http://lucidsystems.com/blog/2009/10/unintended-consequences-food-ads-automatically-prime-eating-in-children-and-adults/
This article discusses some of the unintended effects of image priming in commercial advertisements. The author discusses a study analyzing the priming effects of television food advertising on eating behavior that in his words, “shows in undeniable terms that advertising is a powerful real-world prime for both children and adults.” However, the commercials were not necessarily promoting favorability toward the consumption of the product advertised, but rather the consumption of whatever food the viewer had access to.
In one experiment, 120 grade school children individually viewed a kids' cartoon show; half were shown food ads during the show, the other half saw ads not associated with food. A bowl of “goldfish” crackers (not one of the food products advertised) were given to the children while they watched. The study showed that kids who watched the snack ads during the show consumed 45% more crackers than kids who watched non-food ads.
The priming effect is blatantly obvious here, and it shows just how serious this effect can be. Although the ads promote a particular product to consume, viewers were simply primed to eat anything put in front of them. The ads activated an implicit motivational goal to eat, which was pursued automatically by the viewers. As soon as the snacks were provided, the pursuit to achieve this implicit motivational goal was initiated, without any conscious awareness from the viewer.
Tom Gervasio
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Dan LePera- Image Priming
http://antypography.com/2009/01/21/obama/
In class, we discussed the idea of priming. Priming is a cognitive process, in which media information increases temporarily the accessibility of knowledge units in the memory of an individual, which makes it more likely that these knowledge units are used in the reception, interpretation and judgment for external information. It refers to the effort of some preceding stimulus or event on how we react.
We specifically talked about image priming versus issue priming. Image priming is when people judge something, a candidate for example, based on the way they walk, talk, and present themselves. Then there is issue priming, which is when people judge candidates on their policies. There is a big problem in today’s society with image priming and this article greatly supports this problem.
In this editorial, the authors, Scott Thomas and Walker Hamilton, compare the websites of two presidents. They explain how the website of President George Bush is old, the design is dated and the content is boring. The authors continue on to explain how this website represents the man.
Next they explained how Barack Obama’s website is very beautiful and they even refer to it as “flawless”. They continue on to explain how the website makes them proud to be an American and explain the great art and design appeal that Obama has. The authors compare candidates based on websites.
This is relevant to our class discussion on image priming versus issue priming. How can you really compare two people based on their websites? Obama had not done anything, yet these authors already thought he was a better president based on a website. This website supports our idea that image priming is everywhere.
I have a problem with this website and all other cases of image priming, but for candidates, this just tells you that what you say doesn’t mean as much. Issue priming still exists, but in the United States, people have limited political knowledge. The scary part of this website and America in general, is that many people judge things based on appearance.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Anti-French Sentiments
One of the best examples I can think of about how media guides thinking on a grand scale is the anti-French sentiment felt in the mid 2000s. After France announced their decision to not back America in its crusade into Iraq, the backlash was incredible. Starting with the House cafeterias french fries and french toast were renamed to "freedom" fries and "freedom" toast and the trend quickly spread across the country. French wine was dumped into bodies of water and perhaps one of the strangest attempts was a petition to send the Statue of Liberty back.
The media caught wind this story and almost seemed to drive it into the ground. Many different stereotypes about the French people running away from fights and not standing their ground started to circulate. The media framed this as America taking a stand for what it believes in and accused France of wavering. While there was a firestorm in America of anti-French sentiment, there is evidence from media in other countries that they still supported France's stance. Even today after the war in Iraq has been raging for so long and the French look like they had the right idea, there is still an underlying cowardly Frenchman stereotype that surfaces every now and then.
Some example articles:
CNN about the House's name changes
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/11/sprj.irq.fries/index.html
Article about protesters
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/08/1046826560311.html
Petition to send Lady Liberty back
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/iraq/2045074/detail.html
BBC New's report on the situation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2848979.stm
-Brittany Thomas
The media caught wind this story and almost seemed to drive it into the ground. Many different stereotypes about the French people running away from fights and not standing their ground started to circulate. The media framed this as America taking a stand for what it believes in and accused France of wavering. While there was a firestorm in America of anti-French sentiment, there is evidence from media in other countries that they still supported France's stance. Even today after the war in Iraq has been raging for so long and the French look like they had the right idea, there is still an underlying cowardly Frenchman stereotype that surfaces every now and then.
Some example articles:
CNN about the House's name changes
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/11/sprj.irq.fries/index.html
Article about protesters
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/08/1046826560311.html
Petition to send Lady Liberty back
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/iraq/2045074/detail.html
BBC New's report on the situation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2848979.stm
-Brittany Thomas
Sprial of Silence
Article: Obama's Spiral of Silence by Wynton Hall
http://townhall.com/columnists/WyntonHall/2008/10/31/obamas_spiral_of_silence
This article discusses how the spiral-of-silence was thought to play a part in the Obama/McCain campaign. Writer Wynton Hall wrote that in October of 2008, the polls show that America was favoring Obama by a larger number. Hall wrote that this favoring and lack of coverage of McCain could be the result of the spiral-of-silence; meaning that conservatives, knowing they were in the minority, could have kept away from polls. Hall says that "if the Spiral of Silence thesis is accurate, this means that the lopsided liberal coverage—not Mr. Obama’s race—will have been responsible for silencing support for Senator McCain in national polls." He goes on throughout the article to discuss the origin of the sprial-of-silence. It was created by a German political scientist named Elisabeth Noelle-Neuman in the 1970s. Even though we know who won the campaign, this article shows us how the spiral-of-silence was thought to play a role in our most recent election, one which many of us had a lot of interest in. Also, I chose this article because it fully supports what we've read about and learned about in class regarding the spiral-of-silence. The article gives us background information about this theory and gives us other examples of how it played a role in elections/opinion polls. It supports our reading by saying that those who in the minority of opinion "tend to clam up for fear of social isolation or being ostracized by the majority."
Rachel Horensky
http://townhall.com/columnists/WyntonHall/2008/10/31/obamas_spiral_of_silence
This article discusses how the spiral-of-silence was thought to play a part in the Obama/McCain campaign. Writer Wynton Hall wrote that in October of 2008, the polls show that America was favoring Obama by a larger number. Hall wrote that this favoring and lack of coverage of McCain could be the result of the spiral-of-silence; meaning that conservatives, knowing they were in the minority, could have kept away from polls. Hall says that "if the Spiral of Silence thesis is accurate, this means that the lopsided liberal coverage—not Mr. Obama’s race—will have been responsible for silencing support for Senator McCain in national polls." He goes on throughout the article to discuss the origin of the sprial-of-silence. It was created by a German political scientist named Elisabeth Noelle-Neuman in the 1970s. Even though we know who won the campaign, this article shows us how the spiral-of-silence was thought to play a role in our most recent election, one which many of us had a lot of interest in. Also, I chose this article because it fully supports what we've read about and learned about in class regarding the spiral-of-silence. The article gives us background information about this theory and gives us other examples of how it played a role in elections/opinion polls. It supports our reading by saying that those who in the minority of opinion "tend to clam up for fear of social isolation or being ostracized by the majority."
Rachel Horensky
Austin Kelly blog
Honestly, I had to watch it more than a few times to take in everything that was being thrown at me. But just check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8&feature=related
Monday, February 8, 2010
Priming
Have you ever noticed how commercials always seem consistent with our expectations of "reality?" In class we discussed the effects of priming, and how as a result of priming in the media we, in fact, may form certain judgments or expectations. For example, when we think of the duties of the household like cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc. we often assume it to be a woman's role. Here is an example of a commercial that fits in with and perpetuates our expectations of the role of women. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpEyKKJLlmI
Naturally, this commercial doesn't cause us to think twice. We simply agree with it without actually realizing it. Women and cleaning--it fits into our schema. However, take a look at the new marketing campaign for Starburst. The commercial has you thinking twice--from a marketing standpoint this is a good thing (as we'll remember the Starbursts), but it shows an example of how priming really does play a role in forming our expectations/stereotypical ways of thinking. Take a look...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHgo4tPIjvk&feature=related
It certainly produces a "double-take" effect because it does not coincide with the judgments or assumptions we are used to making.
(posted by Cally)
Naturally, this commercial doesn't cause us to think twice. We simply agree with it without actually realizing it. Women and cleaning--it fits into our schema. However, take a look at the new marketing campaign for Starburst. The commercial has you thinking twice--from a marketing standpoint this is a good thing (as we'll remember the Starbursts), but it shows an example of how priming really does play a role in forming our expectations/stereotypical ways of thinking. Take a look...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHgo4tPIjvk&feature=related
It certainly produces a "double-take" effect because it does not coincide with the judgments or assumptions we are used to making.
(posted by Cally)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Agenda Setting- President Obama- Citizen Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pqzNJYzh7I&feature=featured
In class we discussed the theory of agenda setting. We also discussed some of the most important issues being dealt with in America today, some of which being economy, education, and health care. As a running candidate for presidency it is your main concern to address these topics with voting America. Political candidates will make promises to reform the ongoing problems within our current system. We learned about a causal relationship between politicians, the mass media, and the public when dealing with agenda setting. There is also a feedback loop in which the cycle reverses. The public will set the agenda that will then affect the mass media and the political candidates. In this YouTube video titled "Citizens Tube: Interview with President Obama" American citizens are able to submit questions they want answered about reform that President Obama had promised. The first question brought up involved concerns about health care reform. Health care would be considered first level agenda setting from the public. The second level would be the attribute salience dealing with insurance reforms. President Obama shared his ideas of instituting better practices and a more effective health care system. Other question included jobs and economy, financial reform, and education. President Obama broke those big topics down into smaller sections, and discussed what he plans to do for small businesses, the unemployment rate, and tax credits.
It amazes me how technology like the Internet and YouTube allows the public to set the agenda for such a powerful man as the president. This interview took place five days after the President's State of the Union Address. American citizens were able to voice their opinion and get feedback on which issues are effecting them the most. This allows the president and the American people to stay connected and keep a strong, trusting relationship.
In class we discussed the theory of agenda setting. We also discussed some of the most important issues being dealt with in America today, some of which being economy, education, and health care. As a running candidate for presidency it is your main concern to address these topics with voting America. Political candidates will make promises to reform the ongoing problems within our current system. We learned about a causal relationship between politicians, the mass media, and the public when dealing with agenda setting. There is also a feedback loop in which the cycle reverses. The public will set the agenda that will then affect the mass media and the political candidates. In this YouTube video titled "Citizens Tube: Interview with President Obama" American citizens are able to submit questions they want answered about reform that President Obama had promised. The first question brought up involved concerns about health care reform. Health care would be considered first level agenda setting from the public. The second level would be the attribute salience dealing with insurance reforms. President Obama shared his ideas of instituting better practices and a more effective health care system. Other question included jobs and economy, financial reform, and education. President Obama broke those big topics down into smaller sections, and discussed what he plans to do for small businesses, the unemployment rate, and tax credits.
It amazes me how technology like the Internet and YouTube allows the public to set the agenda for such a powerful man as the president. This interview took place five days after the President's State of the Union Address. American citizens were able to voice their opinion and get feedback on which issues are effecting them the most. This allows the president and the American people to stay connected and keep a strong, trusting relationship.
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