http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOSX-Hdqx0
So while this assignment specifically said to pick one commercial, I decided to bend that rule slightly by picking an entire series of commercials that are all essentially the same ad. Each ad is for a Kia Optima, which is specially equipped for the purposes of this ad to allow NBA star Blake Griffin to travel backwards through time. Each ad has Griffin specifically returning to his own past to give advice to his younger self.
These ads all feature Blake Griffin going back in time and trying to set a sort of example for himself at various points in his youth. He is constantly nonchalant, sounding gruff and emotionless as he attempts to steer his younger self through some of his old dilemmas. The football vs. basketball ad in particular is a relatively common choice posed to present-day jocks, and Griffin is clearly trying to make his own life easier by specializing earlier. This reflects modern attitudes towards certain sports as athletes face increasing pressure to pick and choose earlier in life.
However, in addition to certain comments this makes about sport, it also contains very strong elements of conventional masculinity. Particularly, the second ad (the football ad again), which has Griffin telling his younger self to abandon his denim jean shorts. "Just trust me." What this commercial is implying is that while jean shorts are extremely practical, Griffin does not wear those types clothes anymore now that he is a 'real man.' In the third ad, set in an arcade, the younger Blake is playing a racing simulator video game when the older Blake appears, plugging his real car by mockingly comparing it to the fake arcade car. Now that Griffin is a real man, he can drive a real car. This is the message the Kia is clearly driving home with this series of ads.
I like how you used a series of ads! They all are very interesting! I think it is interesting that Kia put some of his younger dilemmas to show their message, and sell their product. I feel like a lot of companies don't do that.
ReplyDeleteGia Porreco
I agree with Gia with the series of ads they are great. I definitely agree with the jean shorts thing, because it has nothing to do with KIA at all yet they still throw in a gender role of being a 'real man'. Also, your idea about specializing in sports at an early age is perfectly in line with young athletes and specifically boys in how they need to choose one sport so they can make it to the next level because it will take all their time.
ReplyDeleteTyler Albo
I really like how you take a different approach to this one. Even though we've have looked at ads for another post this one is especially different because of what you bring into the discussion about societal pressures to choose a sport early on. I also find it interesting that you bring what clothing makes a 'real man'. There are so many elements to gender performativity and this ad reveals just how far performance and gender go hand in hand
ReplyDelete^Comment posted by Hannah Wainright
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