BLog #3

            I think that the role of mass media in the formation of a consumer society is that mass media is almost taking advantage of how our society is so consumer driven and they are using that as a plan to sell and advertise different products.  For example if someone sees a great magazine ad and it looks appealing to them, they will most likely give the product a try because that’s our society operates. 

            I feel that advertisements promise us a sense of comfort to the consumer.  When you look at a advertisement in a magazine or a TV commercial it gives you that sense of comfort where if you buy this product or at least try it then you will not be disappointed.  I think another reason why it provides you with comfort because they have people on the ads or on the commercials that can back up how they feel about the product and how the product worked for them so it must be good.  When you see a celebrity vouching for a product you can usually be persuaded to at least try the product because you feel safe that other people have tried it.

            The advertisement I looked at was a fragrance by the Beckhams.  Posh Beckham has a female fragrance and David Beckham has a male fragrance.  My reaction at first to the images in the ad was that it was made to make people feel almost as beautiful as the Beckhams.  The picture was dark and it just had their two heads next to each other with the two fragrances underneath them.  It was just a very provocative but yet catchy picture that will grab your attention right away but also it will make you wonder about buying the product because David Beckham is such a well known figure in American society and the world. 

            I think that the advertisement looks the way it does is because it wants to give off that seductive look almost but then it also wants to give off a look of elegance and class.  I think the Beckhams want their fragrances to be almost like the highest class of fragrances but also they want it to be something that middle class people will use also.   I think that the advertisment is promising that your sex appeal and overall class status in society will go up by using their product.  If you look at David Beckham he is the highest an athlete will get in our society and I think he’s playing the role that if you use his fragrance you will end up being at the top of the mountain just like he is. 

            My initial impression of the advertisement changed slightly after doing the study on the ad.  My first impressions will usually stay with me about how the sex appeal and how it is trying to make you almost be like the Beckhams.  I also think that my view changed a little more about the fact that the ad may have been trying to target all different ages and not just one classy age group. 

            I think that the ad reflefcts the dreams of our society because everyone really wants to get to the top of our class and be the upper class in society.  I think that this ad is trying to portray the American dream to us and that everyone wants to be a star in this world whether they admit it or not, this ad is saying that if you use their product then you will defiantly end up having “star status.”