Media Deconstruction April

While working with a study group in the library this video was shared. You always need distracted from homework and the best distractions always come from friends.

#1) Who Paid for the Ad?

No one paid for the ad. This was a privately produced add by an amateur filmmaker (PAFilms) and his children.

#2) Why does the company need to do this ad?

The production takes a song that is inappropriate for children and gives them a parody that uses a character they would be familiar with (Elmo). The topic changes to something more appropriate for children. The fact that the song is popular and has a catchy tone will attract children, and make Elmo more popular and hip. The Sesame Street characters have been around for a long time. The producers must change things up to have the new generation of children be interested. 

#3) What group is targeted by this ad?

I would say this ad targets all ages. Elmo is normally seen as a character aimed at younger children but adults that grew up watching Elmo would stop to watch this video (I did).  The fact that the song is so popular means teenagers and older children might also find the video amusing.  

      

#6) What kind of culture does the example create?

This video shows how popular creating parody videos have become. You Tube is full of people from around the world creating remixes or preforming someone else’s song.   Our culture finds music videos entertaining and its time that there were some appropriate for a younger audience.  

#13) How does the example try to move emotions? Is it simple/complex? Is it logical?

The video is intended to be a funny. The song is cheerful with an upbeat dance tune and catchy lyrics.  It is a simple conveyance of happy emotions with little logic.

#14) Is it closer to fantasy or reality?

The setting uses all fictional characters from the Sesame Street television program, and is set in fantasy. There are realistic portions of the video such as celebrity appearances and images of the real Elmo toy.  

#8) What tools of persuasions are used.

The video uses multiple persuasion techniques such as celebrity appearances. It is after all Elmo!   Jamie Foxx also appears at the end of the video.  Intensity is used. The repetition of “I’m Elmo and I know It!” exaggerates and hypes up the performance.  Repetition is also used; all of the lyrics are repeated multiple times. Humor is found throughout the video. I particularly liked the portion of popular “tickle me Elmo” videos that had been pulled from YouTube.  Elmo is very strong and bold in the video so I believe Charisma is used.

Media Deconstruction March

Deconstruction

#1) Who Paid for the Ad?

          Allstate Insurance Company

#2) Why does the company need to do this ad?

The company needs to get more customers as insurance works by pooling money to pay off an incident the larger customer base the more Allstate makes. 

#3) What group is targeted by this ad?

          Homeowners

#5) What is the ad’s text and subtext

The subtext is that insurance companies are confusing and slimy so people don’t really know what their insurance covers. In the ad’s subtext is also a hint that Geico Insurance is not enough. “If you got your homeowners insurance where you got your 15 minute car insurance you are not covered,” Geico advertises that in just 15 minutes you can save a bundle on insurance. The text states that Allstate offers the best coverage for the least amount of money.

#6) What kind of culture does the example create?

It’s very much follows the American Dream of everyone having a home and car. These essential valuable items needed to be protected for the unpredictable realities of life. 

13) How does the example try to move emotions? Is it simple/complex? Is it logical?

The ad does try to influence emotion. Everyone knows those bad Mondays were everything that could go wrong does. This ad plays off those frustrating moments, and offers a suggestion. Use Allstate Insurance and these everyday issues that cost a lot can be fixed. It is a logical argument but plays off emotion. 

#8) What tools of persuasions are used.

Humor: Mayhem presented, as a person is humorous. He had four babies!

Charisma: The Allstate commercials are known for having the strong, confident, reassuring voice.

Simple Solution: Allstate is the simple solution to the problems of life.

 

PBS Teachars Digital Media Literarcy

PBS Teachers Media Use Quiz

I was surprised at how bad I was at this quiz.  I thought with my understanding of students and this class I would have had a better score.  I correctly answered 3 out of 12 questions. I was close with most of my answers but one really surprised me. When asked “When considering media exposure by race/ethnicity among 8 to 18 year-olds, which group is exposed to the MOST media (13:00) in a typical day?” I believed white students would have the most media interaction because their families could afford the extra TV or iPad. With this line of thinking, I also go the revers question wrong “When considering media exposure by race/ethnicity among 8 to 8 year-olds, which group is exposed to the LEAST (8:36) media in a typical day?” I answered Hispanic thinking these would be the children encouraged the most to run and play. 

Digital Landscape

What it is?

After looking through the websites offered one that would be the most beneficial to me as a teacher would be the SMART Exchange where educators post different lesson plans they have created using the SMART board. This is helpful as these games can be great ways of getting students engaged in what they are learning. The website currently had 41,520 free resources and ideas could be searched by topic, grade level, and region.  Some of the games required the students to throw koosh balls at the board in order to open up a question. One of the resources was a ball pop where attendance could be taken by having the students pop the balloon with their name when they entered the classroom.

How Do I use it?

I love the Edudemic articles. This is an important website because it keeps teachers up to date on new technology and websites that could benefit the classroom. The world of technology is continually changing and short articles linking technology to education is just what I need to stay on top of the changes. For example, I read the article on why this user deleted his Pintrest account. Pintrest is a new idea for me but I was debating about trying it. It sounds like a wonderful online scrapbook of ideas but due to its copyright rules, Pintrest might not be right for me or my future classroom.

Learn More

I love the Google doc on 35 interesting Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom. I wasn’t even aware of Twitterfall until just now, but it could be a very useful tool. It would be fun to get tweets from people around the world and pin their location on Google Earth. It’s a nice way to create a global classroom.

Examples

I like ClassChatter.com because it combines the class website with other web tools and blogging.  One thing I didn’t like about using different online formats for class communication was the multiple websites with different logins. This one gives the students one place to go and protects the student’ identities. The website was created with the classroom in mind so the teacher has full control.

PBS Resources

PBS Resources has a number of different resources aimed at helping kids to understand the message portrayed in media. Resources attempting to get kids to think critically about the media they are watching. Don’t Buy It is a website with interactive games and ideas to get kids to think about why a particular item sold or not. What kids think of as cool is actually do to advertisements.  

Integrating Digital Tools and Content

I really like the idea of bring in a guest speaker via Skype.  This is a great way to create a global community and bring people from around the world into the classroom. It’s a modern day pen pal. Students could individual pick someone to interview and prearrange questions they would like to ask the guest speak before inviting them on Skype to talk to the entire class.

February Media Deconstruction

This video was posted on my Facebook feed from someone else’s blog just before I started my media deconstruction.  I traced the video back to YouTube as was able to post it. It was too funny not to share. 

Deconstruction

#1) Who Paid for the Ad?

                This was a fun YouTube video not done for profit.

#3) What group is targeted by this ad?

The video targets people who like babies.

#6) What kind of culture does the example create?

The video promotes a middle class white nuclear family household, with one mom, and one dad.

#13) How does the example try to move emotions? Is it simple/complex? Is it logical?

It features a very cute baby, which pulls at our connection to babies and cuteness. It’s not logical but it is a basic human instinct to love cute babies.  

#14) Is it closer to fantasy or reality?

The video is very realistic the baby may not be as smart as the video gives it credit, but the storyline is very realistic.

         

#15) Does it use stereotypes?

The video reinforces the stereotype of the female as the main caretaker while father occasionally plays with the kid.

#8) What tools of persuasions are used?

           Plain Folk, because almost everyone could have a baby.  

          Humor, because a smart baby is funny.

          Warm and Fuzzy, because the baby is just so cute.

         

MasterCard “Tailgate” Commercial

Our group picked this commercial because we have seen MasterCard commercials before. It would be normal to see this while flipping through a magazine.

#1) Who Paid for the Ad?

                This commercial is paid for by MasterCard.

#2) Why does the company need to do this ad?

The company placed ads to get more people to use their credit card, and thus make more money.

#3) What group is targeted by this ad?

This specific commercial is targeting middle class males between ages 25-45. It is specifically targeting male football fans but it could be any male sports fans.

#4) What about this ad lead one to that conclusion?

The photograph depicts men eating hot wings, bratwurst, and beer with a sports stadium in the background.

#5) What is the ad’s text and subtext

The men in the photo enjoy getting together watching the game and having a cookout. If you use MasterCard you will have more than just food. You will have a good time.

#6) What kind of culture does the example create?

The photograph promotes a middle class male culture. You are not a man unless you enjoy a tailgate party. Men are the only ones allowed to enjoy the game.

#8) What tools of persuasions are used.

             Nostalgia is persuasion technique used because it speaks to a better time.

 Association because it is a stereotype of brotherhood

 Plain Folk, are photographed because MasterCard is for everyone.

 Simple Solution, if you use MasterCard you can have a good time and not worry about the price.