Monday, April 9, 2007

Cartoons

I love cartoons because they generally have an interesting way of saying something that needs to be said. Take a look at these couple and let us know what you think of them in relation to the class and the readings.





15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Teena- I haven't read a comic book in years but I wouldn't doubt that they include lots of advertisements. As stated in Affluenza kids are the target demographic of most agencies.
Before this class I blamed some of my debt on friends, family and the media but I felt irresponsible in doing so. Now that we've read these books I still take responsibility for my actions but understand that my actions were largely influenced by outside forces, in some cases without my knowledge. This both outrages and saddens me, b/c I feel there's nothing I can do about it.
I can see the link between corporations- consumerism and mental illness. I also believe as stated in Culture Jam that as a society we diagnose every little problem as an illness. We want to be cured instantly and easily and corporations prey on this.
Haha, if only getting rid of advertisements were as easy as smashing your tv. I've thought about throwing away all magazines, catalogues and not watching any tv or movies for a week but then I thought "that would be a waste of money, I'm paying for netflix". We want to change but feel helpless in finding an attainable way to do so.

Anonymous said...

I think I've done that to my television before.

Anyways, I haven't looked at a comic in a while either...well, never, actually. But I DO Read Maxim and Stuff. In fact, hold on, I'm going to go grab one and count something.



..Alright, I'm back, here we go, from cover to first "readable" page, there are 17 pages of nothing but advertisements. From the back cover to the LAST "readable" page, there are 4. There are also advertisements mixed in, so I'm guessing around 25-30 or so full page advertisements in this whole thing. If you don't believe me, it's Maxim, Dec. 2006, and Angelina Jolie is on the cover. Jessica Alba is in it too. Got to go, I just drooled all over myself.

Anonymous said...

Angela,

I wrote the previous comment about drooling over myself and forgot to put my name on it. This is Scott. Have a good week.

Anonymous said...

Susan Tyner said:

I hunted around the house for a magazine or comic book in order to check for advertisements but all I could find were AARP and The Elks magazines (shuddy-up!)which come to us unbidden but for the fact that Mr. Tyner is a member of both organizations (not ME, you understand.)

They containted the predictable ads geared toward their unique demographic. Vitamins (Mega-Man), Hager Comfort Waist polyester slacks, copper bracelets for arthritis sufferers, coffins, etc.

The cartoons you show here on the blog definitely tie in with our class theme, "What Does the Label Say?"

I think as people get older some of this brand urgency simply ceases to matter. At least I don't know any older people (over 40) who are wrapped up in labels and brands. We just want comfortable pants!

Anonymous said...

Haha! i think these are funny. i really hate commericals! it kills me that you can now to a movie theater and pay...what is it now? $9 to get in (not to mention how much it costs for the snacks)just to sit there and watch commercials at the begining. i thought that was one of the bonuses to going to the movies.
Morgan

Anonymous said...

These pictures really say it all. In the world we live in someone is so eager to get an add out they are even in comic books for children. There are more commericials any more than regular shows. There are even regular scheduled info-mercials ever day. It is so ridiculous. Its hard to imagine a life any more that some one isnt pushing something at you.
-Earls

Anonymous said...

Marcus....

You have to love the simple and subtle ability for cartoons to cut through PC'ness and the kindness of how direct they are and still can be very funny, and have an excellent ability to get their point across... Very funny
Marcus

Anonymous said...

Cartoons are great! I can't think of a better way to present satire to all ages and demographics. I really like the one in the middle. I've noticed during the evening news programs there are a lot of commercials for cholesterol and anti-depression medication.

Anonymous said...

I haven't read a comic book since I was wrapped up in the Simpson's comics so I wouldn't know if they have advertisments....I'm assuming they would since advertisments are everywhere and you can't even walk down the street without reading Got Milk? on the side of a bus bench. The middle cartoon is very entertaining. It shows how must of Americans get their information; from the media and news inparticular. This is not necessarily the way to go but hey it's a great country!

Amanda G.

Anonymous said...

I think anyway you try to get a point across can definitely be done but a cartoon is a good way to do it. In these ads it seems to point out how advertising is really taking over everything, unforunatley even comic books. I think cartoons is a good way to show this beause it is done not taking to much offense to anyone or anything. My favorite was the one where he's smashing the TV. I's like an ad inside another ad. When I read "priceless" of course I thought of the mastercard commercials. natasha

Anonymous said...

I agree that we all at one time have thought about taking a hammer to our television set because of the insane amount of commercials. And the cartoon where they talk bout anti-anxiety medication was eerily accurate. Anything you see on T.V., there will be commercials that synchronize with the program you are watching. Example, you watch Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network you will most likely see advertisements for kids toys. If you stay up past ten thrity, you will probably see a Girls Gone Wild or some phone dating service commercial. The reason we are able to think these cartoons are funny is because it's sadly something we can all relate to.
Daniela

Anonymous said...

If math books have advertising on it then that it. Every thing will have it no matter what. When sometimes I am in hurry and a show comes up on tv I want to watch it but i don't get to watch the show as much as i watch the commercial and I am sure everyone feels the same. I think it's redicules having more commercial then actual show. Maybe they should show the person where he breaks his tv because of advertising to more magazine, books, and tv so companies will notice how much advertising they do and how it annoye people of having too much advertising to a point where they take the hammer and blow up their tv.
Kazin

Anonymous said...

I think that it is kind of sad to have to resort to cartoons in order to get a point across. They are saying what many people know and feel but are unwilling to confess to someone else. I also think that what makes them funny also takes away some of the seriousness.

Jose M.S.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Jose on this one. It is sad that nobody really takes notice of things until they see a cartoon that catches their eye about it. I really like the middle one a lot though, it's so true how the news shows us all of these horrible acts of violence every day, and never seems to show anything really good, then the commercials are always for some sort of anti-deppresant or some such thing. Gee, I wonder why Americans may feel anxious and deppresed all the time when all we see is violence everywhere we look.

Nick Conant

Anonymous said...

Closed.
Angela