Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Advertisments

Advertisements are created to target a certain demographic group to purchase their products. In the following two advertisements, let's attempt to identify who are Mercedes-Benz's and Toyota's target audience.
Note the way the confident tone of the slogan, "Nothing is too excessive when you're building a car like this", or the message Toyota is sending to the fleet manger with the phase, " Toyota is the one-stop solution to all your fleet vehicle and financing needs." Both automobile makers are attempting to sell their vehicles, but they are delivering their messages to different markets. The Mercedes-Benz is possibly targeting the generation-X market, urban professional that demands dependability, style and class. On the other hand, Toyota's target market is the company's fleet manger that has a low budget to provide a reliable, no nonsense vehicle, with a high-resell value and possible financing available.
Now focus on the advertisements visual imaging each auto-maker is delivering with these ads. The picture of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is set in an urban surrounding that draws attention to this stylish, sleek 4 door, sport sedan. The Toyota's Prius Hybrid is pictured in front of a plain white background that delivers a message of a no frills economy vehicle.
Each automobile maker as the competitive advantage of their reputation and brand name for producting reliable, dependable, quality products. The advertisements are created to call attention to their products in certain market groups. Mecedes-Benz target aim is the professional niche, while Toyota is aiming for the fleet manager. Each advertisements are effect in delivering the message of Mercedes-Benz's and Toyota's to their prospective market niche of building quality products with the use of these advertisements.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

clothing

Clothes and what we wear identifies cultures, values, peer groups and fashion styles, but are the clothing styles of today's young adults leading to a censorship on how we wear our clothing?
My style of dress is pretty much casual, conservative, laid-back and comfortable. The message I convey to friends and peers is that he dresses neat and clean. I am not into name brands such as: Izod, Polo, South Pole or CK. I prefer clothes of good quality and long lasting. My routine daily dress consist of jeans or shorts, and a button-down shirts, dependents on Houston's weather and the occasion.
As I mentioned, I usually dress conservative and I do understand that clothes are a way of expressing one's identity or social group. Many people also purchase cloths to demonstrate their creative ability, their sense of style or just for comfort, but there is one style many young males are wearing today that I personally dislike. This style, is the baggie pants that are wore below the butt and I believe, should not to be wore every where.
For example, the other day when I visited the student center to pick-up books, I notice several young men in this type of dress. I felt that this dress was not appropriate for this setting. This is an institution of higher learning. A bridge to the professional environment where dress is important as education. I also felt this type of dress was disrespectful to the young ladies on our campus.
So i asked myself, would I support a censorship on the way we wear our clothes? Should we set up dress codes to dictate what should be worn? No, but an alternate solution would be to create an etiquette class on dress.
I believe that an etiquette class would be a better solution because it would not take away one's self expression but teaches the approtiate time and setting for such dress.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

"The Believing and Doubting Game"

The genre of rap music contributes to the violet attitude and behavior of its followers towards women, white people and gays. Since the introduction of rap music in the early 1980's, this obnoxious style of music has diluted the minds of young black Americans with derogatory lyrics that are offensive, discourteous, rude, and belittling, at least.
This form of music is not only insulting but its also abusive with lyrics of shootings, robberies and violent sexual acts. For instances, 50 cent lyric, "somethin' wrong with that b*^$h ( f*^k that b*^$h )." or Tec-9 f/Lil'y's lyric, " I know some niggas out the Melph that'll leave ya dead for me ... killing' is too easy."
There's a fine line between art and obscenity and this type of music is not art, its obscene and vulgar. Was the right of free speech created to protect such indecency?
On the other hand, not all rap music contributes to the violent attitude and behavior of its followers toward women , white people and gays. Some artist such as: Will Smith recording "Summertime" is a rhapsody rap recording of a young man's carefree summer day activities: such as playing basketball, hanging at the car wash, and attending a picnic. Then there's Run DMC's recording "My Addis", a rap recording of a young man's tennis shoes.
Yes, there's some artistic styles of rap music that's not abusive, expletive or insulting.