Week Two EOC - Questionable Ethics

Be truthful.

This ad demonstrates how Photo Shop can misrepresent the models actual figure. The picture on the left side shows exactly what the model looks like in real life; the right side shows the model Photo Shopped.  Almost all pictures in magazines are manipulated because they want perfection.  It may not always be reality but it’s what people want to see.  It also makes the consumer want to be that person, to feel like that, to desire what they have.  It is a great selling tool but it’s mot truthful. 

Be responsible.
It is important to be responsible for your actions in Advertisement.  Every situation has a reaction, and it is very hard NOT to offend someone.  You’re almost always going to offend someone no matter how you curve your ad.  This picture displays a women being spanked by her husband for not store-testing for better coffee.  You can se how this could offend a great deal of people.  It promotes more than coffee, its as if its stating that abuse is okay, and for irrelevant situations.  Some on the other hand may just take it as a joke and think that it is funny.  

Treat the audience with respect; respect people's religion, race, gender, age, and ethnicity.

This is a great example of respecting the audience.  Clearly they are offending many different groups… It touches on religion and sexuality.  They are advertising for their church but doing it in the worst way possible.  They believe they are bringing in the good by making those who do not follow their ways feel like they are nothing.  If you are homosexual you are exiled from their church.  You are not welcomed or accepted by God.  Respecting an audience is key to good advertisement.  You cannot go around offending peoples religion or sexual orientation.  Also race, gender, age and ethnicity. This is what will cause a war.

Week One EOC - "Lemon"

"LEMON"

            The “Volkswagen Lemon” ad changed the face of advertising in many different ways. The black and white picture is of a 1960’s Volkswagen Beetle. “In an age of blustery pitches glorifying size, power, and prestige, 1960s Volkswagen Beetle advertising was the calm voice for a different set of values.” –Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.

 Most individuals embraced the car. It came up in a time where hippies were decorating it with colorful flowers and peace signs. It stood for something more than a car. There was a sense of irony found because the car manufactured in Germany and was loved by post-war Americans. Many slogans were used to advertise the vehicle. A few were; “Think small,” “It’s ugly, but it gets you there,” “If you run out of gas, it’s easy to push,” and “Presenting America’s slowest fastback.” The ads were designed out of humor. The car itself was not flawed, and it was not in actuality a “lemon.” It was a foreign car out of the American norm. It was small, hip, easy of gas, cheap to fix. American cars at the time were very big and flashy and had many accessories. This little car was polar-opposite. Pointing these characteristics out and making people laugh, grabbed their attention.

http://www.visualnews.com/2013/09/03/20-best-volkswagen-ads-1960s-campaign/

 The ad was a simple black and white photo of the vehicle. You could not see any flaws in the car. It was not very detailed. There is a version of the ad where the car is so small you can barely see it. It goes on to talk about a dent in the bumper and a scratch on the windshield which clearly you cannot see in the picture. “This preoccupation with detail means the VW lasts longer and requires less maintenance, by and large, than other cars.” This encourages the reader to continue reading the ad which further explains the stringent inspection it really goes through to ensure the buyer is indeed not getting a lemon.

 http://www.writingfordesigners.com/?p=1731

 How did the ad change advertisement forever? Instead of your daily consumer looking at an ad and it stating, “Buy this, just because,” the viewer now had options. These options questioned the product and questioned their needs. It was the start of communication between the ad and the individual.

http://magazine.volkswagen.com/beetle-campaign-kassaei.html