Extra Credit

Prior to RTF 305, I have never used a blog. The positive aspect of using blogs in this course is that it is a creative way to encourage further research on the main topics of the course. It uses a contemporary media to discuss the specific aspects of media.

The only difficulties that I encountered while using a blog is that I am not technologically savvy enough to know how to make additions to my blogs like video or other media of that type. Conception wise, I had absolutely no trouble. With a little help from friends in the class, I got gradually better at incorporating media additions to my blog.

Most blog prompts were very well thought out and interesting. My favorite was the blog where we were asked to discuss a type of persuasion tool used by advertisers. I am an advertising major so I assume that is why this was so appealing to me. My least favorite was when we were asked to discuss an aspect of the studio system.

This was not as appealing because we did not have to relate it to a current idea.

I would definitely recommend using a blog in a future course, especially RTF 305 because it encourages exploration of a new media. It is also a convenient way to turn in assignments and grants creative freedom.

The only suggestions I have to improve blogging in the future would be to release the prompt earlier in the week in order for people to have longer to think about what they are going to write and other elements to add. Also, maybe a more detailed blog tutorial at the beginning of the semester would be advantageous.

Yes, you can use my blog in a paper or report.

Blog 10

Globalization is reading differences that existed between nations in time, space, and culture. Globalization describes how economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade. It defines the circulation of ideas, languages, or pop culture through acculturation, which happens when individuals having different cultures came together first hand.

Despite globalization's reducing of differences in culture, cultural imperialism still exist. Cultural imperialism occurs when some countries dominate other through the media. Globalization expresses how technology is integrated between countries, but some countries develop a superiority in an aspect of media which is described as cultural imperialism. Cultural imperialism has been said to be one of the biggest international issues in communications media particularly the unequal flows of film, television, music, news, and information.

Television is a major media source that induces cultural imperialism. Other countries air American TV shows, commercials, movies, etc. American cultural trends have now developed in other countries due to this imperialism. In Africa, the imperialism has even become detrimental. After mothers in Africa had seen bottle feeding replacing breast feeding, they adopted the trend and their kids were effected by sickness and even death.

Blog 9

Absolut has a history of highly sexual print ads. The most persuasive ad, in my opinion, illustrates a naked man with an Absolut bottle in front of his private area with the caption “Absolut Hunk.” The man in the ad is VERY attractive and has all the “ideal” qualities of a certified “hottie.” He has long blonde hair, chiseled abs, and a perfect face. This model was definitely strategically chosen in order to have girls gawk over him. The Absolut ad is effective because it persuades its audience that if they buy and drink Absolut, they will find or have a guy that is as perfect as the model pictured in the ad. Or, if the audience is a male, they will buy the product in hopes to be just as attractive as the depicted model.

This Absolut ad is a prime example of the sex appeal. Sex appeal is the type of advertising appeal that has been and forever will be an effective advertising tool. Sex appeal generates attention because of its scandal. It makes an ad stand out in all the clutter. Because humans are inherently sexual, they are very attracted to ads with sex appeal. Sex appeal ads, most often than not, show a lot of skin or depict steamy sexual situations. They are effective because people have the natural tendency to long for sexual intimacy that these ads imply. People then assume the product being advertised with the sex appeal will help them satisfy their sexual desire and will go out and purchase the product. This type of advertising tool is so effective because it harnesses a natural human instinct and uses it to its advantage to sell a product.

The “Absolut Hunk” advertisement exemplifies sex appeal. The model is barely shy of full nudity, which immediately attracts the eye of the audience. This gives the ad and advantage because it makes it stand out from the clutter of other ads. It also instigates a sexual desire from the audience. Females wish they could be with a man just like the model, while males wish they could look like the model in order to get women. This ad is highly sexual because of the partial nudity and the sexual tension it creates. Absolut embodied the perfect sex appeal with their “Aboslut Hunk” advertisement.