The article I chose “Tricksters and the Marketing of Breakfast Cereals” was very interesting. I learned a lot of things about cereals, their creation and its business that I had never heard before and probably would not have thought. The fact that breakfast cereals as we know them today were originally marketed as health food or medicinal was quite an eye opener. The nineteenth century advertising or breakfast foods became centered on the myth of health, happiness and satisfaction. “Natural” took on almost magical powers in its suggestion concerning certain foods. Because of the diet which most Americans had at the time, not consisting of many fruits and grains, they experienced a high number of gastro problems. The grains being added to their diet helped, so it appeared healthy or magical. Hence, the breakfast cereals were set apart because they were never presented as mere food, but rather by an aura of power overreaching its actual dietary value. (Green)
Slogans and mascots have been connected to breakfast cereals in their advertising almost as long as the cereals themselves have been around. The trickster or mascot can take the shape of the cereal, giving the impression of achieving the benefits of the cereal by consuming the cereal (mascot). Another form used by the tricksters is disguises, using them to get the cereal (valued food) from the owner. The Trix rabbit is the most recognizable example of a trickster in breakfast cereal advertising. He takes on disguises, appearing more human, to try and get the cereal. Whatever the advertisers think is most popular in the culture with kids at the time is what his disguise will be or include. Most recently the rabbit has skateboarded, worn a leather jack and been a karaoke singer. Jung believes the use of such representations is the example of humanity’s transitioning from animal to humankind. The animal tries to control its basic overwhelming behavior, uses disguises, but can’t control for very long, displays animalistic behavior and is discovered. In many advertising plots, the trickster being undone by his basic animal behavior and his own doing, it’s the basic good versus evil.
Then there are the heroic tricksters – he isn’t trying to “get” the cereal which is so coveted, he is looking for worthy people on which to bestow. Someone in need of its “magical” powers, again suggesting a better life, more success from consuming their breakfast cereal An example of this type, is Tony the Tiger wandering playgrounds, finally finding the kid that is all tuckered out, can’t compete. He bestows his gift to him, being a good breakfast, and viola – he is back on the playing field or acing that test.
Although I believe this article for written for the casual reader or general public, I don’t think it was organized comfortably. It took a long time for you to get the gist of what the author was actually trying to convey and a good portion of this article didn’t even related to what the title would suggest. There was huge about of information about the creation of cereal, who created and why.
The main idea, I thought, was supposed to be that there is a certain type of advertising involving mascots or tricksters. Even though this article did explain background information of these and some reasons why they are used, I actually took more from this article about the beginnings of the cereal industry and how people thought of it when first introduced. I found it fascinating that the cereal industry focused on dietary fiber as well as moral fiber when first advertising. Moral purity and goodness being the results of better eating, which of course, included cereal.
References
Green, T., (2007) Tricksters and the marketing of breakfast cereals. The Journal of Popular Culture, Vol 40, No. 1.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Assignment 5-1/Weekly Analysis/HUMN341/J.Slyman
Every Day is a Holiday When You are Unemployed!
Being one of the many job eliminated, displaced workers – this sounds too sweet – unemployed workers, I can tell you it isn’t much fun. Having always had a job since I was 15, being in the masses of people looking for a job at 50 was not my plan.
Of course, being out of work and a paycheck is very hard since most people are two to three paychecks from being homeless, there are other things that being unemployed can do to you and your family.
Even though who you are is not your job, your job identifies you, to yourself and others. It is a sense of purpose, responsibility and achievement. Once that is gone there is a sense of loss, similar to a grieving period. There is also the anger, frustration, disappointment and self-confidence issues.
Without a solid family or relationship all these things can be overwhelming, I must be fortunate. After the first couple of weeks of fear and anger I picked up and got moving. And although I'm still unemployed after six months, I am busy and working towards other goals along with looking for employment. It's all how you look at it. To this end, it solidifies my belief that everything happens for a reason, we just don't always know what it is...at least for awhile. ;)
Unemployment - Consequences Of Unemployment, Problems With The Statistics, Who Becomes Unemployed?, Solutions To The Unemployment Problem. Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1728/Unemployment.html#ixzz0mo0cxgwj
Being one of the many job eliminated, displaced workers – this sounds too sweet – unemployed workers, I can tell you it isn’t much fun. Having always had a job since I was 15, being in the masses of people looking for a job at 50 was not my plan.
Of course, being out of work and a paycheck is very hard since most people are two to three paychecks from being homeless, there are other things that being unemployed can do to you and your family.
Even though who you are is not your job, your job identifies you, to yourself and others. It is a sense of purpose, responsibility and achievement. Once that is gone there is a sense of loss, similar to a grieving period. There is also the anger, frustration, disappointment and self-confidence issues.
Without a solid family or relationship all these things can be overwhelming, I must be fortunate. After the first couple of weeks of fear and anger I picked up and got moving. And although I'm still unemployed after six months, I am busy and working towards other goals along with looking for employment. It's all how you look at it. To this end, it solidifies my belief that everything happens for a reason, we just don't always know what it is...at least for awhile. ;)
Unemployment - Consequences Of Unemployment, Problems With The Statistics, Who Becomes Unemployed?, Solutions To The Unemployment Problem. Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1728/Unemployment.html#ixzz0mo0cxgwj
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Popular Culture Weekly Analysis Week 4-Assignment 4-3 YouTube?
My popular culture artifact this week is YouTube. Youtube.com is one of the top 10 sites in the world and is in the Video Sharing category. (alexa.com) This for those of you living under a rock, is a location on line where you can look at videos, upload your own videos, search videos and comment on same. These videos can be viewed world wide with anyone out there with internet access.
Personally, I think this is basically the most hedonistic thing around, especially those people that upload videos of themselves doing just about anything. This topic also fits in with this weeks’ paper about celebrities and heroes, as people are so enamored and envious of celebrities that they think this will give them their 15 minutes of fame or more. It’s hard enough getting through friends 12 hours of videos of their new baby, much less people you don’t know at all doing things you don’t care about. I mean really, the only person interested in your baby’s videos are you; hence the only person that is really interested in idiots seeing if they can sing and dance or jump from a trampoline to the top of the house…is them.
I really view YouTube very much, but on occasion have looked for some things of interest or suggested viewing. I know there are people, my daughter being one, that look at the same YouTube personality over and over again. There are many examples of people being interviewed or just going about daily life that has been put on YouTube and some of these videos have proven to be detrimental down the line. No ones every move or utterance is meant to be for public discrimination. Each one of us would be ashamed or embarrassed if all our moves were subject to taping and viewing by millions.
I think the internet is great and some of the YouTube videos can be informative or entertaining. But I do think, however, that there is way too much crap out there and now we are being bombarded with it on our computers. Its just one more example of how fascinated the American public is with celebrities…and themselves.
Personally, I think this is basically the most hedonistic thing around, especially those people that upload videos of themselves doing just about anything. This topic also fits in with this weeks’ paper about celebrities and heroes, as people are so enamored and envious of celebrities that they think this will give them their 15 minutes of fame or more. It’s hard enough getting through friends 12 hours of videos of their new baby, much less people you don’t know at all doing things you don’t care about. I mean really, the only person interested in your baby’s videos are you; hence the only person that is really interested in idiots seeing if they can sing and dance or jump from a trampoline to the top of the house…is them.
I really view YouTube very much, but on occasion have looked for some things of interest or suggested viewing. I know there are people, my daughter being one, that look at the same YouTube personality over and over again. There are many examples of people being interviewed or just going about daily life that has been put on YouTube and some of these videos have proven to be detrimental down the line. No ones every move or utterance is meant to be for public discrimination. Each one of us would be ashamed or embarrassed if all our moves were subject to taping and viewing by millions.
I think the internet is great and some of the YouTube videos can be informative or entertaining. But I do think, however, that there is way too much crap out there and now we are being bombarded with it on our computers. Its just one more example of how fascinated the American public is with celebrities…and themselves.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Weekly Analysis/Assignment 3-3/Unethical Behavior in Professional Sports/
This week’s analysis is about the lack of ethical behavior within professional sports by SOME players. It seems to be more and more prevalent in the news about players and sometimes coaches or management engaging in not only unethical but sometimes illegal or illicit behaviors.
I think that some explanation for this type of behavior comes from them being treated like they are gods because they “happen” to be good at a sport. Our society has put so much importance on this talent that they are looked up to, sought after and sometimes revered because of a physical ability. They grow up being treated differently (sometimes better) in high school and college, then when they get to the professional level they think they have a sense of "entitlement”. They feel they are above others in many ways and lately it seems they also think they are above the law.
Although the fact that they think this way and a lot of it is caused by outside sources, it is even more disturbing to listen to what people write or say about their behaviors on TV and in other mediums. They seem to skim over or touch just slightly on the fact that something that was done is “against the law”! Why are they given the opportunity to get by with something that anyone else in the normal world would be tried and possibly jailed for? I don’t think because of a completion, home run or scoring stat gives them the right to completely ignore the laws of the land.
Why isn’t society more concerned with scientists, teachers, astronauts, clergy or countless other professions – people that don’t get as much publicity for their deeds, but are surely accomplishing a heck of a lot more for the world than a quarterback or a pitcher.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Assignment 2-1/Weekly Written Analysis 2/Tattoos go to work/April 11, 2010
Seems that Gen Y has hit the business world, shirt, ties and tattoos. (Ganz 2009) Statistics say that 36% of Gen Y & 40% of Gen X have tattoos. (Goodman 2009) Personally, I think those numbers are low.
Despite prejudices, only 16% of employers have a policy against body art or tattoos. (Vault’s.com). Others, such as McDonald’s and Burger King have written policies of no “visible tattoos. While some businesses don’t list any such policy. Depending on the type of business and the traditional stance they may or may not have. Because of the most recent down turn in unemployment, there are more people covering their body art just in case that HR person across the desk is not tattoo friendly.
According to career publisher Vault’s.com (www.Vault.com) 85% of respondents to their survey believe tattoos impede one’s chances of getting a job. One respondent said “regardless of who the real person may be, the stereotypes associated with tattooing can and do affect others”. (Vault’s.com) The tattooed are believed to be “rougher” or “less educated”. Do you find yourself with a stereotype of someone that has a tattoo or multiple tats?
Despite prejudices, only 16% of employers have a policy against body art or tattoos. (Vault’s.com). Others, such as McDonald’s and Burger King have written policies of no “visible tattoos. While some businesses don’t list any such policy. Depending on the type of business and the traditional stance they may or may not have. Because of the most recent down turn in unemployment, there are more people covering their body art just in case that HR person across the desk is not tattoo friendly.
According to career publisher Vault’s.com (www.Vault.com) 85% of respondents to their survey believe tattoos impede one’s chances of getting a job. One respondent said “regardless of who the real person may be, the stereotypes associated with tattooing can and do affect others”. (Vault’s.com) The tattooed are believed to be “rougher” or “less educated”. Do you find yourself with a stereotype of someone that has a tattoo or multiple tats?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Icon Analysis-Assignment 2-2-Week 2-April 7, 2010
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The three icons I chose are Bill Gates, the cross and the statue of liberty.
Bill Gates is the embodiment of technology in the computer world. He seems to be at the top of the mount when people think of computers, business and success. To me he means perseverance and determination with a splash of brilliance that I don’t possess, so I respect in others.
The cross literally has a religious connotation connected to it and is recognized in all its forms, e.g., jewelry, statues, tattoos or pictures. No matter what your religious level, it will still register a certain amount of power to influence or evoke emotion. I wear one to remind myself of what I aspire to be.
The statue of liberty is a national icon which symbolizes freedom, acceptance and opportunity. This particular icon has meaning for Americans and others alike, although some may say it has more real meaning for the immigrants who came to America and viewed Lady Liberty as the visible symbol of freedom. The statue of liberty to me holds the same meanings of freedom and opportunity, but also brings pride in being American by its firm stance and regal appearance. She also could represent cooperation and community across the oceans to the country which gave her to us.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tattoos - Not just for Popeye anymore! Assignments 1-2 & 1-4/Week 1/Popular Culture Blog & Weekly Analysis/April 4, 2010
Are tattoos artwork or just plain tacky? The opinions about tattoos run the complete gamit, but they have become increasingly popular, especially in the last 10 years.
It used to be that sailors or bikers had tattoos, they were for the bad BOYS and never for ladies. Now it is more difficult to find someone who doesn't have a tattoo. They are on everyone from sixteen year old girls, socceer moms, businessmen and grandmothers.
The stigma that a tattoo used to hold in the business world is still present in some areas, but is becoming more and more acceptable because of their increased popularity. They just aren't that big of a deal anymore.
So in the interest of research, data and my own curiosity how many people in our class has a tattoo? How many? Does (or did) it have special meaning? Do you still like it or wish it was gone?
It used to be that sailors or bikers had tattoos, they were for the bad BOYS and never for ladies. Now it is more difficult to find someone who doesn't have a tattoo. They are on everyone from sixteen year old girls, socceer moms, businessmen and grandmothers.
The stigma that a tattoo used to hold in the business world is still present in some areas, but is becoming more and more acceptable because of their increased popularity. They just aren't that big of a deal anymore.
So in the interest of research, data and my own curiosity how many people in our class has a tattoo? How many? Does (or did) it have special meaning? Do you still like it or wish it was gone?
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