Print Advertisement

In this assignment, we will look at print advertisements from newspapers and magazines and what they say about their products, their consumers’ lifestyles, who is included and excluded from these products demographics, how we personally respond to these ads and what these products’ ads are saying about our culture and our society.

You have THREE options for the focus of this essay:

Discuss how your ad promotes a positive or negative social message. Does the ad make statements that support multiculturalism and diversity or does it promote stereotypes based upon race, gender, or class that promote prejudice and division? Does the ad empower or disenfranchise a minority group by its inclusive or exclusionary message? These same concerns can be addressed in body type, age, disability, or religion.
Does the ad promote healthy or unhealthy lifestyle choices? Doe it ignore health risks of the product or does it promote dangerous actions (drunk driving, smoking, promiscuity to name a few)? Does the ad promote good habits? Are the model’s body images healthy or extreme? Does this same standard apply to both genders?
Is the ad playing on audience fears to sell a product? Are these justifiable fears or extreme and paranoid fears? Who is targeted with the cautionary tale of this ad? Who is left out? How does class play a role in the paranoia or caution? How does race, age and gender play into the ad’s concerns?

You will move from a personal reaction or response to an analysis of the overt and covert messages presented in this ad. In order to analyze this ad effectively, you will need some terms, directions and a final draft discussion.

TERMS:

Demographic: In advertising or entertainment products, this is the desired and expected audience. Gender, race, age, income, marital status, sexual orientation, body type and ethnicity define the audience. Remember, there are no accidents in advertising. Each choice is deliberate and sends a