Monday, October 12, 2009
Beautiful, Dirty, Rich! [Official Media Blogio]
Bang-bang, Intelleyktuals!
Mediabully here and I wanted to share my thoughts on how SELF-IMAGE, SEX, and POWER equate to persuasion in influencing our behavior though the media. Of course, no one could qualify these attributes to the media better than the most conceited diva herself, Lady Gaga (as she saved me from posting three different videos on the subject). This music video of Lady Gaga, however, goes further than providing a dance tune to excite our eardrums. Gaga’s video inconspicuously (yet very candidly) illicit neurons that encourages the viewer to act or think in a certain way. This is what advertisers in the media specialize in.
Sex is used in advertisements quite often and generally has nothing to do with the advertised product itself. Recall a car commercial that featured an attractive model driving her automobile and as she looks directly into the camera she questions, “When you turn on your car, does it turn you on?” The advertiser has no need to infest the commercial with the inadequate details of car performance, technological advancements, and how many miles per gallon the vehicle encompasses because it’s obviously irrelevant. The reason the advertiser uses this tactic is because sex stimulates the reptilian behavior (vocabulary word of the day) such as “worship, submission, aggression, or wanting to seek a mate.” If you’ve ever witnessed an Axe product ad, the primary storyline entails a dude using the body spray, shampoo, fragrance, etc… and suddenly being irresistibly attractive. A scientific explanation explains that “sex tends to cause the unconscious irrational brain to become dominant at the expense of your conscious rational brain.” Let’s face it, the expression “Sex Sells” is no myth.
Power and social status and self image are a major determinant in stimulating a reptilian brain response. Improving the way you look in health or fashion is a reasonable response and can explain why many have compulsive shopping disorders or have makeup bags that weigh 20 pounds. Power and wanting to be on top is often expressed with reptilian responses such as “greed, aggression, and compulsive behavior”. This can easily explain why get-rich-quick schemes seem to gain popularity fast. These schemes usually cause individuals to act in automatic or irrational ways.
So what do you think? I’ll tell you what YOU think! In a recent poll conducted by me, 50 percent of you guys reported to having been affected by the media in some way with the decisions you make. Only 10 percent of you guys reported to never being affected by the media in your decisions while only 40 percent of you concluded that it “maybe” could’ve had an impact on your decisions (and I’m proud to say that 0 percent of you guys had never had to make a decision… Kudos!). Thank you for your participation. Didn’t participate in the poll? Well, take part in our democratic process and voice your opinion by clicking that comment button below. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.
Until then, Sayonara
Mediabully signing out
Reptilian brain - Various clumps of cells in the brain stem that determine the brain's general level of alertness and regulate the vegetative processes of the body such as breathing and heartbeat.
*This blog has been edited for grammatical errors, errors involving video size and quality, and to embed necessary links.
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I think you've raised a number of good points with regards to how the media weaves constructed notions of sex, power, and self-image into the consciousness of the consumer. Yet, while there certainly is a case for arguing that these play into the purchasing practices of the consumer, to what extent is this the case? Perhaps there can also be a contrarian argument made for the power of human agency, as it is the individual who ultimately decides on what or what not to purchase in spite of the influence of media.
ReplyDeletei appreciate your comment blogger nonlinearperspectives. you've raised an interesting topic and one i must delve into in an upcoming coming blog or two. if i'm understanding right, you are questioning the extent of the media and where the influence ends, correct? the advertising market is purely one realm of the media vs. human agent and i will begin to dive in subliminal messages as well.
ReplyDeletei do want to quote one particular sentence in my blog that i found quite interesting in a media analysis site:
...The reason the advertiser uses this tactic is because sex stimulates the reptilian behavior (vocabulary word of the day) such as “worship, submission, aggression, or wanting to seek a mate.”...
while it may not always illicit a need to purchase a product, many side effects such as the ones listed may be present in the media's influence as well.
In terms of what items to purchase, people usually equate good quality with fame. "Since (insert famous person here) uses it, then it must be good!" is the mindset of some people.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the media's job is to be appealing. What isn't appealing about sex, power and self-image? People want to look good, feel good and be good. If not, then the world may look down on you...and you wouldn't want that now, would you?
The fact that "Sex Sells" is an interesting concept. We have been learning about sex and gender roles, and the affect that media has on our society, in my Women Studies class. It is proven that "sexy" ads does affect what we buy. But many of these ads also degrade women. In a video I watch for the class called "Killing Us Softly", the speaker discusses how the advertising world degrades women and almost always makes the woman an inferior in the ad. This type of advertising has been going on for years, and sadly it is still apparent in currents ads.
ReplyDeletedear blogger naturenuture, you make a valid point in your second statement when you bring up the appealing images of sex, media, and power. is the media doing us justice by teaching us to conform to society so the "world wont look down on you"? many of these images of sex, love and power are portrayed unrealistically and gives people a false sense of reality. 'buying the product will give you this...' is not always the case.
ReplyDeletedear blogger health fanatic, you make a valid point. women probably have it a little harder when it comes to media and many mediums can even be linked to develop young women to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulemia.
thank you for your comments naturenurture and healthfanatic. let me know if u disagree.