Re: w03 Roland Barthes
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:49 pm
Advertisement:
The linguistic message plays a large role in this advertisement. It provides the viewer with a better understanding to what exactly this advertisement is about. The bold text, plays off of the idea that many people, at least Americans, are uncomfortable with tampons. Without the comedic bold text, the image would not really make any sense. After reading the bold text it is understood that the drivers hand is up in the air in excitement. The bold text is supposed to serve as a joke, most people would not tie a tampon to their keys. But the fact that this person did, in order to get rid of her brother taking her car, is pretty funny. The text is white, which makes it easy to read, but the last line “it worked” changes to black. The change in text color puts emphasis on the last statement. Not only does this imply that putting the tampon on her key ring prevented her brother from driving her car, but it also implies that the product works.
The linguistic message at the bottom of the images is also extremely helpful. After the viewer reads the bold text and sees the image of the car, their eye is immediately led to the small type at the bottom. After reading the bold text, it is clear that whomever created this advertisement was hitting on this idea that tampons make people, men especially, uncomfortable. The advertisement provides a rhetorical question at the bottom with a statistic that 40% of people are uncomfortable with tampons. The product is then introduced. Both linguistic messages in the ad allow the viewer to understand what the advertisement is for.
This advertisement is comical, because tampons are not a product that people are comfortable discussing. If tampons did not make people uncomfortable, or were discussed more casually, this ad would not be as successful.
Their is a contrast of colors within the advertisement. Most of the colors in the image on the top are pretty soft earth tones. Whereas the colors in the image of the product are extremely bright. This contrast of colors puts emphasis on the product.
Although this advertisement literally denotes a car driving on a highway. The connoted message is that Kotex Tampons have the ability to free you. The image of a car on the open road implies the the tampons will make you feel free. The image connotes that driving and having the open road ahead of you creates a deeper feeling a in the viewer.
Personal Image: The personal image that I chose is a picture captured of my mom and I at the finish line of the Long Beach Half Marathon. The purpose of this image is much different then the purpose of the advertisement. This photo was taken by one of my family members in order to capture a memorable moment.
Although unintentional, there is a linguistic message in this image. The linguistic message in this photograph is the text on one of the workers t-shirts. He is in the bottom left corner of the image and his shirt reads “Race Team.” This text helps the viewer understand that this image is taken at some sort of race. Although it was unintentional, the message that says “Race Team” helps the viewer understand the context of the image, and the relationship between my mom and I. Although it might not be clear just by looking at the image that it is a picture of my mom and I, the text allows the viewer to understand that we are a team and ran the race together.
This image captures many people in one image. Some of the people in the image are racers, others are family members and friends of the racers, and others are volunteers helping put on the event. Unlike the rest of the people in the photograph, my mom and I are facing toward the photographer. My mom is pointing in an attempt to find our family on the sidelines. We are linking arms, and smiling in excitement.
Although this is a candid photo, we are unintentionally framed in the image. When the viewer first looks at the picture, there eye is drawn to the volunteer in the bottom left corner and then is led around my mom and I. The viewers eye is guided around us, due to the fact that many of the people are wearing blue. The bright blue t-shirts frame us. On the surface, this is just an image of people finishing a race. But if you look a little deeper it is clear that this is an extremely exciting moment. Although the denoted message is the finish line of a race, the coded iconic message that the image evokes is that a 13 mile run is easy and fulfilling when you have a partner to finish with.
At first glance, it is not completely obvious what this advertisement is promoting. It is not until you read the bold faced type, across the entire picture that the viewer is able to understand. This advertisement is for Kotex Tampons. The advertisement is comprised of a background image of a convertible car driving down a desolate highway. The driver of the car has her hand raised in the air. There are also a couple of trees and street lights in the distance. In the foreground of this advertisement is bold text which states “I tied a tampon to my keyring so my brother wouldn’t take my car. It worked.” Then below the image and that text there is a black border with text that states “Why are 40% of people uncomfortable with tampons? Break the cycle: New U by Kotex Tampons, pads, and liners. For a free sample go to ubykotex.com.” Then beside that statement is an image of the packaged Kotex Tampons. The linguistic message plays a large role in this advertisement. It provides the viewer with a better understanding to what exactly this advertisement is about. The bold text, plays off of the idea that many people, at least Americans, are uncomfortable with tampons. Without the comedic bold text, the image would not really make any sense. After reading the bold text it is understood that the drivers hand is up in the air in excitement. The bold text is supposed to serve as a joke, most people would not tie a tampon to their keys. But the fact that this person did, in order to get rid of her brother taking her car, is pretty funny. The text is white, which makes it easy to read, but the last line “it worked” changes to black. The change in text color puts emphasis on the last statement. Not only does this imply that putting the tampon on her key ring prevented her brother from driving her car, but it also implies that the product works.
The linguistic message at the bottom of the images is also extremely helpful. After the viewer reads the bold text and sees the image of the car, their eye is immediately led to the small type at the bottom. After reading the bold text, it is clear that whomever created this advertisement was hitting on this idea that tampons make people, men especially, uncomfortable. The advertisement provides a rhetorical question at the bottom with a statistic that 40% of people are uncomfortable with tampons. The product is then introduced. Both linguistic messages in the ad allow the viewer to understand what the advertisement is for.
This advertisement is comical, because tampons are not a product that people are comfortable discussing. If tampons did not make people uncomfortable, or were discussed more casually, this ad would not be as successful.
Their is a contrast of colors within the advertisement. Most of the colors in the image on the top are pretty soft earth tones. Whereas the colors in the image of the product are extremely bright. This contrast of colors puts emphasis on the product.
Although this advertisement literally denotes a car driving on a highway. The connoted message is that Kotex Tampons have the ability to free you. The image of a car on the open road implies the the tampons will make you feel free. The image connotes that driving and having the open road ahead of you creates a deeper feeling a in the viewer.
Personal Image: The personal image that I chose is a picture captured of my mom and I at the finish line of the Long Beach Half Marathon. The purpose of this image is much different then the purpose of the advertisement. This photo was taken by one of my family members in order to capture a memorable moment.
Although unintentional, there is a linguistic message in this image. The linguistic message in this photograph is the text on one of the workers t-shirts. He is in the bottom left corner of the image and his shirt reads “Race Team.” This text helps the viewer understand that this image is taken at some sort of race. Although it was unintentional, the message that says “Race Team” helps the viewer understand the context of the image, and the relationship between my mom and I. Although it might not be clear just by looking at the image that it is a picture of my mom and I, the text allows the viewer to understand that we are a team and ran the race together.
This image captures many people in one image. Some of the people in the image are racers, others are family members and friends of the racers, and others are volunteers helping put on the event. Unlike the rest of the people in the photograph, my mom and I are facing toward the photographer. My mom is pointing in an attempt to find our family on the sidelines. We are linking arms, and smiling in excitement.
Although this is a candid photo, we are unintentionally framed in the image. When the viewer first looks at the picture, there eye is drawn to the volunteer in the bottom left corner and then is led around my mom and I. The viewers eye is guided around us, due to the fact that many of the people are wearing blue. The bright blue t-shirts frame us. On the surface, this is just an image of people finishing a race. But if you look a little deeper it is clear that this is an extremely exciting moment. Although the denoted message is the finish line of a race, the coded iconic message that the image evokes is that a 13 mile run is easy and fulfilling when you have a partner to finish with.