because it's mid-week for us hard workers). He is walking around with more than enough energy because Hump Day is his day. It's a personal shout out to him and his hump. Finally, this commercial makes me think of myself. The camel is so obnoxious and everyone around him is trying to stay composed and ignore him. I am most definitely the camel when I'm around my friends and family.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, I tend to get so caught up in the comedy of that commercial that I completely forget what the point of the commercial is. I see the name Geico and I hear them talk about how I too could be happy like the camel if I got insured with them, yet nothing resonates with me except the camel. I'm already happy with life after listening to the camel. I think I missed their marketing strategy because I am never moved to want to look into their rates. I just want to go around saying, "HUMP DAAAAY" to everyone I see. The link is below.
https://youtu.be/RlFg-a1AJCU
This is Geico commercial happens to be one of my favorite commercials as well. Geico has a way of including humor in its marketing strategy in order to draw consumer attention in. This commercial is no different, as a camel is used depict an annoying coworker in the office happy because it's hump day. Geico uses the camel's happiness for hump day as a comparison to how happy customer's are when buying their insurance. Further illustrating their ability pull off using humor to market their insurance to consumers.
DeleteI am also a fan of the hump day Geico commercial because of its humorous parallel. I think this was a great way to keep the company's name relevant or thought of throughout the day. I find the commercial to be flawed though. There was no detail of why the product should be bought,in the case we're talking about insurance. The slogan "You could save 15% or more by switching to geico" simply isn't enough. The word choice of "could" doesn't necessarily real me in as a consumer. I need to know for sure that using this insurance company will benefit me. Living in such a busy time where every second of the day matters to those who would need insurance (daily commuters ), the average person doesn't not have time to waste trying to do research to figure out if the product will be best for them. Show me in the time I have spent watching your commercials so that I'm sold on the product instantly. Nonetheless the commercial is very entertaining. HUMP DAAAAAYYYY!
DeleteThis is one of my favorite commercials because it is very funny and it lightens my mood. Even though it is funny I think it takes away the real cause which is insurance. When I think about that commercial I think about "Hump Day" and the camel instead of insurance. The use of comedy is a great way to grab someone's attention but the message can sometimes and often lost in the humor.
DeleteMy favorite commercial is actually a rather humorous, albeit weird one from several years ago. Upon the commercial's commencement, one wouldn't expect it to be a commercial about candy, Skittles in particular, as viewers are immediately drawn to the man holding an opera singing rabbit, who appears to be engaged in a trade off with another man seeking said singing rabbit in return for a pack of Skittles. It makes one stop and contemplate why these two men are standing outside in the rain, and more importantly, why one of them has a singing rabbit and deems a pack of easy to obtain Skittles to be a viable trading item. Nonetheless, the man quickly regrets his decisions later on into the night, the rabbit singing nonstop for hours on end, yet unfortunately, his precious Skittles have already been torn open, immediately ruining any chances of an exchange; even worse, the rabbit proceeds to bite him upon the hand and patters off into the night, leaving him both rabbitless and candyless.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny to me, not only because of the hilarious voice of the rabbit and the unfortunate predicament of the trader, but also because the look on his face reminds me of how I am when people are keeping me up at night against my will when all I want to do is sleep.
The commercial was so random and obscure that it was easily memorable and entertaining to the media; I remember having several talks about it with friends during school and sharing it with people over social media. We attempted to imitate the rabbit's voice on several occasions and it warranted quite a few memorable moments of laughter and entertainment, and needless to say, Skittles did well to both advertise their product and produce a memorable commercial all the same.
https://youtu.be/UCKrBWMBB-Q
Hey Taylor!
DeleteAfter reading your comment and checking out your post I was intrigued about your commercial. The first thing I noticed was the singing rabbit. Then I noticed the guy petting and rubbing the rabbit, lovingly as if its his prized possession. I then noticed the facial expression of the man with the skittles. He doesn't seem excited or sure of what he is about to gain or about his trade. I kind of detect apprehension and then a little smile crosses his face. Then he is pictured miserable in his room with this rabbit and then attempts to trade it back in the pouring rain. The man who received the skittles is sitting and enjoying the sweet treat. What stands out to me the most is the peace and quiet he is able to enjoy at the same time. It is at that moment that I think to myself you gotta be careful what you trade for, be careful what you wish for and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Then at that exact moment the rabbit bites him and skips off singing along the way. He now has quiet but an animal bite to tend to and possibly a learned lesson.
I'm not sure if skittles did well in advertising their product because I'm focused on the what else the man gained in his trade which was peace and quiet but maybe their intention was that skittles should represent that. In my opinion this commercial had too much going on and it was a but misleading. It was funny though.
Hello there,
DeleteI enjoyed your comments almost as much as the commercial. They are very nicely and dramatically detailed. I couldn't immediately pinpoint the purpose of the commercial, as the heavy humor left me wondering why there was ever a singing rabbit. If there were something troubling it would be the reason behind the humorous, yet emotional tone of the commercial. However, if skittles are to be cherished as a rarity, like a singing rabbit, then cherishing good things while you have them is understood. I thought it was a good way of showing how too much of something cool is a bad thing and it's better to at least have a short-lasting great thing, or at least one you can decide when to enjoy. The rabbit turned out to be a jerk and only stayed with the guy long enough to keep him up all night, bite him, and run off leaving him sad and lonely. I greatly appreciated the many different things this stood for and loved the commercial as well as your breakdown of it.
The commercial that I chose was a General Mills commercial where they were advertising Cheerios. The message was that a smart breakfast like cheerios would help kids do better in school. That is not why this commercial is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy this commercial because it shows a young black male child getting ready for school. His mother is helping him prepare for his quiz that he will have that day. She is asking him what are the capitols of the states and he's answering everyone. Finally, he says give me a tough one mom. The father who is visible in the home asks, what is the capitol of Vermont and the little sister/younger daughter responds to everyone's surprise with Montpelier. I enjoy this commercial because it shows an African-American household with two parents in it who are engaged with their children's education. It shows them having family time in the morning before school and it shows a positive image of a black family. The little girl is so smart and she must have learned the answer while her brother was studying. It's pleasing to my heart.
Here is the link:
http://www.tvspots.tv/video/1721/general-mills--quiz-ii
Hey Ash,
DeleteI appreciate this posting because I remember this old commercial! On top of that, it taught me a few capitals. What stood out to me was the sound of the little boy's voice. It was so sweet and innocent sounding which made me think of Ari. Their marketing strategy appealed to my ethos. Also, the son's apprehension about doing well stressed how important his education and success were. The baby of the family proves that children pick up on everything so much that parents don't even realize it (hence dad's reaction). The father was handsome so that stood out as well. In addition, I loved that the family matched. Sometimes t.v. shows and commercials tend to throw black families together that barely mesh well. I don't believe their intentions are to show the beauty of the variations of black but more so to show how black people live unconventional lives and have mixed families (step-parents if any, half siblings, etc). Nonetheless I liked the aesthetic of this family. The only thing I would say that could possibly be viewed as problematic is mom being the hands-on caretaker. Dad is in the house but for the most part non verbal and into his own morning ritual (sipping coffee/tea and reading the paper). He is all dressed for work while mom is walking through the house getting the children together and putting the son on the bus. The wife seems to be a stay at home mom while dad works. I would have liked to see two working parents but I do like that a black woman was afforded the same "luxury" of staying home like her white counterparts might have had. I actually think it would have made more sense for the dad to put the child on the bus since he was dressed and ready for work but that's just me being picky. I still love this commercial. Thanks for digging it up!
Here's my favorite commercial. I try to post a lengthy comment, but it didn't publish. So, we'll discuss it in class today along with some of yours.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tvcommercialspots.com/retail-and-stores/walmart-mobile-app-same-day-in-store-pickup-dad-buys-bicycle-for-daughters-birthday-he-locks-keys-inside-car-and-has-to-ride-bike-home-save-money-live-better-walmart-savemoneylivebetter-a/
I know it's late but I would still like to post. I chose one of the many Comcast jingles as my favorite commercial because there is so much going on, as planned, you are captivated throughout the commercial. In addition, you may even be moved to watch it multiple times to catch different perspectives or to have a chance to enjoy everything put into the commercial. I enjoy this commercial because it shows a black man driving up to a barbie-like house with contractible furniture. In 2009, when these commercials first aired, they were the future, and they were milking every ounce of it. Of course a cable company can't trick out your house, but they were still able to capture the upgrade aspect. I also had braces at the time and made a song along to the jingle so it has stayed with me ever since.
ReplyDelete