BLOG RESPONSE 4

               After looking through some of my classmates’ blog entries on satirical news and its value in our society, I have realised two very important commonalities in the opinions of my peers. Firstly, many of my peers believe satirical news shows to be more revealing than regular news broadcasts; and secondly, people are starting to turn away from the modified stories that the media offers in its regular news broadcasts, simply because viewers are becoming more and more aware of this on-going modification.

                Keenan Beaumont (http://keenbeau80.wordpress.com)mentioned in his blog that he thinks satirical media is a true form of culture jamming in our society. He also mentions how regular news-broadcasts are often prevented from revealing all the facts involved in these stories; and satirical news simply allows people to form their own opinions about certain public occurrences.  He believes satirical news shows are a part of culture-jamming, and that they do have a place in our public sphere. I personally agree with what Keegan is saying here because I have always classified satirical television shows as the “call-out shows” of our society; or in other terms, a show that reveals unrevealed evidence and allows us to form our own opinion on certain events. Regular news is the summary but satirical news shows are the summary AND the (comic) reflection.

                Ms. Hough (http://nhough95.wordpress.com/) mentioned in her blog that culture jamming has always been referred to as a way to advertise. Therefore, satirical news shows’ attempt to point out the faults of prominent figures becomes a serious problem; simply because it is taken as a negative advertisement. I do agree with what Ms. Hough is saying here, however at the same time I believe there is a distinction between satirical media and satirical politics. I also believe that culture-jamming is still a vital part of our well-informed public sphere. People can call satirical news shows fake, however the way I see it is an opportunity to see stories from another (comical yet realistic) view; and an opportunity for viewers to form their own opinions.

                Elana Dulberg (http://elanadulberg.wordpress.com/) stated in her blog that she believes “shows that frequently culture-jam such as Jimmy Kimmel and SNL are now becoming a mainstream form of media”. Respectfully, I disagree. The regular news broadcasts we see everyday still reign supreme. I believe the reason why satirical television shows have not become mainstream forms of media is because of the connotations still surrounding these shows. People still believe these shows to be false informed, attacking and too lay-back. I believe if satirical television was not still surrounded with these connotations, it would be considered an ideal place to learn information. This is because it informs us about events from a different view(even the bad-side) and allows us to form opinions of our own.

Jake Coetzee

BLOG ENTRY #4 : Satire and Culture

              Within the last decade, satirical television shows have become a rightful ingredient of culture jamming. In today’s society, there is so much going on in politics; whether it is politics itself or the personal lives of politicians. Satirical television has become binding to present-day society to make sense of the modern peculiar state of some politics. The main reason as to why satirical shows have become so main stream is because these types of shows offer certain insights into what is classified as the current state of politics; which essentially suggests that the satire from these television shows adds insights to the realm of politics that the news and other media cannot. (Media and Society, p. 214) I believe the extra insight on politics that is offered through some satirical television shows can be considered useful in grasping a light-hearted, straight-forward, and comical view on a certain issue.

                One common goal that everybody shares in viewing news media is to understand what is going on in our world; and in a society like today’s, all of us are seeing a story through the tainted window that is mass media. People need satire news shows, because it reassures them that there are others out there who feel the same outrages that he/she does. The sole fact that everyone finds it funny is reassuring.  As citizens we all want to be reassured, which is part of the reason why we view mass media in the first place.  Although the term ‘jamming’ may be referred to as “an obstruction, that is, the equivalent of a traffic jam for the media; it can also reference a more playful, spontaneous form of improvising and engaging with the media.” (Media and Society, p. 213) Satirical media has cemented itself in society’s views because it broadens our perspective on certain political issues; while we view these satire news- shows in a light-hearted and comical manor.

 

 

Thanks

 

Jake

 

o'Shaughnessy, Michael. Media and Society. Fifth Edition. Austrailia : Oxford University Press, 2008. 213-214. Print.

BLOG RESPONSE 3

Hello

             I believe that blog entry #3 mainly comprises of wanting what we get in the media. After reading over 10 different blogs, I was able to pick out one major commonality between all of them; and that is every company’s effort to attack its addressee’s insecurities. Companies need a way to provoke somebody to purchase their product; which is why they attack these perceived insecurities.

For example, in Justin Gideon’s blog, he mentioned that “Another effective way for corporations to increase the awareness of their advertisements is to instill humour. Humour is arguably the most important piece of what makes an advertisement memorable.“ (http://justingmsblog.blogspot.ca/2013_11_01_archive.html) Personally, I could not agree more with what Justin is saying here. I mentioned something similar about the importance of comedy in my piece. For the old spice commercial I wrote about the comedic vibe I get from watching this commercial, and how it preliminarily sells me on the product. I think everyone would be a little more sold on certain products if their advertisements didn’t lack as much humour as some of them do.

Mady states in her blog that “…clothing, fragrances and undergarments is sure to make you feel sexy and desirable” (http://madysylvester.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/what-the-hail/). Not only is Mady’s ad attacking the viewer’s insecurities, but it is also implying that in order to feel sexy and desirable, one must smell like them and wear their clothing. A commonality can be found with this ad and my ad: the Old Spice commercial. In my ad the Old Spice man states that he is the man your lady wishes you were. In both cases, the company is addressing all non users of the product; stating or implying that if you do not use this product, you will not feel sexy or desirable, or feel like the man your woman wishes you were.

Including influential figures in advertisements is a very important goal for all companies with ads. In the Old Spice commercial, the Old Spice man is classified as the “man your woman wishes you were”, therefore validating himself as a prominent figure. Sweetz’ blog was about a Gillette series ad.  Gillette uses figures such as Tiger Woods and Roger Federer in order to catch the viewers’ attention. He states that “Gillette does a good job marketing through television adverts because they often include professional athletes like Tiger Woods or Roger Federer.” (http://js10ss.wordpress.com/2013/11/)  I can comfortably say from personal experience that seeing my role model in a commercial is a very persuading factor when considering buying the product.

 

Thanks

 

 

Jake Coetzee

BLOG ENTRY #3 - OLD SPICE COMMERCIAL

 Hello to all, 

         This Old Spice commercial is a perfect example of a form of media targeted at my demographic. This commercial is narrated by a good-looking tanned man (looks like a model), reinforcing the credibility of the body-wash.  The ad is implying that anyone who uses this product can be like him, otherwise known as “The man your man can smell like”. In this ad, the narrator originally addresses women, appealing to their desire to make their man more attractive. However, through further analysis, notice that the ad is actually addressing insecure men. Throughout the commercial, the man submerges himself through a series of settings where he is offering female viewers expensive gifts; such as a horse, a beach setting, a pile of diamonds and two front row tickets to a show.  The company’s motive in this commercial is to portray the Old Spice man as the ideal male, a man that every woman wants. But with this ad begs the statement: Ads are instruments of socialisation, and we can’t control it. (Media and Society, p.182)  In doing this, he is presenting items that a woman could only dream about, further adding to his credibility of being the perfect man. The commercial tells women that they WANT front row tickets; they WANT a horse; they WANT a pile of diamonds. By grouping the Old Spice bottle with these expensive things, it is making people think that how attractive their man will smell after using this bottle is just as valuable as all those other fine things. To help the persuasion, the Old Spice man really connects with the viewers’ sense of humor as well. The way he so dramatically delivers his argument makes him seem charismatic and charming. It is funny that a $10 bottle of body wash is being compared to a pile of diamonds, but that and the comedy is what makes the commercial somewhat convincing.  Personally, when a commercial pertaining to my demographic is able to make me laugh, I am already sold on the product. The man is pertaining to all teens and young adults who shower on a daily basis. He makes his viewers beg the question: Do I want to smell like normal body wash or do I want to smell like every woman’s dream? I know that as a 19 year-old, I am starting to become even more interested in women. This commercial convinces me in a light-hearted fashion that Old Spice will help me attract women or make my woman more attracted to you.  Although this commercial was very convincing and light-hearted it still brings forth the question: “Are we defined and determined by forces outside of us?” (Media and Society, p. 189)  

 

Thank you for listening,

 

Ernest Coetzee (ec12qf)

o'Shaughnessy, Michael. Media and Society. Fifth Edition. Austrailia : Oxford University Press, 2008. 36-37. Print.

 

OLD SPICE COMMERCIAL URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX5au0LOJp8