That's a lot of nuts!

Last night I saw this commercial:


(Except the version I saw ended with "Cabin fever" and someone putting a do-not-disturb sign on their hotel door.)

So I had seem this commercial before, but I never paid much attention to it. This time I caught on to the cleverness of it all and it blew me away.
Me: "That commercial was so great!"
Roommate: "What? Why?"
Me: "Didn't you see it? They said things that people hate about winter, but showed stuff that's good because they're actually on vacation!"
Roommate: "Oh...really?"
Me: "Yeah...it's really clever"
Roommate remains un-phased and carries on with her facebook stalking.

Since I've been in this advertising class I just analyze everrryything. My roommates really love watching TV with me now because after every other commercial I will say something like "Wow, they need a new ad campaign." or "That was a great ad!" etc.
I just can't help it!
I kind of love rhetorical analysis.
Sometimes...I open my book about rhetoric from AP English junior year of high school and just read parts of it. Because it's like a really really good book.

While I was taking that AP class I kind of stalked the author, because he had such an entertaining voice in his writing. So I found his website, or blog or something and saw that there was a comment board. I asked him about his book and for advice on an assignment in class and he totally responded. It was the best day of my life (August 17th, 2007) and the closest brush with fame I've ever had (besides when Elder Holland called BYU info and I found out about it the next day at work).
Needless to say, I'm pretty into the art of persuasion. (JUST ASK ALL THE FELLAS LOL JK). Which makes me inclined to this study of advertising.

Maybe someday I will become a great rhetorician.

Calm it down.

It seems that advertisers often feel like they need to go to extremes in order to rise above the clutter. But that mentality can lead to some controversial advertising.

Take this american apparel ad for example:

It features a former porn star in suggestive poses, just to model socks. I've noticed that American Apparel has had many suggestive ads in the past. It seems like they focus on sex as their main selling point. It is true, as they say, that sex sells, but to have that as your only way of advertising a product just seems cheap. It becomes ineffective when any selling point is overused and used distastefully. This sock ad makes the audience more interested in googling a porn star than in buying their product. (Although it's possible that the blunt association with sex puts the product in mind subliminally. Ex: The viewer might be passing an American Apparel in the mall and end up going inside, subconsciously hoping to find a naked chick just chillin...?) Either way...ads that go too far with sex are sketchy.

Then there are advertisements that believe in using complete exaggeration to sell their product. For example:

Almost every mascara commercial is guilty of puffery in their ads. 300% more volume? Really? And they film the brushes from an upward macro angle to make them look gigantic. And the models are wearing fake eyelashes so of course they look huge! Makeup ads rely on exaggeration. And to be honest, it usually works. Women want to believe that their eyelashes will look like they're going to stab someone if they get too close. Or that if they wear a certain mascara they will suddenly own more stylish clothing and feel prettier. Some women are thrifty and wise and find one line of makeup and stick with it, and are no longer fooled by hyperbolicious ads. But for the rest of us out there...Keep dancing around in that tuxedo vest, Drew Barrymore.

MEAT IS THE NEW BREAD

Also...This is the best Ad ever...

This one's for all the Suckers

Here's the thing about advertising. It really effective. I believe in its power, y'all.
There are so many campaigns that I have become seriously attached to. One example is Jif:



Honestly, growing up, I felt less special when my mom didn't buy Jif because of commercials like that. And now that I'm on my own, it's the only peanut butter I buy. Not only does it taste delicious, but the brand has been so imprinted into my brain that I've developed a loyalty to it.

I kind of get a little crazy with brands actually... For example: Last week I spent 100 dollars on groceries. Just food. ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. I walked down the isles of the grocery store and purposely chose items that were more expensive, because I am under the delusion that brand names are always better.

Would things be different if I hadn't grown up in a world bombarded by advertisements at every turn? Would I still choose Tostinos scoop chips over the $2 bargain bag of generic chips? Would I still spend $8 on a small can of Slim Fast mix, rather than a much cheaper store brand? WOULD I STILL BUY A $10 BOTTLE OF VITAMIN D INSTEAD OF A $3 BOTTLE OF UNCOATED GENERIC BRAND?

The world may never know...

At least it hasn't come to this yet...

(This video looks suggestive from the thumbnail but it's not, I promise.)

Futurama
Lightspeed Briefs
www.comedycentral.com
Tosh.0 Funny Jokes The Comedy Awards

There seems to be a fine line between buying into smart advertising, and falling for everything you see/hear. Advertising can be great, and it can be dangerous. Just don't fall for

THIS:

I did my taxes with Cash 4 Gold last year and didn't see a PENNY.