I had been pondering for a long time about the nature of this course as well as its implications beyond the class room. Since this is more of a personal reflection of the course, I have been deliberating upon the possibilities of utilizing this course as a preamble (or precursor) to experiences in the real world.
I have never worked in a marketing or advertising position, but it would be safe to assume that the speed at which we need to turn out content is comparable to the current expectations. In fact, this course has primed me for even tighter deadlines of 2 to 3 days, instead of the current week-long intervals. The more i think about it, the more I believe it is likely that I will be facing these kinds of deadlines when I really start to work.
This is actually a greater motivation to me. Why? Because I do love to engage myself fully in an occupation and immerse myself in it completely. I have always enjoyed being as one with whatever I am doing. The pulse of the activity and the constant thinking and conceptualizing may be tiring, but it fuels me and keeps me going as well because I always want to take my work to the next level.
The other element that I considered is the idea of standards. This class requires a high level of commitment to upholding a high level of standards in creation,execution and presentation of the advertisement. There is no respite from this demand. It is stressful and difficult to deal with. It can be frustrating and bewildering. Many times, we know not of what to do next.
And yet, this is exactly why I like it.
I believe that when we discipline ourselves and uphold high standards, we will thrive. Maybe not all the time, but that is because we are beginners in this area of advertisement creation. This, to me, is about being able to hold yourself to the highest standards each and every time you step up to the plate. Like a baseball batter, you may not always hit a home run, but you can sure try your damn best to improve with every swing.
What I am saying is: We go through a lot of difficult times in this course. But it is a necessary evil. It is supposed to be difficult so that we become stronger. I believe that what does not kill us will make us stronger and that the adversity we face today is in preparation for greater things ahead.
I believe.
Kenneth.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Yea Vs. Nay Episode 1
Welcome back to the Mental Institution! *smiles to self*
I am so proud of you, returning as you have done, to asauge your curiosity as to whether I have posted a little something for you.
Indeed... I have, and it is a little something called...
Yea Vs. Nay! *[Surprise here]*
I hear little voices in my head asking me: What exactly is Yea Vs. Nay? Well, as the titles suggests, I will put up 2 opposing ads, One good and One bad (good and bad are subjective) and then attempt to contrast and comment upon both of them. However, since good and bad are subjective, you may comment (YES! comments allowed) on my blog post. Please feel free to agree or disagree, because you are entitled to your views. :)
Now... On to the things of substance!
First: The YEA Commercial...
Why is it a YEA?
No, not because it is colourful and cute, although it does look nice. A few things came to my mind when I saw this advertisement:
1) I enjoyed the premise of "What would you do if you missed the bus, but had the power to make anything appear?" It gives me a sense of fantasy. Such fantasy is REQUIRED in this advertisement because the product's Unique Selling Point is precisely that. It is not simply a bullet point at the back of the box. Fantasy IS the selling point here. More specifically, power to manipulate a world to your liking is the selling point here.
2) The techniques of superimposing the real world with cartoony videogame graphics actually help to enhance the overall look of the advertisement and makes it even more attractive to the viewers watching.
3) I understood, on first viewing, that this advertisement is trying to tout the creativity that is present in the videogame. The main idea is that you could make anything you write to appear on screen to solve problems. Psychologically, the message seems to be telling me to reach out for endless possibilities with this game.
4) Finally, This advertisement dosen't seem to feel old-fashioned or boring. It uses a tried and tested Think-Feel-Do style of bringing the consumer to a purchasing decision and even uses a young boy in the advertisement. However, because it cleverly leveraged itself on the strength of the product and spoke to the consumer clearly with a strong, creative Product Differentiator, it felt fresh and exciting.
That's a YEA for Advertising!
Second: The NAY Commercial:
Why is it a NAY?
Interesting? Yes. At least for the first 5 seconds. After that, it got boring, then it became really sexist. Which is offensive for me. Unless you are 5 years old, and chuckle at the word "breasts", you should be offended too.
1) The thing that got me in the first place was the mystery. In all honesty. this really DID start out good for me. The myriad guys staring at a screen and nodding their heads in unison and music gave a sense of mystery to it. I did want to find out what they were looking at. Well, at least until the breasts came on.
2) They waited too long didn't they? Head bobbing for the first 30 seconds is definitely not the right way to go. Especially if your big reveal is simply a pair of exaggerated breasts.
3) Finally: my main gripe with it is that they tried to sell us BREASTS. It's demeaning to women, and insulting to the target population of male gamers. This ad is perpetuating the objectification of women, and trying to fulfill a negative "Male Gamer" stereotype that is as offensive as it is untrue.
Therefore: I say to this advert... "NAY!"
AND.... That wraps up this episode of Yea Vs. Nay. I'm currently scouring the papers and Internet for more interesting advertisements. Hopefully, I can connect it with the chapters that I have been reading about.
Until then... Do what the T-Shirt says!
I am so proud of you, returning as you have done, to asauge your curiosity as to whether I have posted a little something for you.
Indeed... I have, and it is a little something called...
Yea Vs. Nay! *[Surprise here]*
I hear little voices in my head asking me: What exactly is Yea Vs. Nay? Well, as the titles suggests, I will put up 2 opposing ads, One good and One bad (good and bad are subjective) and then attempt to contrast and comment upon both of them. However, since good and bad are subjective, you may comment (YES! comments allowed) on my blog post. Please feel free to agree or disagree, because you are entitled to your views. :)
Now... On to the things of substance!
First: The YEA Commercial...
Why is it a YEA?
No, not because it is colourful and cute, although it does look nice. A few things came to my mind when I saw this advertisement:
1) I enjoyed the premise of "What would you do if you missed the bus, but had the power to make anything appear?" It gives me a sense of fantasy. Such fantasy is REQUIRED in this advertisement because the product's Unique Selling Point is precisely that. It is not simply a bullet point at the back of the box. Fantasy IS the selling point here. More specifically, power to manipulate a world to your liking is the selling point here.
2) The techniques of superimposing the real world with cartoony videogame graphics actually help to enhance the overall look of the advertisement and makes it even more attractive to the viewers watching.
3) I understood, on first viewing, that this advertisement is trying to tout the creativity that is present in the videogame. The main idea is that you could make anything you write to appear on screen to solve problems. Psychologically, the message seems to be telling me to reach out for endless possibilities with this game.
4) Finally, This advertisement dosen't seem to feel old-fashioned or boring. It uses a tried and tested Think-Feel-Do style of bringing the consumer to a purchasing decision and even uses a young boy in the advertisement. However, because it cleverly leveraged itself on the strength of the product and spoke to the consumer clearly with a strong, creative Product Differentiator, it felt fresh and exciting.
That's a YEA for Advertising!
Second: The NAY Commercial:
Why is it a NAY?
Interesting? Yes. At least for the first 5 seconds. After that, it got boring, then it became really sexist. Which is offensive for me. Unless you are 5 years old, and chuckle at the word "breasts", you should be offended too.
1) The thing that got me in the first place was the mystery. In all honesty. this really DID start out good for me. The myriad guys staring at a screen and nodding their heads in unison and music gave a sense of mystery to it. I did want to find out what they were looking at. Well, at least until the breasts came on.
2) They waited too long didn't they? Head bobbing for the first 30 seconds is definitely not the right way to go. Especially if your big reveal is simply a pair of exaggerated breasts.
3) Finally: my main gripe with it is that they tried to sell us BREASTS. It's demeaning to women, and insulting to the target population of male gamers. This ad is perpetuating the objectification of women, and trying to fulfill a negative "Male Gamer" stereotype that is as offensive as it is untrue.
Therefore: I say to this advert... "NAY!"
AND.... That wraps up this episode of Yea Vs. Nay. I'm currently scouring the papers and Internet for more interesting advertisements. Hopefully, I can connect it with the chapters that I have been reading about.
Until then... Do what the T-Shirt says!
Labels:
Advertisements,
Analysis,
COM 443,
Episode 1,
Yea Vs. Nay
Sunday, September 27, 2009
An Introduction
A Mental Institution evokes 2 things (although it simply evokes the one image that most people think I should beling to): Firstly, a real building which houses crazies.
Secondly, a person whose mental faculties make him/her an institution of sorts.
I'd like to think (or imagine) that I am a combination of both. Meaning: I'm crazy enough to become an institution of sorts. *beams*
It is with that thought that I decided upon this name and while this blog is currently catering to the whims and fancies of a class called Principles of Advertising, it might actually continue to grow into something other than just that.
In the next few weeks, and in the subsequent blog posts, I will be working on showing you the ins and outs of some of my favourite and not so favourite advertisements as well as describing to you some facets of my life which (may or may not) be related to advertising.
Why?
Because I can.
For those who really need an answer: Because it adds Flavour.
Enjoy your trip.
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