COMM 3643. Media and Society Homework: Ad analysis- University of Oklahoma
For this homework, I want you choose one advertisement (best ones for this are probably in magazines or on TV) and analyze its strategies. Answer the following questions.
o Describe what the ad is for and where you saw it (what publication, or during what program).
o Briefly summarize what the ad says, what it shows and what is happening in the ad. (If it's a magazine ad, please paste a photo of it into your paper; this won't count toward the page limit. If it's a TV ad, chances are it's on the sponsor's website or YouTube - please give me the URL.)
o What is the "sales pitch" of the ad? Is the product posed as the solution to a problem, and if so, how? Does it sell based on logic and reason? What human emotions, needs or wants does the ad appeal to? (Fear? Ambition? Sex? Elitism? Acceptance? Hedonism/pleasure?) What evidence do you see that leads you to this conclusion?
o How do the visuals reinforce this message? Consider setting, clothing, facial expressions, gender, age, race, body type, class, background objects, lighting, color, camera angles, etc.
o What values does the ad celebrate? What does it put down or poke fun at? Who are the heroes and villains? Explain.
o What background knowledge would we need to interpret the ad? (Cultural in-jokes, celebrities, old sayings, common beliefs, symbolism, stories or movies?) Are any stereotypes employed in the ad? Are they reinforced or undermined? How so?
o Give your best guess as to who the target market for the ad is, in terms of age, interests, income, gender and/or race. What evidence suggests this?
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
o The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
o The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
o Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.