Sex Sells

      The commercial above is an advertisement for GoDaddy.com. In my opinion I've always thought of this company as a bit sexist and even sleazy at some points. I feel as if the name of the website itself is deceiving and misleading. Because the vision they portray is so off pudding, you would never guess what they are even trying to sell. Obviously they are using these women as tools and taking advantage of the phrase "sex sells". They specialize in website creation and customization, but one would never guess that with this brand identity. Phrases such as, "customer service, with a personal touch" can be easily taken out of context. By doing this they are promoting bad habits and bad business ethics as well. I believe there is a way to use sex or gender in advertisement but this example does not showcase it. It tries to be comical and clever but for me, they gone to far with this one.  

     The video above also contains gender and also even racial stereo types, but I believe this is how advertising should be showcased. If one wants to use sex and/or race with their ads I would recommend using it in this type of context. Yes the Asian man is technologically savvy, but it is not over the top and demoralizing. Also the white middle aged women seems helpless with her cell phone needs, but she is a well known comedian who can also be asking questions just to be sarcastic and funny. Furthermore, notice how she is also fully clothed and not chosen solely for her body only but for her stand up skills. For me, I think this commercial uses these actors in a bright light and uses stereotypes in a better and almost in a non- offensive way unlike the GoDaddy.com commercial shown earlier. Like racial content, I believe the advertising industry has a ethical responsibility to hold these high standards for gender stereo types as well.

Crossing the Line

     For me there is a thin line between target marketing and flat out racism. Companies need to be more careful when it comes to advertising their products. Although the industry has gotten a lot better when it comes to this subject, it still lies within our media today.

   
     To the left is a radio ad. if you read the bottom text closely it says "Don't Kill Yourself over Craft". Obviously this is meant to be a joke with the middle eastern man strapped with a vest full of arts and craft. It mocks a large group of people deems them as bomb wielding terrorist. For some this ad may be hilarious but personally, i think they drop the ball with this one. its is over the top, disrespectful and demoralizing. This  ad was running in Israil  last year, and this is just a small sample of what today media holds. So , yes I believe that racism is not a thing of the past. It still comes up every once and a while, and in this case I believe that it is extremely wrong.
   
      The industry does get it wright once in a while as well. when stereotyping is used in a upbeat and whitey way, i do think it is ethically moral. By no means is it right, but at the same time i dont think its completely wrong. justified, in other words. For example
in the Nike ad bellow LeBron is showcased with several asain

spirits and a dragon, this ad is more than 5 years old but I believe it is a successful print. Being part asian myself  do not feel offended by this work in any way. Matter of a fact, I think its very unique how they collaborated the NBA super star LeBron James with the manga anime culture. They try to embrace and understand it, while at the same time advertising their new shoe over seas. I actually bought that shoe way back and i have no regrets.
   
      In conclusion, Advertisement agencies and other companies definitely have a ethical responsibility, not only for to public but to be true and right to themselves. Make sure their piece is not hateful and or demoralizing to any group of people. Embrace the culture and showcase it through a positive light. If these criteria are followed, the work will be looked as rightful art instead of inferior garbage.

Symbiotic Breakdown

      The video above is a 2013 commercial from KIA motor company. Recently I feel like this company has really re-invented themselves in an extraordinary fashion. The signifier is the Pro athlete, Blake Griffin himself. Along with the car these two are expressed as an item. The commercial signified that if you work hard and dedicate yourself to your craft, one day you can own an amazing car like the KIA Optima. In other words these are the denotations and connotations. This is all done with a great sense of humor, spontaneous and witty at the same time. It also manages to be very informative, with the comical gloves they  mention the lever shifters the car offers, one of the many features the car has to offer. The ideology behind this ad. hits the  bulls eye on many different levels.

     Another great piece of work that has a very iconic edge is the "got milk?" advertisement. The glass of milk and the milk mustache are symbolic to American pop culture. In this print ad to the right, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is the focal point. The tree, cat, text, milk icon and reaching hands are also denotations.The connotation is that the milk has protein that will potentially help you "Save the Day". The Rock is also a very muscular man. Like the video, this print add is indexical, the signifier is directly connected to the signified. The product and the celebrity are intertwined helping to sell.

     The last ad I chose is a GUESS billboard. This is showcased on a large canvas elevated to for the public to see. This advertisement below, sells by portraying the lifestyle of the rich and the famous. The sexy women, GUESS text, logo and hand bags are all

denotations, what we see right in front of us. The life style that i mention before is the connotation. It is as if you buy this brand, you can be living and having the visual appeal like the women shown in the billboard. The color scheme as well is selling sophistication and class. The black, white and gold are perfect elements to portray these emotions. It definitely has a feeling of royalty to it. All three of these ads are great and have their moments. These are a few of the symbiotic elements that live within advertisement.

"Art of Story Telling"

      Advertising agencies have existed for decades and though there are many companies out there, there is only one that continues to exceed my expectations. Wieden + Kennedy seem to have the magic formula when it comes to advertising. They manage to communicate with their audience on an emotional and global level. What really amazes me is how they sometimes pin  point and target people without even using dialog in their ads. Capturing imagery that truly speaks for itself is what they are known for. Coke, Nike, Old spice, Levis and Crystler are just a few big companies they have worked with. Wieden was also the man behind the Coca cola Polar bears and the Nike phrase "just do it".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfqys_pkAo

      In the link above Dan Wieden the Co- Founder and CEO of W+K is interviewed on THINK TV. He talks about the future of advertising and mentions how Broadcasting + Interactiveness will create bigger and better opportunities for companies. Advertising is also not about selling, but about creating a strong provocative relationship between good companies and consumers. Furthermore suggesting that television is the "campfire" at night. By staying interactive with the audience it keeps their attention on several different levels beyond just television.