Hmmm... Happened to You? (April Deconstruct)

Aw haha... Made me giggle!

This commercial is hilarious! From the still above you can tell that the people are annoyed and frustrated by looks on their faces with someone...  HA! I chose this commercial because of the movie still present above. Intrigue!

1. Who paid for the ad?
           AT&T cellular company has paid for this ad.

2. Why does the company need to do the ad?

           Commercials are used for exposing new or better products. Purely a money making strategy; a way to expose their product to the world on a fast massive scale.

3. What group is targeted by the ad?

            This ad is targeting anyone who uses, has used, or will use a cell phone: everyone in the modern world! With the addition of the flash mob, I believe another group of people who are being targeted are the adventurous busy people.

8. What techniques of persuasion are used? 

            Humor is the largest technique in this ad. The commercial is visually stating if information is low or lost embarrassing moments can/will happen. Another technique I would say is not of expert advice but comparison. The ad compares cellular companies and their abilities. 

14. Is it closer to fantasy or reality? 

          This ad is completely reality. The embarrassing moment of not receiving or having information misunderstood can happen to anyone. The reality of the comparisons of cellular companies I cannot speak to because I am not informed about their abilities. 

16. In what ways does this depict a lifestyle that is healthy and unhealthy? 

         In today's modern world technology is everywhere. Seeing in this ad information being received via text makes me think 'why did no one call him? Wouldn't that have been easier or quicker?' The more important and umbrella question: "Are we unhealthily dependent on technology?" In some ways I think yes we are, I would go crazy without my phone during a usual work/school week. 

I Love Clothes!

This commercial hit home for me to the max. I am not a very girly girl but the only thing that I do embrace as a girl is the fashion. I love clothes! When I saw this commercial for Woolite complete laundry detergent, in my head I said, "duh, why wouldn't I use it?"

1) Who paid for the ad?
            Woolite company

2) Why does the company need to do the ad?
             All ads are used for promoting, in this case the company is trying to sell laundry detergent.

3)What group is targeted by the ad?
            In this ad it is obvious that women are being targeted. I would also say mothers are being targeted because of the massive amount of laundry. It would be horrible to have your daughters favorite shirt to shrink or fade in color.

7) What value(s) are reinforced?
          The idea of materialism is highlighted in this commercial. To physically look "good", "put together", "attractive", etc. are being reinforced.

8) What techniques of persuasion are being used?
          Some of the techniques that stand out in this commercial are: beautiful people, celebrities, charisma, and simple solution.

14) Is it closer to fantasy or reality?
         This ad is 100% about reality. Many, if not all, people can relate to

15) Does it use stereotypes?
          Yes. This ad is betting on the fact that most women do own clothes and care about them. A stereotype being used in this commercial would have to be the fact that the women are the people who buy the laundry detergent and wash the clothes.

How Much Do I Know About 8-18 yr olds Media Use...

Quiz... How much DID I know? 

"You answered 5 out of 12 correctly"
         - well guess I need to learn more about different percentages and definitions pertaining to Media in the lives of all people and also of school age students. Teachers, and parents, definitely need to stay up to speed. Truly thought I knew more since I use media often... interesting.


Digital Media Landscape

"Smart Exchange"

        - Technology in the classroom is increasing my the day. Having a SMART board in the classroom is a great gift! The interactive surface of the board makes learning an active not passive activity that students will remember. I need to increase my interaction with the board to increase my fluency but the piece of technology is a great addition to any classroom no matter the age.


PBS Resources

PBS Parents Guide to Children and Media

            - Parent involvement in a child's media exposure is crucial! Outside of school is when children use media/technology the most (on average), regulation is important for their media literacy. A wise woman once told me, "Once you see something you can never UN-see it." Children, and some adolescents, might have a difficult time with this regulation. This website is a great resource for parents to refer to about their children's media use. (Yes this section is bold, because of the high significance.) 


Integrating Digital Content and Tools

     A few items from this list of tools to integrate technology/media use into the classroom I found interesting and would use in my future classroom are....

1. video of a field trip = this is a great way to include students who might have missed the field trip for any reason. Another good use for a video of a class trip would be for the parents to see how the adventure was for their child.
   
2. Guest speaker via Skype = what a great idea! Technology is making it so much easier for the spread of knowledge. Skype would be a fun alternative "pen-pal" for the students with other students in other countries!
   
3. Google Earth for a lesson = My vote is YES!! What better way to learn the geography of planet earth then through actually seeing what it looks like today! Students can "fly" to France to see the Eiffel town for 15 minutes than "fly" over to the Great Wall in China. Perfect attention grabber!

M&M Super Bowl Commercial

MEDIA DECONSTRUCTION

I chose this commercial to deconstruct because between my friends and I we love the song used for in this media.

1) Who paid for the ad?

            - The Hersey Company most likely paid for this ad.

2) Why does the company need to do the ad?

-       The only way for a company to make money is to advertise their products. By making commercials, companies can get the word out the quickest and to the most people.

3) What group is targeted by the ad?

           

-       The obvious people who are the target for this ad are any chocolate lovers out there listening. By adding the modern music the audience is widened to the youth not just chocolate enjoyers!! 

*** Are you a chocolate lover??? CLICK HERE! 

7) What value(s) are reinforced?

           

-       With the talk of being naked from the female = dignity and self-respect

-       With the male M&M entering the bar seeing the brown female M&M = male stereotype of high intense sexuality and limited listening / communication skills

**8) What techniques of persuasion are used?

-       Beautiful people (in a bar), humor (the dancing of the male M&M entering the bar trying to seduce the female M&M), plain folks (a typical scene a group of girls enjoying a drink out)

14) Is it closer to fantasy or reality?

-       This commercial is fantasy in that M&Ms do not literally talk but the entire scene could happen with humans. A man hitting on a woman in a bar.

16) In what ways does this depict a lifestyle that is healthy or unhealthy?

           

-       Healthy verse unhealthy is an individual distinction. For the religious person the unhealthy lifestyle being portrayed would be the sexuality: a gift between people during marriage. One side I can see a healthy standpoint from the dancing the male is doing. Dancing is a great way to stay healthy! J

Dream car... everyone has one!

This media deconstruction is of Corvette "Driving Fantasy."

As a child I too imagined, dreamed, fantasized about driving and driving a "cool" car. The little boy, then little girl, both are living their own fantasy, in their dreams...


#1 Who paid for the ad?
            This "Driving Fantasy" commercial was, most likely, paid for by the Chevrolette.

#2 Why does the company need to do the ad?
            Every company needs to sell their product. This commercial was envisioned to make money. It   is possible the company was in need of a high-speed, musically attractive ad to draw in consumers because of the high price of their product.

#7 What value(s) are reinforced?
             This ad expresses the value of money/perstigue of a well-known car name. Pushing the importance of high class. Why not drive the 4,8,10 year old car in the garage? It runs, gets the passengers where they need to go...

#8 What techniques of persuasion are used?
             A few persuasion techniques used in this ad are "humor", "plain folks", and "new." The idea of a new car is intensified in this commercial with the playfulness of humor associated. "Plain folks" is the idea being portrayed that anyone can have this car (with enough financial trade).

#13 How does the example try to move emotions? Is it simple/complex? Is it logical?
             As an adult, many times individuals reflect back to their childhood fantasies. One such image might include a vehicle similar to this red/silver "speed" car. This ad seems to be targeting the emotions of middle aged person wishing/wanting to fulfill their inner child with an attractive dream car.

 #14  Is it closer to fantasy or reality?
            The definition of these two realms can sometimes be blurred. The car does not actually fly, music is speaking of dreamers, both of which link our dreams with reality.


Our fantasies can sometimes over power our realities. Personal definitions of fantasy and reality need to be in the forefront of our brains as we are bombarded with media from every angle... Meta-cognition engaged!!! 

Media Diary... How Often Do I Use Technology?

Wow I had NO IDEA how much I used technology in one 24 hour period! Between checking email, texting/calling friends, blackboard/internet for schooling, radio/CD, hulu, iPhone games; I am surrounded with media use! Here is what my Thursday, January 26th, and my Friday, January 27th looked like...

THURSDAY 

9am-9:15am = alarm off; checked email, weather, Facebook, and tiny towers (iPhone game)

9:15am = turn on autostart for vehicle 

11am-11:15am = texting and Facebook (iPhone)

11:20am-11:40am = phone call with sister (iPhone)

11:30am-11:37am = CD in car, while on the phone with sister (oya! multitasking) 

1:15pm-3pm = laptop (hulu: internet TV)

2:35pm = tiny tower (iPhone game)

2:50pm = Facebook and Words with Friends (iPhone)

4:32pm = tiny tower (iPhone game)

5:06pm-5:15pm = CD in car 

6:35pm = Smartboard use

7pm = text/call fiance 

8:30pm = text/call fiance

10:45pm-11:35pm = FaceTime with fiance 

11:45pm = text fiance 

What a day! Just reading my usage makes me tired. It is quiet interesting to see which technology seemed to be used more than others. It is now apparent to me that without my iPhone I might be at a lose for communication and entertainment. How long have I been so dependent on technology? Hmmm...

FRIDAY 

4am = auto start car (forgot to plug it in)

5:30am = auto start car (still not plugged in)

6:30am = one more auto start

6:35am = alarm off (iPhone) 

6:35am-6:45am = check email, tiny tower, Facebook, Words with Friends, and weather (iPhone)

8:05am = auto start car

8:30am = iMaps and email check

11:55am = tiny towers and texting

12pm-1pm = hulu 

1pm = texting and tiny towers

Nice!! Five hour gap! Interesting...

6pm = Facebook and email check (iPhone)

7:10pm = texting (iPhone)

8:05pm = texting (iPhone)

10:35pm = texting (iPhone)

Did you notice that I used more technology (or the same more often) on Thursday, a week day? Before beginning this media diary I would have bet I would use more during the weekend. But not looking back on this Thursday and Friday, I am remembering that Thursday was the day when I set up all my weekend plans; that is the day when all the texts, calls, and emails went out to friends asking what was going on this weekend. Friday is when those plans went into action. So Friday had less usage because I was with my friends and didn't need to communicate with them through technology; Face to face interaction was happening.

From looking at my lists above it seems I would most definitely be lost without my iPhone. Smart phones these days are a life saver and huge time saver. I had music, texting, calls, email, internet, games literally in the palm of my hand. A mini-personalized computer in my pocket. What a concept! With the availability of my iPhone I was clearly multitasking throughout the day: phone calls while driving with music on, watching hulu and playing words with friends or checking email, FaceTime with my fiance while cooking dinner. Because of this assignment I have been investigating the research concerning multitasking. Does it aid or harm the tasks being done? Below I have added a link to an article about multitasking. If you would like to do this media diary to see what your technology use looks like I highly encourage it! I have noticed a few things in my life that will be changing; for example, I have bought an alarm clock so I can turn off my iPhone while in bed, giving myself actual deep sleeping hours. Try it!! 

Click on the quote below to find out what blood flow has to do with multitasking:

"when people engage in “task-switching”—that is, multitasking behavior—the flow of blood increases to a region of the frontal cortex called Brodmann area 10"