http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110615/bc_stanley_cup_riot_110615/20110615/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
The article above tells the story of the aftermath of the Stanley Cup finals. After the Boston Bruins took the cup with Game 4, citizens from the rival's home city, Vancouver, Canada, caused riots in the streets. Images such as burning cars and mass raging crowds can be seen, and Vancouver police have been forced to release mutliple flash bombs in order to disperse the crowd. This article made me think about how subjects found and projected in the media can be used to symbolize who we are. In this case, hockey as a general convention represents Canadians, and the media even often uses this generalization to market its products to wide audiences. This can be seen in Molson's I Am Canadian commerical that lead to an entire marketing campaign (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXtVrDPhHBg). The loss of the cup, as projected by the media, is seen as a loss of respect for one's nation, one's home. Through the projection of hockey as Canada's main 'gimmick', now fans are seeing it as a loss of pride and thus are taking back what is theirs. But really when it comes down to it, forgetting all implications set by the media, symbolism or not, hockey really is solely just that- a sport, a competition, a game. A Canadian team losing the Stanley Cup has happened before and will happen again, and is not whatsoever connected to our performance and stability as country.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Old Spice
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/06/09/old-spice-guy.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Posted above is an interview of Isaiah Mustafa, the man well known for his role in the Old Spice advertisements, as well as a sample advertisement from the Old Spice corporation. This advertisement really made me think of how the media in general is desperate for our attention. They will use anything in order to grab our attention - bright colours, celebrity advertisement, stark humour, product placement in our favourite shows, and even objects of human desire; such as money, popularity, love, sex, family, and friendship, in order to catch our eyes and make us think and want for their product. They make a plea to us - grab at our insides, draw attention to our heart's desires - all in order to sell a silly product and make their money. It actually shames me a little, to think that functional society has been reduced to this.
However, in his unterview, Mustafa speaks of how the commercial was originally just a "one-time gig" but has now transformed into a major virile image - soon rejuvenating a dying brand and kicking off his acting career. It made me realize how the media as a whole truly works; people make money off of people, nothing less than that and nothing more. Advertisement experts and filming corporations make money off of bureaucracies who use the advertising to make money off a product sold to the consumer. The media appears vicious- it will use any means, to get your attention to sell their product. This advertisement is exemplary, because even if the advertisement is mocking the general advertisement archetype - it's still using it to sell it's product. It feels that it it relates itself to the consumer in a way that the consumer will understand, it will help sell the product. Though, I can say that through seeing advertisements such as this and the like, I feel no inkling to buy any of the products. All advertisements just seem the same as the others, it seems; no matter how different the advertising is, it is just there to sell the company's product, not to send out a message, not to truly better aid the consumer, just to make it's money off it- that's it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Posted above is an interview of Isaiah Mustafa, the man well known for his role in the Old Spice advertisements, as well as a sample advertisement from the Old Spice corporation. This advertisement really made me think of how the media in general is desperate for our attention. They will use anything in order to grab our attention - bright colours, celebrity advertisement, stark humour, product placement in our favourite shows, and even objects of human desire; such as money, popularity, love, sex, family, and friendship, in order to catch our eyes and make us think and want for their product. They make a plea to us - grab at our insides, draw attention to our heart's desires - all in order to sell a silly product and make their money. It actually shames me a little, to think that functional society has been reduced to this.
However, in his unterview, Mustafa speaks of how the commercial was originally just a "one-time gig" but has now transformed into a major virile image - soon rejuvenating a dying brand and kicking off his acting career. It made me realize how the media as a whole truly works; people make money off of people, nothing less than that and nothing more. Advertisement experts and filming corporations make money off of bureaucracies who use the advertising to make money off a product sold to the consumer. The media appears vicious- it will use any means, to get your attention to sell their product. This advertisement is exemplary, because even if the advertisement is mocking the general advertisement archetype - it's still using it to sell it's product. It feels that it it relates itself to the consumer in a way that the consumer will understand, it will help sell the product. Though, I can say that through seeing advertisements such as this and the like, I feel no inkling to buy any of the products. All advertisements just seem the same as the others, it seems; no matter how different the advertising is, it is just there to sell the company's product, not to send out a message, not to truly better aid the consumer, just to make it's money off it- that's it.
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