Week 13 - Beer Commercials

Bud Light Swear Jar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI3Y1auTFpU&feature=PlayList&p=EBE31B695E2D4B06&index=22

Who created this message? Why?
This message was created by the Budweiser Company to attract people to their product by using humor as opposed to sexual references that are traditionally seen in most beer commercials.

Who is the target audience?
The target audience here is young business professionals.

What creative language is used to attract my attention?
Swearing is used as a humorous way to attract the viewer’s attention.

How does this message make me feel?
This message makes me laugh. It also leads me to believe that Bud Light is supposed to be the top choice for young adults. ­

How might different people understand this message differently from me?
I suppose some people might get offended by the commercial. Parents may not want their children seeing such a commercial and think that swearing in a professional environment is okay. Older people might

Heineken Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M8Dp7wGBe4

Who created this message? Why?
Heineken created this commercial to market their beer product.

Who is the target audience?
The target audience here is young males with an upper middle-class to wealthy income level.

What creative language is used to attract my attention?
This commercial uses special visual effects to warp the audience back into the future where they find business men in suits and tall top hats drinking Heineken at a local establishment.

How does this message make me feel?
It makes me feel like Heineken is a timeless beverage that a person could drink to show nobility and wealth within a society. Although I found the commercial to be very visually stimulating, I happy go lucky Americans, but instead gave me the vibe that drinking Heineken was a privilege observed for the wealthy. I found the commercial to be snobbish.

How might different people understand this message differently from me?
I think that if a wealthy person saw the commercial it would make them smile. Most wealthy people love to gloat about how much money they have. Also, material things matter more to wealthy people, and they like to show off their “things.” Heineken would be another resource they could use to show their status in life because it is more expensive than say Bud Light for example.

Mike’s Hard Lemonade-Smoke Signals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Yd4QOt4OY

Who created this message? Why?
Mike’s Hard Lemonade created the commercial to attract people to their beer.

Who is the target audience?
Their target market is middle-aged family men and women.

What creative language is used to attract my attention?
The commercial uses smoke signals from the neighbor’s house to create dialogue between two men who are standing by a grill. In the commercial there is also a lot of yellow things. The grill, lemonade pitcher, and even the party lights are all yellow. Mike’s Hard Lemonade bottles are also yellow. This was very smart. Every time a person sees the color yellow it might make them unintentionally think of Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

How does this message make me feel?
The setting of this commercial is a summer time barbecue in an average middle class neighborhood. The commercial makes me feel good. Summer, to me, is all about barbecues with friends and yes, that includes some nice cold alcoholic refreshments.

How might different people understand this message differently from me?
I guess people who are wealthy might not find the commercial appealing. The people are dressed very casually, and it insinuates affordability. It may not be considered a socially high end enough drink for them. People who do not drink may find it offensive that one must have alcohol at a barbecue in order to enjoy a meal or friendly neighborhood gathering.

Week 12: The Smothers Brothers

Prior to this, I have never seen or heard of The Smothers Brothers before. I think this program was popular because it captured the peace movement through music that everyone vibed with. It had famous groups like the Beatles and Jefferson Airplane. I think this program helped people see that Kennedy was the obvious choice for the Presidency. The music was anti-war, and Nixon was for Vietnam.

Week 10: The 1964 Daisy Girl Ad

The Daisy Girl Ad was televised by Presidential candidate Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Prior to this political commercial the candidates spoke of what they had to offer. This ad changed political campaigning forever. This ad directly targeted another candidate and used an innocent child & a massive bomb explosion to do it. This ad created a new campaign tactic, which was attacking your oponents instead of talking about one's self.

Week 9 All in the Family

All in the Family was a family based television comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, the show was revamped, and given a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. This version of the sitcom lasted another four years, ending its run in 1983. Produced by Norman Lear and based on the British television series Till Death Us Do Part, the show broke ground by focusing on issues previously considered unsuitable for U.S. network television comedy, such as racism, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, miscarriage, breast cancer, menopause and impotence. The show ranked #1 from 1971 to 1976. As of 2008, The Cosby Show has been the only other show to top the ratings for at least five consecutive seasons. TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time ranked All in the Family as #4. Bravo also named the show's protagonist, Archie Bunker, TV's greatest character of all time.

Week 9 Maude

Maude was a tv series whose
first telecast was on September 12, 1972. It aired on the CBS network, and the last telecast was on April 29, 1978. Maude was an opinionated loud woman. Prior to this series I have never seen a television show centered around a strong and intelligent woman. There was no man to "put her in her place" or to belittle her opinions. I think this program paved the way for new female roles that weren't just housewifes and sex symbols.

Week 8 - Negative Television

In 1959 Charles Van Doren, a game show contestant, testified that he had accepted bribes from networks to go along with their quiz show scandals. For instance, he was told he would tie a quiz show champion instead of beat him because it would bring in better ratings. He also testified that prior to the quiz shows, that he would go over the answers with the producer. He was asked to hesitate when giving answers because it would build up suspense for the viewers. These quiz scandals became public at a time when America's trust worthiness was being questioned by other nations such as China. This unfortunate event made America appear corrupt.

Week 7: I Have A Dream

On August 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where they heard Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his, "I Have A Dream" speach. It was almost the largest peaceful protest in American history. This event changed America forever, and it was also broadcasted live all across the nation thanks to television networks. Television really brought Martin Luther King Jr's message to every home in America. Without this capability I believe it would have taken many more years before such heightened awareness would have allowed for such a desperately needed change for race equality.

Week 6: Ernie Kovac

Ernie Kovac was the first person to push television to a new level. He experiemented with objects and sounds rather than people and dialogue. Ernie played with camera angle, and attempted special effects never seen before. He died in a car accident and is also inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Week 5: TV & McCarthyism

This week I chose to talk about Joseph McCarthy and his effects on television. He was responsible for creating quite a stir amongst the television industry by accusing high profile celebrities with being members of the Communist Party. Lucille Ball of I Love Lucy comes particularly to mind. She was later relieved of this accusation. Finally he was shut down by the bravery of one man whom decided to stand up against his false accusations.

Week 4: Image from 1940's television.

I chose this picture after watching I love Lucy, Amos n' Andy, and the Honeymooners. I felt that the women in the 1940's demanded to be heard all across America. They were just as pushy as the men and it was okay for them to talk back. This picture reminds me of those women because it represents strength.

Week 3: What I'vd Learned So Far

What was interesting and was new information to me was that after the war in the
1940's, the newly freed up assembly lines began manufacturing television sets. Something I found surprising was that people had been saving up from the war and began to spend their savings on tv sets. I didn't think anyone had much money during the war. Even back then companies were struggling with the fast pace of technology advancing itself. The television industry is constantly advancing and companies are racing to keep up.

Week 2: Old TV vs New TV

The shows I chose to watch this week were Threes Company and Friends. One immediate difference I noticed was the clothing style. On Threes Company everyone was wearing tight bell bottoms. Their walls were also covered in wood paneling. The show had a comedy feel to it, but the jokes seemed to always have sexual references. New age shows tend to be more dramatic than just sexual. Clothing styles and home decor have changed.

Week 1: What I Watched This Week

This week I watched Wheel of Fortune. I was visiting my parents, and they always seem to watch it. Strangly enough, one of the contestants (Robert) looked exactly like my cousin Roger. I found it comical. What else did I watch... I watched American Idol. I detest the show, but for some reason feel compelled to watch it. I haven't quite figured that one out yet. To me the show represents how stardome is just handed to undeserving people these days. Back in the day people had to actually have talent and sing/write their own stuff. We are certainly in a different world today.