Blog Assignment 1: Semiotics
This first ad shows us Joe Camel of Camel cigarettes undergoing cancer treatment. This spoof ad works because viewers should recognize Joe Camel not only as a mascot for Camel cigarettes, but as an advocate for how cool and laid back smoking makes you seem. His characteristic black sunglasses, which emphasize Joe’s suave, cool persona, are off his face, and he is now staring at them as if he recognizes the emptiness of the lie they stand for. Viewers unfamiliar with the Joe Camel ads would still be familiar with the concept of black sunglasses as a symbolic representation of chillness, and the idea of cool, as this is persistent in American culture all the way back to the 60′s. Viewers also know that chemo therapy makes you lose your hair, so they emphasize the baldness of Joe’s head and ad veins to it to make him look extra sick. Additionally, most viewers know about the surgeon general’s warning/symbol on packs of cigarettes which inform you of the dangers of smoking. The artists use this warning to play on the dangers of smoking by using something non medical like “wasted potential” as an adverse effect.
The symbol of the golden arches represents McDonald’s while the French fry crown represents one of the most popular menu items at McDonald’s. McDonald’s has been a symbol of poor health, and malicious marketing to children for many years, and so the idea of putting this symbol and this food on a baby is a commentary on how McDonald’s continued targeting of youths has contributed to a youth obesity an health crisis in America, and is now doing so the world over.
Viewers will recognize the Absolut bottle, and if they don’t they will likely notice it is a vodka bottle from the text. Viewers know that liquor bottles usually stand upright, so they will recognize that this one is deflated or not erect. Savvy onlookers will understand the concept of whiskey-dick or men being unable to get off or maintain erections when they drink too much, and long term alcohol abuse can permanently impact a man’s potency. Viewer’s shouls also know that Absolut ads usually say Absolut _____ usually with something exciting and awesome filling the blank as in Absolut Adventure, to highlight the wild and fun time that the user of the product will have. Here, the artists use the Absolut tagline to highlight one of the negative consequences of heavy drinking, to contrast the fun careless side of it that absolut chooses to present in it’s ads.
Apples are a symbol of schoolhouses and teachers. House shapes are often used to represent schoolhouses. Most schools are Smoke Free zones, or Drug Free Zones, and have signs similar to this spoof ad to show that. However, schools often allow companies to insidiously advertise themselves to students through posters, and through vending machines. This spoof ad comments on how this type of advertisement and product placement should not be forced upon children, and thus not be allowed in school. All schools should be ad free zones as they are a place of learning.