I haven’t taken many psychology courses and I really haven't studied advertisements until this course; however, I am an avid watcher of Mad Men. While the show is fiction, its depiction of the ad industry in the 1960s is thoroughly researched. It really delves into the psychology behind advertising. In the show, the execs who write copy don’t have degrees in psychology (although the agency does consult psychologists), but by drawing from life experiences, they create ads that appeal to the psyche of consumers.
Watch these clips and tell me what you think. Could they be useful in the classroom?
Belle Jolie lipstick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y4b-DEkIps
Kodak Carousel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRDUFpsHus
Forgot to say this in my original post...
ReplyDeleteUsing Mad Men in the classroom kills two birds with one stone: TV and advertisements.
I really responded to both of these ads. The lipstick ad, of course, appeals to women's predatory sense, but, especially given the time, it's a delicious role reversal--the female marking her territory, and the marketing not of a lipstick, but of a kiss. It would be superb for classroom use.
ReplyDeleteSo would the Kodak Carousel. I actually remember when this came out, and my family rushed out to buy it for our vacation slides. Frankly I don't remember it' being advertised and I never made the nostalgic connection with the carousel, but it is brilliant. Even if it had never been made explicit, I think the power of the word is so suggestive. (BTW, I have a cousin being married at the Holyoke, MA carousel in 2 weeks.)
I think both of these could easily be used in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteLipstick: gender, point of view, theme, and something (I can't put my finger on it) about the color red.
Kodak: foreshadowing & flashback.
You could do something like "if you had to take a picture of something in your life right now, what would it be? describe it?"
or
"Is there more to these photos than just a sales pitch? What are we learning about the characters in the room?"
Something like that. If I have misinterpreted the scene, let me know. Sadly, I never got around to watching this show.
This is great stuff, Ben. These clips bring up many topics: advertising, business, 1950s/60s American History/Culture/Society, and the construction of texts.
ReplyDeleteI think, at the very least, you could use the Carousel clip as a mentor text for exploring memory and nostalgia. How do we learn about a character in his/her present from his/her past? What does our memory keep and filter out?
Thanks for sharing this. I might have to start watching the show!
Great suggestions, folks.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend this show. The newest season doesn’t air until March 2012, but the first four seasons are available on DVD. If you have time, check it out!