Write the Future

My presentation this week was about one print ad in a series of ads released by Nike.  I mentioned that Nike also released a 3-minute video that was a huge success and here it is.

This is by far one of my favorite advertisements of all time.  Being a huge soccer fan it has that appeal to me but more it’s just a really good commercial.  It has some of the most famous soccer players in the world with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney among others.  Besides just incorporating only soccer players they added other social icons like Kobe Bryant and Homer Simpson.  The scene with Homer Simpson and Ronaldo is my favorite part.  They fuse Homer’s famous d’oh with Ronaldo’s name to create the genius Ronald’oh.  The commercial is filled with humor at every point that adds to the ad.  I feel like when I watch this ad I’m not watching a commercial but instead a mini movie.  The commercial was part of the Write the Future campaign that I mentioned during my presentation.  It goes along with the idea that it only takes one moment to become a legend.  They show a variety of players that have a great moment and show the outcome.  They become great heroes in their respective countries.  Statues are made and musicals about them are just among the few things that happen after that one successful moment.  They also show what happens to a player when that one moment is a negative.  They show the downfall of Wayne Rooney when he makes a dreadful mistake.  A newspaper reads “England in Roo-in” which is part of the humor aspect of the ad with a clever pun.  They show him becoming fat and living in a small mobile home.  All these negatives though motivate him to reverse his fortune and become a hero.  This ad was extremely successful and brought a lot of attention to Nike.    

Doctors Approval

Today as we discussed different advertisements I was truly shocked by the different cigarette ads.  I can’t quite put a finger on why, it could be how truly stupid the scene of the ads were or maybe the ridiculous slogans.  Whatever it is I decided to take a look at different cigarette advertisements.  The ads I saw on Google were all over the place and were quite hysterical.  Ads included babies pleading for cigarettes for their dad, jolly St. Nick enjoying, and even an endorsement from Ronald Reagan.  With all of those genius ads this one particular ad took the cake.

When I first saw this ad I paused then immediately exploded into laughter.  I understand this ad was in a different time but I still am amazed that this ad eased people’s fears about the dangers of smoking.  The ad is dominated by red and yellow colors as we discussed in class draws people to the ad and can cause a raise in appetite that could easily be curbed with a nice lucky strike cigarette.  The biggest factor in this ad is the endorsement by “20,679 physicians say ‘Luckies are less irritating’.”  People at the release of this ad were concerned about the health dangers of smoking and with the approval from doctors it eased many people’s nerves.  These cigarettes not only receive doctor’s approval but they are also good for your throat and ease coughing.  These cigarettes were marketed as a healthy smoke that won’t have any negative impact on your body.  I’m sure at the time it was an effective ad but knowing what we know now its funny to look at it.  Know you probably couldn’t find one real doctor to positively endorse cigarettes.  It’s interesting to look at ads over time to see how they have evolved.

First Impressions

During our most recent class discussion about ethos we touched on how people present themselves.  Whether it may be an act or if people are truly themselves, the question is not so easy to answer.  I believe that people present themselves depending on whom they are meeting for the first time.  A peer mostly like will be introduced to your actual character but an adult will probably see someone more proper.  One comment has stuck in my head about how we introduce our self to a girlfriend or boyfriend’s parents.  The person roughly said we must present our self in a likeable manner to get the approval of their parents because they have such an influence in their child’s life.  The reason it resonated so much is because I could honestly not agree more.  From my first hand experiences I know how vital the approval of parents can be in a relationship.

            My girlfriend Caroline and I had been dating from a couple of weeks and it came to that point when meeting her parents was inevitable.  When she first asked me to come over for dinner my heart dropped.  She knew I was nervous and tried to ease my tensions by saying it won’t be that bad.  I knew it was going to be a rough experience so I prepped myself by practicing what I would say.  When doomsday finally was here I prepared myself to go into battle and leave the vital approval.  For such a casual dinner the initial greetings was as formal as an interview.  Then the barrage of questions began.  I was not prepared for this I was expecting to just simply gloat about myself in the least selfish way.  Dodging questions I would casually slip in my preplanned accomplishments.  They were quite impressed with everything that I had achieved and all of the answers I had supplied.  I did so valiantly that I completed ignored my girlfriend.  For as well as I did that night Caroline was quite annoyed.  She was so unsettled about how I acted so differently from myself that we shortly broke up afterwards.  Upon reflection maybe it is truly better to just be yourself. 

 

This I Believe

Please don't make the mistake of drunk driving.

State Patty's Day

A recent ruling by the IFC (Interfraternity Council) has prohibited fraternities from having parties or gatherings on February 25^th.  This day was marked as State Patty’s Day and the IFC is attempting to distance frats from being connected with a made up holiday with all sorts of negative connotations.  This ruling has gotten mixed reviews from people and raises the question if this ruling will actually help or worsen State Patty’s Day.  An editorial in the Daily Collegian applauds this decision and calls on more people not to participate in this holiday.  To be honest, I believe this ruling could have serious negative impacts.  The holiday will never be cancelled and will continue to the foreseeable future.  Vendors and bar owners make a decent profit from all the products they sell and it would be stupid for them to stop and throw away money they would be making.  Students will still celebrate at apartments and houses consuming an abundant amount of alcohol at unsupervised parties.  That’s when things can become risky, when students consume a large quantity of alcohol without rules.  At fraternities there are strict rules about the alcohol being consumed, other beverage and food options to minimize the effects of alcohol and security to make sure things do not get out of hand.  These are some of the many rules imposed at fraternities that are not at other parties.  The stereotype of all fraternity members being animalistic crazed alcoholics is just not true.  An average student parties and consumes alcohol as much as a member of a fraternity.  This ruling that has come from the IFC is understandable trying to distance Greek life away from a negative connoted holiday but I believe it is wrong.  Penn State students and visitors face more danger going to apartment or house parties then going to a fraternity party.  Without an end to this holiday and people wanting to celebrate it would be in the best interest for everyone to have fraternity parties because it offers more safety.  

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2012/02/01/follow_ifcs_lead_cancel_state_pattys_day_parties.aspx