I think the idea of starting a college radio station is very feasible. However, I do believe there will be some issues that need to be addressed beforehand. Some problems that might arise is what will and won't be allowed on the radio. If the student radio station follows the same rules and regulations as local radio stations, this should not be a problem. Another topic that might come to light is the genre of music played. If certain times were dedicated to a specific genre, and all genres were allowed air time, I don't foresee this being a deal breaker either.
To fund this project, I would attempt to get local business to support this student project by buying advertisement time on the radio station. It would be a great way for businesses to reach out to the college population, and offer student discounts.
All in all, I think a Linn Benton Community College radio station would be a wonderful idea! It would help students in many different majors be able to practice what they have learned, and even use it on a resume for their future career!
Thursday, August 24, 2017
MUSIC'S INFLUENCE
I grew up in a family where our parents did what most call "sheltering." My mom and dad believed they needed to sensor the movies we watched, and the music we listened to. As an adolescent, I never did understand what the purpose for this was. And, of course, I still found ways to do what I wanted when they weren't looking.
Now that I am an adult, and I have children of my own, I completely understand the intentions of my parents. I often hear children singing along to songs, completely unbeknownst to what exactly they are saying. My parents were never trying to control me in ways I did not agree with. Instead, they were trying to prevent me from being inappropriate without explaining to me why.
My mom and dad did not give us a lot of options as far as what music we could listen to. I however, understand their intentions now. I try to give my children a variety of music that is appropriate for them, so that they can choose for themselves what they like to hear. So that they can choose their own sense of style. I am not against censoring anything upon appropriate age groups, but I do believe there is a way to which this can be accomplished without censoring their taste.
Growing up, I was pretty much only allowed to listen to the local Christian radio station. Unfortunately, I just did not care for the beat and melody. Today, I listen to just about all genres of music. I can not choose just one as a favorite! It really just depends on the mood I'm in. Some of my favorite artists are Dirty Heads, Led Zeppelin, Mumford and Sons, Cody Jinks, Phantogram, and In This Moment. To this day, my parents would not agree with my music choices, but as an adult, that is my decision.
Now that I am an adult, and I have children of my own, I completely understand the intentions of my parents. I often hear children singing along to songs, completely unbeknownst to what exactly they are saying. My parents were never trying to control me in ways I did not agree with. Instead, they were trying to prevent me from being inappropriate without explaining to me why.
My mom and dad did not give us a lot of options as far as what music we could listen to. I however, understand their intentions now. I try to give my children a variety of music that is appropriate for them, so that they can choose for themselves what they like to hear. So that they can choose their own sense of style. I am not against censoring anything upon appropriate age groups, but I do believe there is a way to which this can be accomplished without censoring their taste.
Growing up, I was pretty much only allowed to listen to the local Christian radio station. Unfortunately, I just did not care for the beat and melody. Today, I listen to just about all genres of music. I can not choose just one as a favorite! It really just depends on the mood I'm in. Some of my favorite artists are Dirty Heads, Led Zeppelin, Mumford and Sons, Cody Jinks, Phantogram, and In This Moment. To this day, my parents would not agree with my music choices, but as an adult, that is my decision.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
MAGAZINES
Magazines, just like books, are just not something I have time to read. I know, it sounds horrible, but it is true. Since I do not read magazines, never really have, I will be composing this post completely hypothetical.
If I were to read three magazines, I would most likely be interested in Backpacker, Survival, and Pacific Standard. I believe what you take in psychologically can speak greatly about your interests. Backpacker and Survival magazines show that I am very interested in the outdoors. Not just walking outside, but surviving in the mountains with a limited supply of equipment. I believe it shows that I am an independent person. My interest in Pacific Standard magazine displays my interest in national news, problems our country faces, and how to solve those problems.
I would definitely be looking for survival techniques in Survival magazine. New ideas and different ways of doing tasks are always changing. This magazine helps with learning how to survive, not just for beginners, but for people of all knowledge levels. Pacific Standard magazine interests me because it addresses serious issues that currently exist. This magazines makes you think from different perspectives, and suggests ways to solve these problems. Although the first two magazines are very insightful, my favorite would be Backpacker magazine! It covers a wide range of information for anyone who enjoys backpacking. There's information on survival, gear, events, stories, and even tips on photography.
I do not read magazines, like I stated before. Not even while sitting in a doctors' office. I typically tinker around on my phone! I have no information to provide as to what type of advertising is displayed. In survival, I can imagine there would be ads for military surplus items, freeze dried food, and canning jars, etc.. In Backpacker, I would expect to find ads from Patagonia, Kelty, and Marmot. Undoubtedly you would find advertisement for backpacks, sleeping bags, head lamps and flashlights. As far as Pacific Standard goes, I honestly don't have any idea!
I checked out the web page for all three magazines. There is really nothing to report as far as what is advertised online. With these new age advertising antics, the only items that are advertised on any page at all are items, and similar items, to which I have recently Google searched or shopped for.
All in all, what you put into your mind can say a lot about you and your interests. Advertisements in print are based off the interests portrayed in the magazine. And online, well, we all know how advertising is based off our online interests.
If I were to read three magazines, I would most likely be interested in Backpacker, Survival, and Pacific Standard. I believe what you take in psychologically can speak greatly about your interests. Backpacker and Survival magazines show that I am very interested in the outdoors. Not just walking outside, but surviving in the mountains with a limited supply of equipment. I believe it shows that I am an independent person. My interest in Pacific Standard magazine displays my interest in national news, problems our country faces, and how to solve those problems.
I would definitely be looking for survival techniques in Survival magazine. New ideas and different ways of doing tasks are always changing. This magazine helps with learning how to survive, not just for beginners, but for people of all knowledge levels. Pacific Standard magazine interests me because it addresses serious issues that currently exist. This magazines makes you think from different perspectives, and suggests ways to solve these problems. Although the first two magazines are very insightful, my favorite would be Backpacker magazine! It covers a wide range of information for anyone who enjoys backpacking. There's information on survival, gear, events, stories, and even tips on photography.
I do not read magazines, like I stated before. Not even while sitting in a doctors' office. I typically tinker around on my phone! I have no information to provide as to what type of advertising is displayed. In survival, I can imagine there would be ads for military surplus items, freeze dried food, and canning jars, etc.. In Backpacker, I would expect to find ads from Patagonia, Kelty, and Marmot. Undoubtedly you would find advertisement for backpacks, sleeping bags, head lamps and flashlights. As far as Pacific Standard goes, I honestly don't have any idea!
I checked out the web page for all three magazines. There is really nothing to report as far as what is advertised online. With these new age advertising antics, the only items that are advertised on any page at all are items, and similar items, to which I have recently Google searched or shopped for.
All in all, what you put into your mind can say a lot about you and your interests. Advertisements in print are based off the interests portrayed in the magazine. And online, well, we all know how advertising is based off our online interests.
BANNED BOOKS
When I look at the ALA list of banned books, I see several that I have, at the very least heard of, or saw the movie. I was quite surprised by some of them being on the list, and the reason why they have been banned in our schools.
The number one book that I was not expecting to see on the ALA list was the Holy Bible, due to it being religious. I completely understand not making this book a requirement to read, however, I do not understand in the slightest why this can not be allowed in the school library. It seems to me that, anymore, adults are so concerned with youth being able to find their own way. This is shown in the transgender debate. Let a child be who they decide to be seems to be the main argument. So why would we not allow them to choose their religion, or give them access to information that assists in choosing a religion? Shouldn't we allow them that freedom, especially since we give them the freedom to decide their gender?
To see the book Fifty Shades of Grey on the banned book list was of no surprise. I have not read the book to know how graphic of details it expresses, but I have watched the movie. I would not want my child watching the movie, so I highly doubt I would want them to read the book. Fifty Shades of Grey primarily focuses on sex. Although kids are taught about sex, they don't need to learn the details of different ways to perform it.
It also appears that a lot of reasons for books to be banned is because of racism, and along with it, offensive language. A perfect example of this is the book To Kill A Mockingbird. This book I have read, and the movie I have seen. Yes, racist words are used. Yes, it portrays racism. There is no debate about that. However, how can history be taught without teaching about racism? This movie portrays perfectly what I have been told that piece of history was like. I don't see a point in sugar coating history.
If someone visited my home and looked on my book shelf, they would not find many books. I love to read novels, but I just don't have the time. My almost nonexistent collection consists of the Holy Bible, the Pacific Northwest, and a study Bible. The conclusions they could come to about my interests are that I am a Christian and religious. They most likely would also believe that I love the outdoors. Who else has a book on the different flora, fauna, wild life, and so on?
I am a firm believer that yes, some books just aren't suitable for children. I do believe, also, that we need not be so picky and sensitive on what books should be banned and why. We don't have to require our children to read all of these books, but we should at least give them the opportunity to if they so choose. Once again, I'm not saying that all books on the ALS banned books list should not be banned.
The number one book that I was not expecting to see on the ALA list was the Holy Bible, due to it being religious. I completely understand not making this book a requirement to read, however, I do not understand in the slightest why this can not be allowed in the school library. It seems to me that, anymore, adults are so concerned with youth being able to find their own way. This is shown in the transgender debate. Let a child be who they decide to be seems to be the main argument. So why would we not allow them to choose their religion, or give them access to information that assists in choosing a religion? Shouldn't we allow them that freedom, especially since we give them the freedom to decide their gender?
To see the book Fifty Shades of Grey on the banned book list was of no surprise. I have not read the book to know how graphic of details it expresses, but I have watched the movie. I would not want my child watching the movie, so I highly doubt I would want them to read the book. Fifty Shades of Grey primarily focuses on sex. Although kids are taught about sex, they don't need to learn the details of different ways to perform it.
It also appears that a lot of reasons for books to be banned is because of racism, and along with it, offensive language. A perfect example of this is the book To Kill A Mockingbird. This book I have read, and the movie I have seen. Yes, racist words are used. Yes, it portrays racism. There is no debate about that. However, how can history be taught without teaching about racism? This movie portrays perfectly what I have been told that piece of history was like. I don't see a point in sugar coating history.
If someone visited my home and looked on my book shelf, they would not find many books. I love to read novels, but I just don't have the time. My almost nonexistent collection consists of the Holy Bible, the Pacific Northwest, and a study Bible. The conclusions they could come to about my interests are that I am a Christian and religious. They most likely would also believe that I love the outdoors. Who else has a book on the different flora, fauna, wild life, and so on?
I am a firm believer that yes, some books just aren't suitable for children. I do believe, also, that we need not be so picky and sensitive on what books should be banned and why. We don't have to require our children to read all of these books, but we should at least give them the opportunity to if they so choose. Once again, I'm not saying that all books on the ALS banned books list should not be banned.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
BLOG PROJECT #2: TELEVISION SHOW "THE SINNER"
I'm definitely not one for watching much television. If you tried to make small talk with me in regards to the most recent episode of whatever show aired last night, I would have absolutely no idea what you were talking about. Every once in a while, though, I hear about a show that creates controversy. That controversy never fails to spark my interest. Thus, my discovery of The Sinner.
The Sinner is the newest murder-mystery drama to hit television. Based on the novel by Petra Hammesfahr, The Sinner is an 8 episode, close-ended series that premiered August 2, 2017, with a new episode airing every Wednesday during prime time on the USA network.
Starring Jessica Biel as Corra Tannetti, a young mother and wife who, while spending the day at the beach with her family, randomly attacks and kills a man she has never seen before that day. Why? She simply does not know. When her motives are questioned by Detective Harry Ambrose, played by Bill Pullman, her unknowing motive intrigues him to investigate further.
If any of you remember Jessica Biel in the hit series 7th Heaven, I'm sure you have fallen in love with the girl next door. She has had roles in many T.V. shows and movies, and won numerous awards. But these last few years she has been out of the mainstream spotlight. Where did Jessica Biel go??? Starting in 2013, she has switched from big roles to independent films. The Sinner is a perfect example of this. The Sinner first premiered during the TriBeCa Film Festival.
Jessica Biel also did a change of pace for this series. Instead of her typical roles, she went with a more real world character. Cora Tannetti portrays a realistic mother, one that appears to be stressed with everyday life tasks. This is evident in the trailer that can be watched at YouTube. I believe this catches the attention of the intended audience, every day mothers. Hollywoodreporter.com describes the show as "the story of Cora (Jessica Biel), a young other having troubles sleeping and generally ill at ease with the world around her."
If you paid attention to the ads during the show, you will see products from Subaru, Tide, Walmart , and Dove. It is justifiable to come to the conclusion that the every day mom is who is targeted as an audience.
As stated by Vulture.com, "In a TV era increasingly definde by trauma and violence, The Sinner still stands out." (The full review can be read at vulture.com.) I believe it stands out so well because of the aspect used by the writer. This show portrays a whydunit question instead of a whodunit like the typical murder mysteries. The audience is not kept in suspense as to who committed the murder, due to the confession in the very first episode. Instead, we are left wondering why.
As you can see, this young mother is clearly stressed. Background information into the upbringing of Cora is also provided for the audience. Clearly the childhood of this woman was a peculiar one, and one that may give insight into a possible mental illness of the young mother. A present mental illness might lead viewers into stereotyping all people with a mental illness. It would portray a mentally ill person as unstable, able to snap at any moment. One might also conclude that even the most unexpected, every day people can unknowingly bear these types of medical problems.
None the less, the show portrays many strengths. I believe it brings a new spin on murder mysteries, therefore intriguing audiences and leaving people wanting to know more. It also examines a subject that doesn't seem to be well portrayed, which is the stresses of every day women. With the strengths comes weaknesses. It's gruesome act of violence has left people in awe. One review, given by Thrillest.com states, "Calling The Sinner uncomfortable is an understatement," along with stating the murder scene as "downright disturbing." Not just the violent murder scene is under scrutiny. Some critics are saying that Jessica Biel's mystery is "too flawed." However, I believe that right when you think you can predict what is going to happen, the show takes a turn.
All in all, I'm definitely a fan of this new style of TV show. It's perspective is definitely something I haven't seen before. It is also very easy to relate to, no matter how scary that may seem! As far as the gruesome murder, what TV show, or even movie, doesn't display graphic scenes? Check it out for yourself and either be on the edge of your seat waiting for next weeks' episode, or be horrified.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
FAKE NEWS
What is the definition of "fake news?" Is there one, or is it all just a matter of opinion? The Merriam-Webster article titled "The Real Story of Fake News" reads "Fake news is frequently used to describe a political story which is seen as damaging to an agency, entity, or person." If that is true, there's a ton of news stories that can be considered "fake news." If you look into the definition of "fake news" at Webopedia.com, they state the definition as "Fake news, or hoax news, refers to false information or propaganda published under the guise of being authentic news." With that being said, there's clearly some confusion among the population.
I consider "fake news" to be that to which is not true, or a hoax. Either way, the information provided is not accurate. Whether it be from bad reporting or a complete lie, is not terribly relevant.
When I hear President Trump label news companies or news stories as "fake news" I don't pay much attention. Mostly because the term "fake news" is not clearly defined. Besides the definition, everyone has their own opinion. I do believe it is more damaging for an influential leader to be stating such accusations without proof though, Do I believe stories are intentionally reported inaccurately? No I do not. Reporters are humans, and they, too, make mistakes. Unfortunately with limited resources and limited time, stories are shortened and not all the information is broadcast.
Regardless of what the true meaning of "fake news" I do believe that President Trump is not helping the country with his opinions. I believe this because he is not doing it in a professional manner. I also believe that, just because he disagrees with what is being broadcast that it should be retracted. That is doing a disservice to Americans and the freedom of speech. With that being said, he is an American citizen and has every right to his own opinion, no matter how unprofessional he portrays it.
I consider "fake news" to be that to which is not true, or a hoax. Either way, the information provided is not accurate. Whether it be from bad reporting or a complete lie, is not terribly relevant.
When I hear President Trump label news companies or news stories as "fake news" I don't pay much attention. Mostly because the term "fake news" is not clearly defined. Besides the definition, everyone has their own opinion. I do believe it is more damaging for an influential leader to be stating such accusations without proof though, Do I believe stories are intentionally reported inaccurately? No I do not. Reporters are humans, and they, too, make mistakes. Unfortunately with limited resources and limited time, stories are shortened and not all the information is broadcast.
Regardless of what the true meaning of "fake news" I do believe that President Trump is not helping the country with his opinions. I believe this because he is not doing it in a professional manner. I also believe that, just because he disagrees with what is being broadcast that it should be retracted. That is doing a disservice to Americans and the freedom of speech. With that being said, he is an American citizen and has every right to his own opinion, no matter how unprofessional he portrays it.
NEWS
I've never really thought about where I get my news. I guess I don't follow too much of the news, whether it be local, national, or world news. With scandals that range from CNN to FoxNews, it's very difficult to trust any news station or the information that they relay. I do like to hear about the news, though. I just don't always believe what I hear. It's sad, really, but that's just the world we live in nowadays.
When I do like to look into what's going on locally, I usually see information on Facebook. Of course, I don't necessarily believe what I read, so I always check the internet for multiple sources. I pay attention to the details, and if the details from multiple sources match up. If they do, I will believe it. If they don't, I just won't believe the differing facts. Another source of news that I do trust is my parents. They are even more skeptical of what they hear or read then I am, so if they are informing me of something, I know they have done their research. Local news is interesting, but not really important to me. It usually is just about car accidents and crime, and I rather focus on more positive aspects of life.
As the newspaper business is having more and more difficulty competing with shared online information, they have began to utilize paywalls and online subscriptions. Although I do not disagree with this, I choose not to participate. At best, I will answer a survey for a local newspaper to read an article from time to time. Even that becomes annoying real fast. I just prefer not to pay or answer surveys when I can get the news for free via the internet.
Due to my lack of trust in the news sources and the refusal to pay for what I can obtain for free, I would have to say that I'm not too terribly informed on the news. On a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the most informed), I would say I'm a 2 or 3. I like to know what's going on worldwide politically, but I don't care much for crime stories or things of the such. It don't find it too terribly important to stay up to date locally (maybe because I live in a smaller town where not a whole lot happens...?) but I do think it's important to know what's going on with our government. Political news is very important for everyone to know. Especially when there's such high tension between our country and others.
When I do like to look into what's going on locally, I usually see information on Facebook. Of course, I don't necessarily believe what I read, so I always check the internet for multiple sources. I pay attention to the details, and if the details from multiple sources match up. If they do, I will believe it. If they don't, I just won't believe the differing facts. Another source of news that I do trust is my parents. They are even more skeptical of what they hear or read then I am, so if they are informing me of something, I know they have done their research. Local news is interesting, but not really important to me. It usually is just about car accidents and crime, and I rather focus on more positive aspects of life.
As the newspaper business is having more and more difficulty competing with shared online information, they have began to utilize paywalls and online subscriptions. Although I do not disagree with this, I choose not to participate. At best, I will answer a survey for a local newspaper to read an article from time to time. Even that becomes annoying real fast. I just prefer not to pay or answer surveys when I can get the news for free via the internet.
Due to my lack of trust in the news sources and the refusal to pay for what I can obtain for free, I would have to say that I'm not too terribly informed on the news. On a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the most informed), I would say I'm a 2 or 3. I like to know what's going on worldwide politically, but I don't care much for crime stories or things of the such. It don't find it too terribly important to stay up to date locally (maybe because I live in a smaller town where not a whole lot happens...?) but I do think it's important to know what's going on with our government. Political news is very important for everyone to know. Especially when there's such high tension between our country and others.
WIKILEAKS
Freedom of speech... A concept that seems so simple. However, with the advancements in technology and the widespread of information, it has become such a complicated topic. Especially when it comes to politics. What should the general population have access to in regards to government documents? Is it in the people's best interest to know what the government is doing? Wikileaks believes everyone has the right to know the truth.
My personal opinion is that yes, we do deserve to know what is happening. Sure, this might cause panic among the people. Panic is inevitable. Natural disaster? Panic! Terrorist attack? Panic! There is absolutely no way to prevent panic in every single scenario, so why should we receive filtered information for the sake of preventing panic?
Unfiltered news is also very crucial when it comes to governing our governments. If our leaders are hiding information, it's time to ask ourselves why. Yes, I believe there's obviously information that needs to be kept classified for national security purposes. This type of information is not what I'm referring to. If we do not govern our leaders, if we do not know certain facts to make our own decisions, then how do we know we are being led in a moral direction? Examine the facts of WW2 and the genocide of the Jews. They did not question what their leaders decisions, they just did as they were told. If they had stopped and observed the facts, if they had stopped to examine why they were being told to do the things they were, they might have fought back and saved unimaginable numbers of people.
Another common issue we see with freedom of speech is the use of other people's work. Or using other people's creations to create a piece of art of your own. This is a huge issue legally. What is allowed? Why is it or is it not? Why? Have we not been using other's creations to create our own all throughout history? The invention of the steam engine is a perfect example. It started with Heron. From there, Papin made some modifications. Then Torricelli, Newcomen, and finally Watt. They all took the idea before them and improved it. Did anybody complain about theft of information? Nope.
I see no issue with taking something and modifying it into our own creation. You are transforming it into something new. Another reason I believe this is because we use other's information to create research papers, blogs, etc. As long as we cite our sources, there's no issue. Why can we not do this for everything we create? Make a mashup, cite the artist. Quote someone, cite the author. They are still getting credit for their work. Or is it all about the money?
In the end, what is the point of sharing information if we cannot use that information?
My personal opinion is that yes, we do deserve to know what is happening. Sure, this might cause panic among the people. Panic is inevitable. Natural disaster? Panic! Terrorist attack? Panic! There is absolutely no way to prevent panic in every single scenario, so why should we receive filtered information for the sake of preventing panic?
Unfiltered news is also very crucial when it comes to governing our governments. If our leaders are hiding information, it's time to ask ourselves why. Yes, I believe there's obviously information that needs to be kept classified for national security purposes. This type of information is not what I'm referring to. If we do not govern our leaders, if we do not know certain facts to make our own decisions, then how do we know we are being led in a moral direction? Examine the facts of WW2 and the genocide of the Jews. They did not question what their leaders decisions, they just did as they were told. If they had stopped and observed the facts, if they had stopped to examine why they were being told to do the things they were, they might have fought back and saved unimaginable numbers of people.
Another common issue we see with freedom of speech is the use of other people's work. Or using other people's creations to create a piece of art of your own. This is a huge issue legally. What is allowed? Why is it or is it not? Why? Have we not been using other's creations to create our own all throughout history? The invention of the steam engine is a perfect example. It started with Heron. From there, Papin made some modifications. Then Torricelli, Newcomen, and finally Watt. They all took the idea before them and improved it. Did anybody complain about theft of information? Nope.
I see no issue with taking something and modifying it into our own creation. You are transforming it into something new. Another reason I believe this is because we use other's information to create research papers, blogs, etc. As long as we cite our sources, there's no issue. Why can we not do this for everything we create? Make a mashup, cite the artist. Quote someone, cite the author. They are still getting credit for their work. Or is it all about the money?
In the end, what is the point of sharing information if we cannot use that information?
Thursday, July 20, 2017
MARMOT'S FIRST SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL
It doesn't matter if you are a sports fan. It doesn't matter if you watch the NFL. Every February I guarantee you have heard about at least one of the most sought out advertising spaces there is.... The infamous Super Bowl commercials.
Super Bowl 2016 aired 62 commercials from 53 different advertisers to 112 million viewers. For the first time in history, Marmot, an outdoor equipment and apparel company, aired a 5 million dollar super bowl commercial. This will also be the introduction to their new mascot... a fuzzy little marmot, that is implied to be male (see the teaser advertisement below, titled "Meet the Marmot Soon: Aah").
This commercial, along with the advertising campaign that it kicked off, caught my attention for several reasons. For starters, I'm an avid outdoor enthusiast working towards a degree in business and marketing. I would one day hope to work for an outdoor equipment company. Marmot is a brand that I am already familiar with, so naturally I am interested in their advertisements. What really sparked my interest on this particular commercial was the controversy surrounding it, the way in which they introduced their mascot, and the approach they used to change their desired audience.
Along with the teaser above, Marmot released two more teasers:
The one above, titled "Meet the Marmot Soon: Campfire," and the one below, "Meet the Marmot Soon: Angels."
Super Bowl 2016 aired 62 commercials from 53 different advertisers to 112 million viewers. For the first time in history, Marmot, an outdoor equipment and apparel company, aired a 5 million dollar super bowl commercial. This will also be the introduction to their new mascot... a fuzzy little marmot, that is implied to be male (see the teaser advertisement below, titled "Meet the Marmot Soon: Aah").
This commercial, along with the advertising campaign that it kicked off, caught my attention for several reasons. For starters, I'm an avid outdoor enthusiast working towards a degree in business and marketing. I would one day hope to work for an outdoor equipment company. Marmot is a brand that I am already familiar with, so naturally I am interested in their advertisements. What really sparked my interest on this particular commercial was the controversy surrounding it, the way in which they introduced their mascot, and the approach they used to change their desired audience.
Along with the teaser above, Marmot released two more teasers:
The one above, titled "Meet the Marmot Soon: Campfire," and the one below, "Meet the Marmot Soon: Angels."
It seemed that, between the teasers and Marmot's Super Bowl debut, audiences everywhere were excited to see what Marmot would present. They would soon be... very confused.
The 30 second 5 million dollar commercial (which was more then their entire budget for advertising the previous year) followed the story of a man and his marmot friend on a camping trip. It begins with the friends climbing out of their matching Marmot tents first thing in the morning, to realize they are wearing matching Marmot coats. The song "Friends" by Flight of the Conchords begins to play, which coincides perfectly with the theme of the commercial. As the story continues, the friends do outdoor activities together, such as hiking, swimming and roasting marshmallows. They even make pine needle angels together (as shown in the teaser). Nothing too unusual, other then one being a marmot, of course. The ad ends with the pair watching a sunset.... That's when the story line goes off the beaten path. The man leans over to kiss the marmot... that's when he is slapped and told "I'm not that kind of marmot." Marmot then presents their new advertising slogan "Fall in Love with the Outside."
The ad in its Super Bowl (February 7, 2016) debut entirety lasted 30 confusing seconds. However, Marmot originally made the ad to play for a full minute. The full commercial adds fishing to the activities the friends participate in. It also includes the teaser clip "Meet the Marmot: Aah," to which it is insinuated that the marmot is a male. It is the ending that added to the confusion of the viewers even more. As if you thought that wasn't possible! The story takes a turn when the man tries to kiss the marmot. The marmot still slaps the man, however he says "What the...." and begins kissing the man back. You then see a lot of confused wildlife, such as deer, bears and owls. When the camera goes back to the man and marmot watching the sunset, there's a woman and her daughter looking disgusted and surprised, staring at the friends. This is the way in which Marmot chose to kick off their ad campaign "Fall in Love with the Outside Road Tour."
Typically I would say that the "plain folks" persuasive technique was used in this commercial. However, I'm not sure that a rodent kissing man is considered to be a normal, every day person... I do know, though, that there is a storytelling technique utilized. There's a story of a man and his friend and their outdoor experience that led to....love? I believe that this technique would have been more effectively utilized if it had not involved bestiality.
If Marmot was going for a different approach then other companies, they definitely accomplished their goal. It is safe to say that consumers had not yet seen advertisement like this before! In 2013, Geico released a commercial that created an uproar in regards to bestiality, but it was less.... hands on. Here is that commercial:
There were two main disturbances with the Super Bowl ad that Marmot aired: does it promote bestiality, and is it "one long no-homo joke," as stated by the Washington Post? The reviews show that there is mixed feelings between viewers, but we will get into that later in this post.
The goal of the "Fall in Love with the Outside" campaign was to reach more mainstream retail shoppers (Marmot had a 4% decline in net sales last year). The focus was on simple pleasures in the outdoors versus big adventures. This would reach a whole new demographic. To bring sales back up, the company was attempting to appeal to people who enjoy simple pleasures in the outdoors such as fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. Not just consumers who go on big adventures, such as backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, tight rope walking, etc. This would help Marmot to expand its shares in mainstream retail and change its focus on the lower income demographics. This commercial shifted the company's focus from the extreme adventurers to encouraging people to just get outdoors and fall in love with it.
The ad presents a strong change in demographics. Adventure Journal posted the commercial on their Facebook page, receiving a comment from one consumer stating "I just simply thought I am no longer their demographic." It shows consumers that, although Marmot is a name brand, they don't just cater to the extreme adventurer, but everyday people. Whether it be a simple camping trip with swimming and fishing, or backpacking into the unknown, Marmot has a product for you! Because of this, and the odd, yet humorous, tactic used, this did engage younger, lower income consumers that I believe was the target audience. The downfall to this ad is that it creates great confusion among its viewers. Sure, the ad shows that Marmot is an outdoor apparel and equipment company, but I think viewers don't understand the point in showing a man kissing a rodent, even if it is his friend. If Marmot was going for a shock factor to make the commercial memorable and talked about, they accomplished their goal! According to adweek.com, tracking technology provided data showing that the ad was the second most engaged ad of the Super Bowl at about 88% engagement, which rated higher then 98.5% of the ads shown.
In addition to the Super Bowl commercial kicking off the campaign "Fall in Love with the Outside Road Tour," Marmot has utilized social media to bring in consumers. The Road Tour presents tent pitching contests, in store events, an insider's guide to every national park in America, live music, craft beer, and meaningful conversations about health benefits of getting outside, even if it's just in your backyard. The campaign is also raising money to help maintain local trails for future generations. All tour dates and stops are announced via Twitter and Facebook for all to see. Social media has also assisted in the spread of the first ever Super Bowl Marmot commercial, with millions of media posts and tweets. On The Mountaineers tweet in regards to the interesting sales pitch, one follower tweeted "Ummmm amazing. Nothing shy of genius."
Besides social media outlets, there's plenty of discussion about the controversial advertising move. People either seem to love it or hate it, but never in between:
The Memphis Daily News reports "This Super Bowl rookie stole the show..." and "Marmot wins on it's storytelling abilities, how well it connects with consumers, how memorable the spot is and the clarity with which it communicates what it sells."
While Forbes.com states "Puzzled viewers probably won't be running out in the cold to buy an outdoor jacket after that."
The Chicago Tribune and Washington Post ranked Marmot's advertising technique as one of the worst ads, while The Oregonian dubbed it one of the best.
Performics.com claims "Marmot was one of the few Super Bowl advertiser brand keywords that broke into Google's top 20 searches during or directly after the game."
Tvline.com displayed pole results for Marmot's unique advertising strategy as follows:
- Awesome 20.55%
- Very Good 28.24%
- It was OK 28.85%
- Subpar 10.82%
- Fail 11.54%
Based off the ad, I would probably not check out the company and all it has to offer. Sure, they offer outdoor equipment and apparel for those that like the simple outdoor activities. Unfortunately, that just doesn't make me want to jump up and see what exactly they have to offer. I wouldn't recommend the brand to others either. On the flip side, I wouldn't tell them not to check it out. In the end, though, I have shown the ad to people. Marmot has that going for them at least.
Based off Marmot's unusual choice of advertising techniques, I've drawn the conclusion that going with a memorable commercial does in fact add more advertising. If you didn't watch the Super Bowl and see the commercial air, it's okay because I'm sure somewhere, somehow, you either saw it or heard about it anyways.
I've learned a lot from examining this particular marketing strategy. There are many ways to get your name or product out there to people that probably wouldn't have heard about what you have to offer. Even if it is a controversial choice of advertising, in the end, consumers will hear your name. That, in itself, is advertisement.
When I took a closer look at marketing techniques and specific advertisement strategies, I found myself looking at every companies commercials in a whole new light. Who would've thought about how the ads we see are created, or why? I sure didn't! I find myself wondering how I can market a product or a company name differently then how they chose to. Maybe that's just because of the career path I have chosen for myself. Maybe it's because I'm curious to see what I, myself, could come up with. In the end, the challenge is accepted....
Below are a few links to blogs that spoke of Marmot's fascinating advertisement techniques:
Thursday, July 13, 2017
PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES OF ADVERTISING
The two ads I chose to review are (the first) a Patagonia ad. The second one is an advertisement for a shake weight (yes I actually did watch this recently).
The Patagonia ad shows the kind of activities that people who use Patagonia products participate in, and the amazing places they explore. In this ad, there is also Patagonia products displayed. What stood out to me is that they show the types of activities that their products are used in. Patagonia makes outdoor gear, and outdoor activities should be used to advertise that type of gear. The audience they are targeting are outdoor enthusiasts, therefore they need to show outdoor activities like they did. This ad displays the association principle technique for this reason. I believe this technique is very effective in this ad. People who are in need of outdoor gear want to see video clips of the places they want to be and situations where outdoor gear is necessary.
The ad for the shake weight displays a muscle toned man using the shake weight to work out. What stood out to me was how unrealistic the product is. Especially to obtain a body with that much muscle. The makers of the Shake Weight are targeting anyone who is looking to get more muscle tone by not having to go to the gym. I would most associate this advertisement with a plain-folks pitch. It's so easy, anyone can do it type of pitch. For me, this advertisement did not work. The whole concept doesn't make sense to me. It's not that easy to get a toned body and especially not from just shaking something around while looking ridiculous.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADVERTISING
I've decided since Facebook is, what I believe to be, one of the most popular social networking sites, that I would use it for this advertising evaluation experiment. I am an avid outdoor explorer, and one of my favorite brands is Patagonia. So I started my search for Patagonia's Facebook page.
The first thing I notice when I view Patagonia's Facebook page, is that they use social networking for advertising. Instantly I see ads for sleeping bags. That's pretty much expected when you look at a brand's page. No big surprise.
As I begin to explore this page, I notice there's videos posted on their timeline. Coincidentally, these videos are sponsored by Patagonia. None the less, these videos showcase what Patagonia is all about... outdoor exploration.
Patagonia also uses social media to show appreciation to their customers. For example: there's a post asking customers of Patagonia sleeping bags to share their pictures of themselves in their sleeping bags. This also is a way of encouraging their followers to interact with them, while also advertising the sale of their product to people just like you and me.
I believe that using a social media network is a genius idea for Patagonia or any brand. They aim to target anyone who has a love for the outdoors. Anything outdoors. Everything outdoors. I believe this is very effective for advertising. The fact that there's 1,007,995 people that like their page, and 994,200 people currently following status updates, speaks for itself. Every time someone "likes" the page, that persons friends see it in their news feed. If they are unaware of what Patagonia represents, they might look into it. If they are aware of what Patagonia is all about, they just might go check out their page and see what's going on in the outdoor adventure world. Every person that visits the page will see advertising for Patagonia products.
Patagonia does a great job at using social media as part of their advertising campaign. With that being said, there are some improvements that I believe would better promote their products. I would recommend more contests to where followers could win Patagonia products. They aren't cheap, so it would be nice to be able to win a product to test out. Another suggestion I would make would be to have more videos on product reviews. Q&A's would also be very helpful. As a consumer, and not financially well endowed, I would like to see what other consumers think about specific Patagonia products. Nobody wants to spend a ton of money on a product just to get home and realize it was a complete waste.
The first thing I notice when I view Patagonia's Facebook page, is that they use social networking for advertising. Instantly I see ads for sleeping bags. That's pretty much expected when you look at a brand's page. No big surprise.
As I begin to explore this page, I notice there's videos posted on their timeline. Coincidentally, these videos are sponsored by Patagonia. None the less, these videos showcase what Patagonia is all about... outdoor exploration.
Patagonia also uses social media to show appreciation to their customers. For example: there's a post asking customers of Patagonia sleeping bags to share their pictures of themselves in their sleeping bags. This also is a way of encouraging their followers to interact with them, while also advertising the sale of their product to people just like you and me.
I believe that using a social media network is a genius idea for Patagonia or any brand. They aim to target anyone who has a love for the outdoors. Anything outdoors. Everything outdoors. I believe this is very effective for advertising. The fact that there's 1,007,995 people that like their page, and 994,200 people currently following status updates, speaks for itself. Every time someone "likes" the page, that persons friends see it in their news feed. If they are unaware of what Patagonia represents, they might look into it. If they are aware of what Patagonia is all about, they just might go check out their page and see what's going on in the outdoor adventure world. Every person that visits the page will see advertising for Patagonia products.
Patagonia does a great job at using social media as part of their advertising campaign. With that being said, there are some improvements that I believe would better promote their products. I would recommend more contests to where followers could win Patagonia products. They aren't cheap, so it would be nice to be able to win a product to test out. Another suggestion I would make would be to have more videos on product reviews. Q&A's would also be very helpful. As a consumer, and not financially well endowed, I would like to see what other consumers think about specific Patagonia products. Nobody wants to spend a ton of money on a product just to get home and realize it was a complete waste.
Friday, July 7, 2017
THE INTERNET
As time goes by, I realize more and more how human interaction has decreased due to a majority of the population always looking down at their cell phones. From public transportation, in the line at the grocery store, walking down the street, and even driving down the road. Nobody seems to make eye contact with one another, or even hold there heads up for that matter!
Sherry Turkle's video, "Connected, But Alone?" explains the sad truth about how disconnected we are to one another anymore. I think she explains perfectly how technology today is creating an environment of seclusion and causing our children to lack in basic communication skills that are necessary, even in a world where technology has provided us with alternate means of communication. For example: when a group of friends get together, nobody is talking to one another. Instead, they are all looking down at their phones, completely ignoring each other. It's a personal pet peeve of mine to be talking with someone and they won't put their phone down. I find it rude and disrespectful. What happened to eye contact during conversations? For this reason, I make it a point to not be on my phone when spending valuable time with the people I care about. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter... none of these things are of importance when you sacrifice valuable time with someone that you will never again be able to retrieve. I find it most entertaining when people take a picture with you to post as a status update that they're having such a great time.... yet they are actually looking at their phone the entire time, off in a different place. These examples show our children how life is lived. We are showing our children that social media and digital games are more important to us then actually spending to together. This generation of children are losing the valuable skills of actually communication with each other in person, not just via media.
I like to group the concept of digital gaming with that of social media. They are both amazing at distracting our attention and requiring us to ignore the world around it. Sure, it's great when you need to kill some time, but not as an every spare second distraction. I won't lie. I, too, have a game on my phone. Yes, just one. Yes, you guessed it... Candy Crush! It's a game that, when needed, helps me to kill a few minutes. Sometimes this is while waiting in the car for someone, or, the most common need, while waiting for my sister to get ready to go somewhere. The most appealing aspect of this game is that I can just close out of it at any time and it doesn't matter. I may lose a turn, but I don't have to get to a stopping point. I don't need to tell anyone I'm playing against that I need to go. Nothing. When my spare few minutes of boredom has ended, so has my game.
Honestly, I like to keep my attention in the real world. The physical world. I much rather live my life through actions then through a persona I create about myself online. I can't say I spend a lot of time on any social networking site or on digital games. A rough estimate of the amount of time I spend in a week on these activities is about 2 hours total. Even that is too much for my liking. Social media is merely a means of resources for planning my adventure trips, which I try to do weekly. I run out of ideas of new places to explore quite rapidly, so suggestions from others that enjoy the same activities is extremely helpful. During those lonely smoke breaks, Candy Crush comes to use. That's where I like to end my online, digital gaming, social networking, ignore the world experience.
It's always intriguing to hear someone express their opposing point of views. Please feel free to leave comments on your opinions on the matter, or how these modern world communication sources affect your life. Would you like to change the role they play in your life?
TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA
This week I have been studying social media and the effects it has on my life. Below are just a few thoughts I have on the subject. Everyone has their own opinions and uses for social media (such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and I would love to hear how social media plays a role in your life, so please feel free to comment!
To start, I would like to say that I've had a Facebook account for about ten years now. However, I am new to twitter. Most of the experiences and opinions I express, therefore, mostly come from Facebook.
I use my Facebook account as a resource for finding new areas to explore. For this reason, I would have to say my top 3 people/organizations that I follow would have to be: 1.) Girls Who Hike Oregon, 2.) Hiking In The Pacific Northwest, and 3.) Oregon Hikers. Yes, they are all hiking pages! Don't worry, I'm also apart of some Colorado and Utah groups as well. I just utilize the Oregon pages more frequently for funding reasons!
I see a lot of Facebook status's that I find interesting and/or funny. Those are great for entertainment purposes when I'm bored, but the status's that I enjoy reading and find very useful to apply to my life are those that I find on my hiking pages and groups. The best status update I've seen lately is a video posted about the 15 best one night backpacking trips in Oregon. This post stood out to me because I find it very useful. I do a lot of hiking and backpacking but don't always have a few days to go on trips. It's nice to find information and reviews on places I can go on an adventure with a limited amount of time.
If you've read the above paragraph instead of skipping through this blog post, you might get the idea that I use social media to enhance my life outside of electronics. My main purpose of having any type of social media account is to be able to get information on places I'm interested in visiting. I feel that social media has enhanced my ability to experience these amazing adventures that I otherwise might not know about. I would definitely have to say that's about the only way social media of any kind has enhanced my participation in anything, including democracy and government. The only reason why I participate in social media is to broaden my horizons on places to explore. That, and I'm a business/marketing major, so obviously social media activity definitely is a must!
I'm very interested in knowing what others use social media and networking for in their lives! Please feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks!
To start, I would like to say that I've had a Facebook account for about ten years now. However, I am new to twitter. Most of the experiences and opinions I express, therefore, mostly come from Facebook.
I use my Facebook account as a resource for finding new areas to explore. For this reason, I would have to say my top 3 people/organizations that I follow would have to be: 1.) Girls Who Hike Oregon, 2.) Hiking In The Pacific Northwest, and 3.) Oregon Hikers. Yes, they are all hiking pages! Don't worry, I'm also apart of some Colorado and Utah groups as well. I just utilize the Oregon pages more frequently for funding reasons!
I see a lot of Facebook status's that I find interesting and/or funny. Those are great for entertainment purposes when I'm bored, but the status's that I enjoy reading and find very useful to apply to my life are those that I find on my hiking pages and groups. The best status update I've seen lately is a video posted about the 15 best one night backpacking trips in Oregon. This post stood out to me because I find it very useful. I do a lot of hiking and backpacking but don't always have a few days to go on trips. It's nice to find information and reviews on places I can go on an adventure with a limited amount of time.
If you've read the above paragraph instead of skipping through this blog post, you might get the idea that I use social media to enhance my life outside of electronics. My main purpose of having any type of social media account is to be able to get information on places I'm interested in visiting. I feel that social media has enhanced my ability to experience these amazing adventures that I otherwise might not know about. I would definitely have to say that's about the only way social media of any kind has enhanced my participation in anything, including democracy and government. The only reason why I participate in social media is to broaden my horizons on places to explore. That, and I'm a business/marketing major, so obviously social media activity definitely is a must!
I'm very interested in knowing what others use social media and networking for in their lives! Please feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks!
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
WEEK 1 :
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND THEIR RELIABILITY
As I look back on how I've been receiving my information these last few months, I have realized that my top three sources are facebook, friends/family, and local newspapers (such as the Democrat Herald). Social media is so easily accessible with information that spreads like wild fire, it's not a wonder that I receive most of my information from this source. This is also a place where I'm educated by friends, family and the local newspapers on current events.
Although I do have my go to news resources, I never trust just one. Information spreads like rumors and, like rumors, truth gets lost in translation. Different points of views highlights different facts, changing your perspective. When I hear of an event, I instantly go to google. I like to pull up multiple articles. Read the facts from different sources. Not every source has the same agenda and reports the same facts to lead you to the same conclusions. By doing this, I can read a wide range of facts and develop my own opinion on the event. This also allows me to get a better idea of what is being reported accurately.
We don't always get facts correct the first time, and neither do reporters and journalists. Sometimes we are quick to spread news before verifying our information is accurate. This is one reason why I do not trust just one source for information. In addition, I believe that specific facts will be brought to light, while others are not told at all. It depends on what the source wants you to believe, what perspective they want you to have. Before passing along information, I like to read up as much as possible on the event. Obtain as many facts as possible from an array of perspectives and resources. I like to be able to develop my own unbiased opinion and, when passing along information, I like to pass along that option as well.
Monday, June 26, 2017
A Taste Of My World
Hi Everyone!
My name is Christina Thomas. I'm 30 years old and live in Albany, Oregon. I was raised to love the outdoors by growing up in the country. My life revolves around my adventures! I snowboard, hike, backpack, kayak... pretty much anything outside, I'm involved in.
My love of the wild has led me to further my education. I am currently attending LBCC to obtain an associate's degree in Business. I then plan to continue my education at OSU for a bachelor's degree in Marketing. I would absolutely love to be able to market the gear I use on my year round adventures!
Although enrolling in a media class was not a requirement in my goals, I chose to expand my knowledge on this subject for obvious reasons... marketing is all about media. I am very excited to learn about blogging and how media effects our society today.
Stay tuned and watch me as I grow on my adventure!
My name is Christina Thomas. I'm 30 years old and live in Albany, Oregon. I was raised to love the outdoors by growing up in the country. My life revolves around my adventures! I snowboard, hike, backpack, kayak... pretty much anything outside, I'm involved in.
My love of the wild has led me to further my education. I am currently attending LBCC to obtain an associate's degree in Business. I then plan to continue my education at OSU for a bachelor's degree in Marketing. I would absolutely love to be able to market the gear I use on my year round adventures!
Although enrolling in a media class was not a requirement in my goals, I chose to expand my knowledge on this subject for obvious reasons... marketing is all about media. I am very excited to learn about blogging and how media effects our society today.
Stay tuned and watch me as I grow on my adventure!
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