Extra Credit Blog Post

 Before RTF 305, I had never used a blog before. However, the use of blogs in this course was a very engaging form of communicating what we learned from lectures and readings. It was also helpful to explore the various opinions on a certain topics. Getting started with Blogger was a challenge at first. Technically, I was not familiar at all with the format of a blog. I actually made a large error. I accidentally closed the window and then Blogger would not allow me to continue my registration process, claiming my username was already taken. This caused mild panic on my part but eventually I solved the problem. My first blog posts strictly followed the grading criteria, but over time I felt more comfortable including my personal reflections. At times, it was difficult to know what to say, in terms of interpersonal communication versus intrapersonal communication. However, eventually I compromised my intercommunication for a more personal perspective. I wrote the blog solely for my own input rather than for others to read. I found that blog prompts that ask you to explain a concept used in class were easier but less interesting. For example, the 10^th blog prompt where we were to provide an example of globalization was very straightforward. My favorite blog prompts were the 4^th, 8^th, and 9^th.  I found the 4^th blog prompt particularly interesting because it involved watching a modern sitcom. I chose Modern Family and enjoyed it a lot. For the 8^th assignment, I chose to do the three-act structure in The Blind Side, one of my favorite films and it was fascinating to see the progression of the structure in the film. The 9^th prompt was solely up to you to decide a form of advertising that caught your attention. Being an advertising major, I found this an extremely interesting topic. I chose the Dovelution that looked at the use of the average woman in Dove’s campaign. Interesting topics were easier for me to complete. Yes, I would recommend using a blog in future courses because it was a helpful and interactive way to apply learned topics in real world applications. To improve the blogging experience, I would suggest more interaction amongst students, maybe in discussion groups. Commenting on blogs could provide further insight and an overall improved blogging experience.

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

Mickey goes Global

Globalization is the process of transferring ideas and cultures, increasing interconnectedness among nations and people. this usually results I increased opportunities for communication, exchange of goods, and migration of people.

Cultural imperialism is the practice of promoting a more powerful culture over a least desirable culture in terms of direction and volume. Slowly but surely, all cultures are becoming the same. Cultural flow reflects imbalance in global power structure. ­Today, a small number of U.S. or transnational conglomerates dominate global media flow, resulting in loss of local culture and more cultures becoming Westernized. Globalization and Internet are accelerating the process of cultural influence.

Walt Disney exemplifies cultural imperialism in media. Disney theme parks worldwide portray Western culture and Mickey Mouse has become a worldwide phenomenon. The Disney Brand has become extremely popular even outside of the United States. The products and services depict the American way of life through many different kinds of media, with theme parks and TV shows, movies and merchandise, all under the same Disney brand.

Keeping it real: Dovelution

Dove is a brand infamous for incorporating the average women amidst a modern world. The Dove Evolution ad is part of the series of ads promoting Dove’s campaign for real beauty. The ad shows the transition from a natural appearance to an image fully enhanced by cosmetics, a different hairstyle, and computer image editing that essentially alter the model’s entire appearance. The final product is a billboard ad that ends with the statement, “No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.”

This ad was extremely powerful to me because of the insight that the ad gives the consumer. With this ad, the receiver becomes a more informed consumer. I particularly liked the bold message that this ad stated. In this world filled with many forms of diversity, this ad was a refreshing change from other ads and I felt it captured the essence of beauty. It was persuasive in the way you kind of question beauty after viewing the ad.

A potential appeal that applies to this ad is aesthetic sensations because of it pertains to the true sense of beauty. Beauty is a very broad term, and this ad explores the many forms and characteristics of beauty. A characteristic of this appeal is constructing the audience, creating the sense of being both an observer and a participant, an advertiser and a consumer.  Another characteristic is the ubiquity. The ad applies to everyone because beauty is seen everywhere. The characteristic of grabbing attention is also employed because of the novelty of this ad. While other ads typically portray an unattainable beauty, this ad questions the validity of other ads. I think it is the combination of these characteristics that successfully appeals to the consumer.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U