Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Critiquing Cosmetic Progression

Critiquing Cosmetic ProgressionPart OneAbout a ten-spot ago, dive Corporation released a controversial video, which, rather successfully, was able to subliminally satire the modern fashion industrys notorious inclination of distorting physical complexion for increase product marketing. Perhaps even more impressively, they accomplished this in slight time than it takes to re-heat a leftover plate of spaghetti. Enter Dove Evolution. quantify in at just over a minute in length, this advertisement has achieved widespread appraisal for its unparalleled ability to challenge modern-day plights related to self- esteem (particularly in women) as a result of the uninterrupted degrading stimuli being solicited through media outlets. Upon watching this clip myself, I experienced an array of emotions ranging from calm, to apprehension, and even mild bewilderment. As the brief video has no dialogue, the importance of background symphony is noticeably enforced. At the opening, were present ed with soothing Greco-Roman piano chords, as our female subject takes a seat in the lead the camera inner of the contextual production studio. Alarmingly, the tempo begins to cursorilyen introducing intelligent pulses of bass rhythm while simultaneously, bright lights are introduced as a means of hastily diminishing the facial nerve blemishes of the woman. Her initially optimistic sort begins to steer toward that of a nerve wracked teenager as the videos speed becomes digitally modified cosmetologists bustle closely, enhancing her hairstyle at an inhuman pace, while a quick series of bright camera shots catches the viewer off guard with a semi-photo sensitive intensity. Never ceasing in its rapid course, the video transitions to a utmost still-frame of the physically enhanced woman, at which point an Adobe PhotoShop heads-up demonstration is introduced. chase a painstakingly meticulous series of alterations lip saturation, nerve center widening, shadow exaggerations, and a neck extension, the camera angle slowly pans outwards causing the viewer to witness a suburban street with our of import characters revised complexion strung upon a billboard. A pair of boylike women, observe this obstruction in passing forward to the screens final cease to black. Subsequently, a credit appears to comp some(prenominal), along with a statement concerning warped corporate perceptions. Theres meaning in the text and images here beyond what may be immediately apparent on that points a rhetorical framework and a substance that suggests something more significant and complex than what observers may see on a first look.Part TwoBreaking down the advertisement further, it becomes quite apparent that a pathodic appeal to personal emotions is invoked on multiple levels. From the outset, the music puts us at ease, before abruptly shifting to incorporate drums and additional rock-based instruments on a dual track layer. Personally, this technique, coinciding with the changing facial expressions the woman was undergoing away, resonated a sense of alarm within me (as if I was about to witness a p terminaling act of brutality). With that said, I think any viewer experiencing similar emotions at this point would have found it dire how relentlessly the hairdressers went about their business, seemingly void of any compassion. Maybe this was the directors intention, because a resulting feeling of sympathy for this woman blossomed in my soul. By now, Dove has its audiences feelings on autopilot, and is able to orchestrate them befittingly for the duration of the editing sequences. Im inclined to deduct that the photo-shopping was revealed in an attempt to drive the hammer into the nail of what we already knew this full(a) time nobody is naturally that attractive That isnt to say, though, that the closing act couldnt be reaming with hints of ethos in addition to the aforementioned rhetoric. I noticed that the billboard hosting the end product poi nted to an different popular brand in the skin foreboding sector. Do we sense a conspiracy at work amongst the conglomerates? Im going to circle back to this revelation later, as I believe its historic to factor into the grand scheme of whats transpiring.Part ThreeIn prolongation to the closing statement I made in the previous paragraph, there are a number of admonishments Id like to point out to my readers, in order to address the more metaphorical sights of this video (or what may potentially be interpreted as such). First, something that caught my attention early on, was that the correction of facial blemishes on the subjected woman were given utmost priority to any other items on the touch-up task list. I would infer that on a large scale, this hints at a hierarchical approach the fashion industry adopts when evaluating beauty. Following that logic, we could conclude that a raw human face warrants correction prior to any makeup, hair, or airbrush modifications conducted by modeling agency experts. flat out theyre judging your primary feature with heightened scrutiny.Secondly, the overall pace of the advertisement, as I previously mentioned, was extremely swift. Coupled with the background tunes, this probably assisted in delivering the broadest possible range of emotionally triggering stimuli to target audiences in the designated timeframe undoubtedly a premeditated play. The objective of this ad was essentially to call out the elephant in the room, (or in this case, perhaps the one in Hollywood) and in order to do that, Dove knew that relying on a pathos-based approach would prove to be a strategic ally to influence viewers with the desired message.Finally, the billboard itself was hardened in a neighborhood which appeared to be centered on any working-class citizens, high-school youth, and/or single parents aspiring for more. I gleaned this demographical hypothesis by noting the surrounding environment composed exclusively of brick apartment c omplexes, wire fencing, and employ cars. Suffice it to say that if this is indeed a factual theory, it would correlate nicely with the idea that Dove wants to spread its agenda like a wildfire passim the general consumer populace many of whom may have otherwise remained in blissful ignorance to the proceedings commencing behind closed doors.Part FourPrimarily, I fathom that women of Millennial and X generations would be the most heavily wedge audience after watching this advertisement. Furthermore, I would ascertain that those impacts have loosely positive connotations, superseding the manipulative (unethical?) bodily practices exposed therein. In support of this claim, I located a research resume conducted by Stephanie L Quigg in 2010. The purpose was to identify how a brief ad could abate the proscribe effects imposed on self-esteem through traditional media propaganda. The study consisted of exposing groups of women to one of three variants a music video padded with mensu ration commercials, the same music video padded with preventative commercials, and TV with non-human cerebrate commercials. The outcome determined that seeing the music videos ultimately led to unhorse levels of self-satisfaction in test subjects, in contrast to the group that didnt. interestingly though, in her subsequent book titled Body Image, Quiggreveals exposure to the intervention commercial counter-acted this effect. Demonstrating the extent which media portrayals of women are artificially enhanced can mitigate detrimental effects on female appearance satisfaction (135-142).Earlier, I mentioned Id be elaborating on the concept of concealed marketing loaded inside of well-intentioned messaging. Taking a tip from Bob Garfield, a journalist reviewing the Ogilvy Mather Agency, (who represent the film) I quickly uncovered another mind who shares my demoralize proposition. Quoting his article specifically, the bonus is, if they stay with this message come what may, theyll a lso period of play over lots of whatever it is apart from the uncomfortable truth theyre marketing (Garfield). That statement really makes me wonder if any act of good nature is pure these days or is everything simply a clever wile to boost a bottom line?Part FiveTo end my analysis, Id like to reiterate to my readers, the importance of executing caution in retort to all sources of mainstream advertising, regardless of implied positive messages. In this discussion, Ive brought to light how what was formerly thought to be a feat of goodwill by Dove, might really constitute as a turncoat for a corrupted motive, depending on the eye of the beholder. Its crucial that we embrace this somewhat harsher truth going forward. In order to be competent citizens, its dire that we examine each aspect of a message. Otherwise, we become vulnerable to intelligently situated reverse psychological science governing our buying impulses.Works CitedQuigg, Stephanie L., Stephen C. Want. Highlight ing Media Modifications Can a television setCommercial Mitigate the Effects of Music Videos on Female bearing Satisfaction? Body Image, vol. 8, Elsevier, 2011, pp. 135-42. Science Direct, Elsevier, 2011, doi10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.11.008.Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.Tackling Ugly Truth, Dove Effort Evolves Beautifully. Review of Dove Evolution, by Bob Garfield, 2006. Advertising Age, revision 2015, Crain Communications, 29 Oct. 2006, www.adage.com/article/ad-review/tackling-ugly-truth-dove-effort-evolves-beautifully/112837/.Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.Unilever Group. Dove Evolution. The Evolution Video The part of Photoshop and Airbrushing in the Media, Unilever, 11 Jan. 2016, www.dove.com/uk/dove-self-esteem-project/help-for-parents/media-and-celebrities/the-evolution-video.html.Accessed 6 Mar. 2016.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.