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This blog explores the powerful tools that media uses to influence the choices Americans make regarding their health. It intends to raise the awareness of public who receives information about promoting their health from different types of media and takes that information for granted. Media is very powerful, but in cases such as this it can also be harmful if people don't use their own powers of judgment. I apologize for the cynicism in advance.
One thing I found interesting was the way the “Focus on the Positive” commercial morphs from what looks like an documentary-style, gritty-looking exposé (“real”) with no music, into a fluffy, shallow Broadway-style musical routine (“theater”). The commercial demonstrates well how important presentation is, and how it can not only supplement but even, in a sense, “create” content.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I believe that bias is unavoidable (as I argue in my blog), I don’t think that applies to misrepresentation of the facts. No matter what your opinion on smoking, the facts remain the same. Covering them up or pretending they don’t exist can’t be excused with the “everyone has a bit of a bias” argument. That’s just dishonesty, pure and simple.
As I read your blog and watch your vlog, I've been thinking about the issue of distortion in the media. Distortion of facts is unethical but isn't necessarily bad strategy, as we can be convinced of the good as well as the bad via distortion. I suppose I'm finding myself facing the "ends justifies the means" dilemma. In the "Focus on the Positive" commercial, for instance, the shift to musical theater pushes us away from a factual view of the issue but manages, through humor and satire and some song and dance, to prod us to reconsider our smoking habits. Is the commercial effective? I'm not sure. I don't smoke, so I'm not sure what sort of strategy is most effective: scare me with facts, shame me with scolding, humiliate me with humor, or make me feel ugly for persisting in an ugly habit? Which strategy will make me quit (or keep me from picking up the habit in the first place)? As I think about it, there's a difference between encouraging quitting and encouraging prevention. Do you think these commercials acknowledge these distinctions? I wonder...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that the musical commercial is that effective. It's definitely engaging, but not in the right way. The commercial is so upbeat and positive, that it my be difficult for viewers to read the sarcasm and internalize the negative information. The first part was good, and even the beginning of the musical was ok, but once we got to the dancing ensemble part I think the commercial lost its message. It's an interesting concept, and could be used in an effective way, but I think this is an ineffective commercial.
ReplyDeleteI agree with jwolf's comment--the "focus on the positive" commercial didn't seem very effective to me. The humor seemed overdone, and the production was garish to the point that the message lost some of its force.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think we need to consider the audience as well in evaluating these ads. Anti-smoking ads are primarily aimed at the younger demographic; perhaps a 7th grader would be more persuaded by the approach.
Interesting v-log though. I think you presented a great summary of your blog up to this point...although I'd love to see your read of the well-known "truth" campaign that took a much more serious tone. Those, to me, are far more effective (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abIkin2mA8, for example).
So the media tells us to do a lot of things we know are not good for us.
ReplyDeleteEating junk food. Starving ourselves to be skinny... smoking.
But today there is so much information available to us about the harm inherent in some of the lifestyles promoted in the media.
Where does individual responsibility come in all this? As you said, the media is a business, but surely we are intelligent enough discern harmful messages from harmless ones.
Yet still, we continue to do the things the media tells us to do.