If Everyone Hates You, Where Can You Go? Where Else - Television: Dog Torturer Michael Vick to Star in New BET Documentary

By: Roseanna Sonnenfeld

 

      Michael Vick, ex-convict, dog-abusing pro athlete has been reinstated into the NFL.  He has also now been signed to star in his own television series.  The show is about Michael Vick and his against all odds struggle to make his NFL comeback, and how his troubled childhood and other factors shaped a behavior pattern that resulted in his 2007 arrest.  The NFL star commented on his reasoning behind this new project for himself, saying that he just wants people to really get to know him as an individual and that he has made mistakes in the past and wishes it had never happened.

 

      One part of me thinks that this is a good thing that Michael Vick wants to do for himself.  He wants to get rid of the accusations that people have about him from the past and wants people to know him for who he is now.  I think it is a good motive that he has for himself.  Everyone does make mistakes and should be given second chances so why not him, he's a human being too.  But another part of me thinks, no way should you expect people to forgive you just because you are a celebrity/athlete.  You screwed up so don't expect people to forgive you based on this new personal show that allows us to take a look at your life.  There is also the point of, who really cares?  There are so many more things that I think about during the day that do not involve whether or not I think Michael Vick is becoming a better person after all that he has gone through in his life.  There are already enough reality celebrity TV shows out there that nobody cares about, why should this one be any different?   

 

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By Mandy Smith

 

Ethics and Visual Persuasion

Visual impact in advertising is used to stir feelings and persuade human emotions and actions. Visual messages can have many influences viewers in on my any different levels. Visual images are truly pervasive in persuasive communications. They grab viewer’s attention effectively enough to affect their emotions. Great examples of how visual persuasion affects people’s emotions through ethics would be Prolife movement, and the fight to put a heavier warning signs on cigarette cartons.

The Prolife movement is focused around resisting abortion. They believe that fetuses and embryos are people and think that charges should be pressed if a woman commits an abortion. This movement uses a type of activism called “the truth display” where protesters display pictures of aborted fetuses in a general area hoping to ignite feelings of grief, anger, and sympathy.  Some of the members of the group believe that this is the most effective way of explaining their position, through visual imagery. Visual images like pictures of aborted fetuses can almost create emotional plea instantly. It is such a controversial topic and people feel strongly about their sides. This is a campaign that can create emotional guilt, depression and can have an impact on people’s future actions.

            The TRUTH which is an anti tobacco campaign is set up to remind people of the dangers of smoking. They once created a body bag display during the Real Salt Lake’s home game on September 20. The body bags were to visually exhibit the deadly results of using tobacco (oursportscentral.com). After the body bags were placed next to the display that read something like, “nearly 440,000 people die every year in the U.S. from tobacco-related causes equivalent to 50 people every hour of every day.” Being able to see death in a quantitative manner and in such a grotesque manner would be an effective way of getting a point across. It would be like saying “do I need to draw a picture?” 

            Also illustrated on the cigarette packets of American smokers soon will be labels displaying gruesome colored photos showing a mouth conquered by cancer, black lungs, and rotten gangrene feet. “It’s the only one that smokers remember more than anything else. Even after nine years,” says David Hammond (as quoted in Mashori). Research shows that using visual images are more effective in these kinds of cases. Hammond also stresses that “pictures are more likely to catch people’s attention and told hold people’s attention over time,” (as quoted in Mashori) If a smoker has to look at a picture of what smoking can cause while they are smoking they are more aware of it. If you can see the consequences you are better off not experiencing them.

            People use visuals because they work. They use them to reach out to their viewers to get a reaction, create emotion, and try to make a difference while also having the potential to be more effective than other modes of communication. 

 

"The TRUTH Anti-Tobacco Campaign to Feature Body Bag Display at Saturday's Real Salt Lake Game - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News." Minor League Sports News on OurSports Central. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. <http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3718135>.

 

Mishori, Ranit. "A Heavier Warning: Cigarette Boxes Will Soon Display Evidence of Ill Effects - washingtonpost.com." Washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/03/AR2009080302229.html>.

 

 

Scheidler, Ann. "Strong Reactions Pro and Con Mark Sixth Annual Truth Tour." Web.

Music as a form of persuasion

By Amanda Sevits

It is very obvious in this day and age that persuasion is all around
us. Music, however is one of the most widely used forms of
entertainment whether it is for recreation, or even personal use,
music can always been seen as a form of persuasion. With the
expanding use of iPod's, satellite radio stations, and various other
music players, it is no surprise that most people turn to music as a
sense of comfort. People of all ages are jumping into the "music
pool" and embracing all of its many wonders. By downloading and using
music affiliated websites such as iTunes, Pandora, MySpace Music,
MTV.com and even Yahoo Launch, it shows just how great of an impact
music has had in this past century, and even before then.

When it came to defining music, I found that music is said to be "an
art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant
forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color"
according to Dictionary.com. I completely agree with the way that the
website explains the word and don't think I could have possibly said
it any better myself. Music has been around since the beginning of
time and it has continued to grow and adapt along with the people
producing it. Music can be used in a variety of different ways as
well. Some groups of people use music as a form of religious worship,
or recreational use while others may use it for therapy purposes or to
release anger and emotions. When it comes to the actual act of
persuading someone with music, I believe there are different ways of
doing so in order to appeal to different audiences. For instance, you
aren't going to try and persuade a group of teenagers to buy a CD and
play them swing dancing music to do so. Different generations of
people are accustomed to different kinds of music that they grew up
listening to. In order to appeal to specific audiences through music,
you would have to know a great deal about their time, as well as what
music influenced their progression through life in order to get
through to them.

I know that for me personally when it comes to music, it is a
definite release no matter what kind of mood I'm in. Whether it is
sad and gloomy or excited, I know that I can always rely on my CD's or
my iPod to brighten my day just a little bit more. The kind of music
that I listen to changes with my mood as well, as I'm sure most people
would agree. If I'm "down in the dumps" a little country music will
make me feel better and if I'm getting ready to go out with my
friends, a little rap or rock will do the trick for us every time. I
could never cut music out of my life because it plays such a major
role in my stress level especially, by allowing me to vent.
Everybody's preference in music type is also going to sway the amount
of persuasion that takes place. Whenever people listen to music that
explains their thoughts, it allows them to connect on a deeper level,
which in turn allows the music to serve as a persuasive tool. By
musicians and producers knowing this, they know exactly what kind of
songs to produce in order to ensure their fans and success rate.

Overall, I would say that music is one of the top forms of persuasion
all over the world. No matter what country or region is being looked
at, there is bound to be some form of music either listened to or
played throughout. I am very thankful that music plays such a major
role in my life, solely due to the fact that it never goes away. This
shows how persuasion is prevalent in music, and has been for
generations now. Artists, songwriters, and producers all know that
with every song produced they are fighting for attention, fans, profit
and even success. By persuading their fans to listen to and follow
them, they people and ensuring their success and survival in the music
industry.

Works Cited
Bostrom, Robert N, Derek R. Lane, and Nancy G. Harrington. (Fall
2002). Music as Persuasion: Creative Mechanisms for Enacting
Academe. Retrieved from
http://www.acjournal.org/holdings/vol6/iss1/special/bostrom.htm.
Jowett, Garth S. and Victoria O'Donnell. (1999). Propaganda and
Persuasion: Third Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications,
Inc.
Various Authors. (2009). Dictionary.com. Random House Publications.

Images in Advertising

By Mike Stadler

No matter where we look, whether it is online, the television, or in magazines we are consumed by the bright colors and slogans of the advertising images presented to us.  Each company has their own logo, but inside these logos they will have unique images for their products that they sell.  Why are images so important in advertising? We have been attracted to the pictures from a very young age and those habits will stick with us forever.
 The most important part of an advertisement is the image that it presents to the intended audience.  The image could present an average guy drinking a beer while talking to a good looking woman.  This image tells the male audience that if you drink this beer then you will be able to talk to women like that.  It could also present the image to women that drinking a beer in a certain manner is attractive.  The first example is known as indirect advertising (Phillips, 2005).

Indirect advertising allows the company to give off more messages then the spoken one.  For instance a beer company is advertising the quality of their beer, but there are multiple messages being conveyed through the images.  “Clearly, advertisers have come to believe that making indirect claims can confer some advantage over making direct claims” (Phillips, 2005).

The importance of the use of images in advertising has increased with the popularity of indirect advertising campaigns.  There are many reasons for the switch from direct messages to indirect messages, but the biggest is the amount of time consumers actually take to read or listen to the intended message.  Most consumers will look at just the pictures in advertisements and only if the picture captures their attention will they read the intended message.  Each of these specially designed ads try’s to create an identity for the company.  The identity created through advertisements will allow the consumer to relate to the company logo and take notice to these ads through brand awareness.

Brand awareness is defined as the extent to which a brand is recognized by potential customers and is correctly associated with a particular product (Brand Awareness Definition, 2009).  One of the key components of brand awareness is the company logo.  This logo needs to be something unique to the company that their target audience can easily identify with.  It could be something such as the Nike swoosh, the Chanel C's, or even the Clydesdales of Anheuser Busch.  If the logos serve their purpose each time they are seen by the consumer it will trigger reaction from the consumer to the logo, from the logo to the product, and hopefully the product to the consumer.

Now that the advertisements have persuaded the consumer to buy the product they will be met with more techniques to try and persuaded them even further to buy products they had not planned on purchasing in the first place.  If they choose to buy online they will be met with brightly colored advertising banners and special discounts.  If internet shopping is not quite their style then going to the store could be even worse when it comes to persuasion.  At the store the everyday items are kept in the back.  This will force the consumer to go pass the multitude of isles and temptations that can pull on any consumer’s wallet.  Organizing the store in this way is just one of the tactics used.  Some of the others include no clocks on the walls creating the illusion that time is not a factor.  The next form of persuasion at the store uses brightly colored packaging at a child’s eye level to induce the "I want's."  These products that appeal to children will use characters that the children have seen on TV advertisements, once again coming from the indirect form of persuasion.

Images play a vital role in today’s advertising campaigns and will continue to be utilized as a tool to persuade and draw consumers to products.  As consumers we are constantly influenced by these images and choose what we will inevitably purchase.  What will be the next image that convinces you to buy that latest necessity?

Brand Awareness Definition. (2009). Retrieved September 27, 2009, from BusinessDictionary.com: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/brand-awareness.html

Phiillips, B. J. (2005, June 22). Indirect persuasion in advertising: how consumers process metaphors presented in pictures and words. Retrieved September 27, 2009, from www.allbusiness.com: http://www.allbusiness.com/professional-scientific/advertising-related-services/476652-1.html

Not a Moment Too Soon: Celebrity Rights Finally Defended in Tinseltown as Schwarzenegger Signs Anti-Paparazzi Bill Into Law

By: Roseanna Sonnenfeld

 

      California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been pushing on the state legislature to pass a new anti-paparazzi bill.  Although Americans may still be struggling with paying mortgages and finding jobs, under this new law, it is now easier for celebrities to sue media outlets that use photos that invade their private lives.  The former movie star signed a number of bills recently all that are putting some kind of restriction on what is illegal and legal for the paparazzi.  These bills are also permitting celebrities to file lawsuits against media outlets that use these photos or recordings from paparazzi.

 

      Well, my first thought is thank goodness he is their governor and not ours.  My next thought is hopefully next election will have a different outcome.  What is governor Schwarzenegger thinking?  There are so many more problems and troubles in that state such as the bankruptcy they are battling than whether or not celebrities are getting the wrong kind of attention from paparazzi that leads to everyone seeing it.  I do think that paparazzi are a problem for celebrities and the paparazzi can be very disrespectful and ruthless when it comes to some of the photos that are taken.  The paparazzi can also be ruthless and hard hearted when it comes to how they get those photos of celebrities.  But part of me thinks, hey you asked for it when you signed your life away to being famous.  So yes, I’m sure that some celebrities are pretty excited about this new bill but let’s ask the rest of the state of California what they think about it.  Governor Schwarzenegger should be spending time and money on economic, state, and the people’s problems like most all other governors are doing for their states.  I bet the state of California is sure glad they elected him now.

 

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/yzca6f6

Auto Industry Recognizing that to Successfully Launch Electric Cars, Marketers Need to Change Perceptions and Foster Familiarity

 

By: Roseanna Sonnenfeld

 

      Automakers are now realizing that the biggest obstacle that they are going to have to overcome in bringing electronic cars out onto the market is the fact that consumers don't have a clear perception of how these cars work/run or about what these cars are exactly.  It is an unfamiliar subject or object that surrounds the whole unique maintance and fueling process of this new breed of car. 

 

      The new Ford Focus is due out in 2011.  It looks to be the new major vehicle for the future.  The Ford industry has equipped this car with new necessities as well as a few old.  This allows drivers to have a more comfortable feel to this new vehicle.  "That makes the technology less scary and more familiar-and, actually, sager.  Because if you jump from an (electric car) to a regular car, you don't want to have to remember very different (conditions)," Nancy Gioia said, reports CNET writer Martin LaMonica on a network blog.

 

      Getting a new vehicle out into consumer’s hands that is economy friendly is a great thing.  I think it is great that the Ford Company also realizes that they need to make it a new vehicle that is comfortable for consumers to have.  I know that for me, a new electronic car is something that I would automatically gear myself away from.  And the biggest reason for this is because of the unknown about the vehicle or being uncomfortable with it.  For Ford and any other car companies who are going to be selling this kind of new economy friendly vehicle, I do agree that the biggest challenge for them is going to be informing consumers about it and everything that comes with it.  In this way they are giving the consumers more than just an unknown to go off of.

 

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Consumers don't know how electronic cars operate

By: Roseanna Sonnenfeld

      Automakers are now realizing that the biggest obstacle that they are going to have to overcome in bringing electronic cars out onto the market is the fact that consumers don't have a clear perception of how these cars work/run or about what these cars are exactly.  It is an unfamiliar subject or object that surrounds the whole unique maintance and fueling process of this new breed of car. 

      The new Ford Focus is due out in 2011.  It looks to be the new major vehicle for the future.  The Ford industry has equipped this car with new necessities as well as a few old.  This allows drivers to have a more comfortable feel to this new vehicle.  "That makes the technology less scary and more familiar-and, actually, sager.  Because if you jump from an (electric car) to a regular car, you don't want to have to remember very different (conditions)," Nancy Gioia said, reports CNET writer Martin LaMonica on a network blog.

      Getting a new vehicle out into consumer’s hands that is economy friendly is a great thing.  I think it is great that the Ford Company also realizes that they need to make it a new vehicle that is comfortable for consumers to have.  I know that for me, a new electronic car is something that I would automatically gear myself away from.  And the biggest reason for this is because of the unknown about the vehicle or being uncomfortable with it.  For Ford and any other car companies who are going to be selling this kind of new economy friendly vehicle, I do agree that the biggest challenge for them is going to be informing consumers about it and everything that comes with it.  In this way they are giving the consumers more than just an unknown to go off of.

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/ya345fu