Mass Media Mind Control - Page 9 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ARTelevision · 06-08-2004, 09:19 AM

Here's an interesting image used in a Stepford Wives ad.

It seems that it goes by very fast.
(see below)

.............

Controversial 'Stepford Wives' Ad Shows Hillary, Condoleezza
UPDATED: 12:04 PM EDT June 8, 2004
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some people are saying the way Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice are portrayed in an ad for the new "Stepford Wives" film is distasteful, even outrageous.

The spot shows an image of Rice made to look nude from the waist up, and a picture of Clinton that morphs into what looks like a cookie-baking Stepford wife.

The pictures move across the screen very quickly, but they caught the eye of a Kansas City woman, who recorded the spot to make sure of what she was seeing.

Becky Reynolds said when she taped and watched the ad again, she "realized it was even worse" that what she'd suspected.
"It's just inappropriate, and it needs to be stopped," Reynolds said.
For those who haven't seen the 1975 thriller by director Bryan Forbes, the 2004 version is pretty much the same, but with a dash of technical wizardry. Both films are based on a book by Ira Levin about a small Connecticut town where the women act too perfectly -- because their husbands have replaced them with robots.
But Reynolds says the less-than-perfect images in the advertisement for the new film will keep her out of the theater.

Pat Gray, who works with Northstar Marketing Group, said the ad shows bad taste toward Rice and Clinton.
"In today's media environment, I don't know whether it's unacceptable morally or not -- distasteful, for sure," Gray said. "If I were them, I'd probably sue."
Gray also said the ad wouldn't drive him to the theater.
"That certainly wouldn't stimulate me to go see the movie," he said.
Nancy Kirkpatrick, a spokeswoman for Paramount Pictures, said the film studio hasn't received any complaints about the spot. Paramount hasn't heard from Rice or Clinton, either.

Cynthetiq · 06-08-2004, 10:35 AM

interesting...

I spent the weekend talking to a professor at NYU who is moving down to Savannah to head up the Digital Media department there. He talked to me about all the digital manipulation and such. The thing that struck me was the goal.. photo realism.

i told him that I would love to see ILM vs. Weta vs. Rhythm & Hues vs. Digital Domain etc., doing EXACTLY the same scene, and see definitively who is the better house.

Cynthetiq · 06-24-2004, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Monday, Jun. 28, 2004
Pitching It To Kids
On sites like Neopets.com, brands are embedded in the game. Is children's marketing going too far?
By DAREN FONDA/GLENDALE
Chirita isn't feeling well. A furry green creature with four legs and a pair of wings, she has come down with a case of the Neomites, a common affliction in the mythical online world of Neopia. The Neopian pharmacy sometimes stocks a cure, but it's pricey, costing about 330 Neopoints. What's Chirita's owner, Wendy Mendoza, 10, of Atlanta, to do? One way to rack up the points would be to play any of the 110 free games on Neopets.com, trying activities like bumper cars or chemistry for beginners. Then again, Wendy could also score by hunting for secret images in the site's virtual McDonald's, trying her hand at the Lucky Charms Super Search game or watching cereal ads in the General Mills theater — earning 150 points a commercial. Wendy visits the site several days a week. "I like playing on it better than watching TV," she says.

Wendy may not realize it, but in Neopia she's the target of the latest twist in children's marketing — a burgeoning and increasingly controversial business. In the past decade, corporate America's annual budget for advertising products and services to kids has more than doubled, to an estimated $15 billion. The pot of gold: $600 billion in family spending that children under 13 are said to influence, along with $40 billion in pocket money that they spend on purchases from candy to clothes, an amount projected to hit nearly $52 billion in 2008, according to the market research firm Mintel. As many a besieged parent can attest, children's marketing seems to be raining down everywhere, from the Internet to video games to coloring books. And with kids increasingly splitting their time among all manner of media, not to mention extracurricular activities, "marketers are targeting children younger and younger in every way they can," says James McNeal, a children's marketing consultant based in College Station, Texas.

Is the ad parade getting out of hand? Consumer advocates say it is, claiming that an explosion of ads for junk food, aimed primarily at children, is fueling the obesity epidemic. (The food industry's lobbying group, the Grocery Manufacturers of America, denies that claim, saying there's no definitive data linking advertising to obesity.) Another issue: that the lines between advertising, entertainment and educational materials are increasingly blurring, as you may have noticed if you have seen schooling materials like the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Counting Fun book or toys like the Play-Doh George Foreman Grill. "It's unfair. Children don't even know they're being advertised to," says Susan Linn, author of Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood.

Even professionals devoted to marketing seem concerned about some of the brand-building tactics. According to a poll of youth marketers conducted by Harris Interactive earlier this year, 91% of those surveyed said that kids are being pitched to in ways that they don't even notice, and 61% believe that advertising to children starts too young. At what age do they think it's O.K.? A majority of the pros in the poll think it's appropriate to start advertising to kids at age 7, even though they feel that children can't "effectively separate fantasy from reality in media and advertising" before age 9 or make intelligent purchase decisions before 12. A recent study by the American Psychological Association confirmed that children under 8 have a tough time distinguishing ads from entertainment. But don't expect those findings to kill the product-placement party. "Kids' marketing just grows as businesses realize that children have more purchasing potential than any other demographic," says consultant McNeal, who advises FORTUNE 500 firms on marketing policies.

Sites like Neopets are taking the old concept of product placement to sophisticated new heights. With 11 million users, 39% under 13, Neopets is one of the Internet's most popular and "stickiest" destinations. Users visit on average for 3 1/2 hours a month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. But unlike sites that generate ad revenues by inserting pop-ups or banners along a page that are easily identified (and ignored), Neopets offers marketers what company CEO Doug Dohring calls "immersive advertising." The company integrates ad messages into the site's content, creating "advergames" for clients based on a product-or brand-awareness campaign. The company then tracks site activity and provides demographic and usage data to customers, offering a window into kids' purchasing habits.

At the Neopia food shop, for instance, Uh Oh Oreo cookies, Nestle SweeTarts and Laffy Taffy candy (along with unprocessed foods) have occasionally been available to buy with Neopoints to feed virtual pets. Kids can also win points by watching cereal ads or movie trailers in the Disney theater. And they can fatten their Neopoints accounts by participating in marketing surveys. Universal Pictures recently ran a survey on the site to assess and build awareness of a forthcoming kids' movie, Two Brothers. Another pitch on the Neopets home page: click through to a website called Dealtime.com and compare such consumer electronics as Sharp and Sony camcorders, getting to know brands in the process.

"It's sneaky," says Clancy Mendoza, mother of Neopets fan Wendy, who forbids her daughter to take the surveys. Even with the more playful features, the marketing messages are seeping through. After Wendy tried a Neopets game with a tie-in to Avril Lavigne's new CD, she told her mom she wanted the music. After an advergame's launch, says Neopets' Dohring, surveys have shown double-digit increases in the number of users who have tried a product embedded in the game.

At company headquarters in Glendale, Calif., posters of Neopets dolls decorate the walls, and dozens of young workers sit in cubicles programming and creating content for Neopia. Speaking in a conference room, Dohring emphasizes that branded content is less than 1% of the site's total. "We're not trying to be subliminal or deceive the user. We label all the immersive ad campaigns as paid advertisements."

But critics say websites like Neopets enable advertisers to skirt TV-industry practices that alert children to commercials with bumper announcements like, "Hey, kids, we'll be right back after these messages." Neopets Inc. press materials declare that advertisers can embed their brands "directly into entertaining site content." The practice isn't illegal, and Dohring says Neopets complies with the Children's Online Privacy Act, which bars companies from collecting personal information from Internet users under 13. Still, by embedding brand characters into games and activities, the ad "just goes unnoticed by the child, much less the parent," says McNeal, a critic of such practices. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa plans to introduce a bill this week that would reinstate the Federal Trade Commission's ability to issue rules on unfair advertising to children (the ad industry now abides by voluntary guidelines).

Whatever one's opinion of it, the Neopets franchise is expanding. Neopets Inc. has revenues of more than $15 million annually and is turning a profit after just four years in business, says Dohring. Neopia now exists in nine languages, including Chinese (Dutch is next). The company is growing with a line of merchandise, including stuffed animals, toys and a trading-card game. Fueling that growth is Dohring's advertising pitch, which has attracted some major, if reticent, clients. Disney, General Mills and Universal Pictures, contacted by TIME to discuss their business with Neopets, declined to comment. Asked about McDonald's association with the site, Kathy Pyle, the fast-food company's director of kids' marketing, said, "McDonald's wants to be integrated into the online experience. We have been doing it for entertainment purposes, not directly selling." McDonald's, however, is offering Neopets toys in Happy Meals, cross-promoted on the site.

Internet advergaming isn't limited to Neopets. Food manufacturers in particular are luring kids to their brands with similar offerings. Postopia.com, a popular Kraft Foods site, offers a full arcade of games, some (like the Pebbles Quarry Adventure) linked to sweetened cereals and drinks like Kool-Aid. Look closely at the bottom of the home page and you can see the fine print: "We, at Post, want to let you know that this page contains commercial advertising where we mention products we sell."

Plenty of other corporate initiatives are under way to grab kids' attention. WalMart has been drawing kids (and their parents' pocketbooks) to its stores with a marketing concept called "retailainment." In one version last fall, kids visiting WalMart received Bob the Builder coloring books and could go on a "safety scavenger hunt" that led them to the toy, hardware and infant-and-toddler departments. What's going on? Preschoolers are now considered a "highly marketable segment for certain products," says a recent report by MarketResearch.com. Though you probably already know that if you have a toddler in the house.

link

It's not as blatant as it was in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and GI Joe heyday 80s... but it's still a horrific thing IMHO. While kids can't tell the difference at a young age, the adults don't fare much better because they were never given the tools for critical thinking.

ARTelevision · 06-24-2004, 09:41 AM

Some folks even believe they have critical thinking abilities.
Unfortunately however, believing one has them isn't the same as having them. It's going to be a long road. IMO, it ain't gonna happen. We're lost...like babes in the woods.

ngdawg · 06-24-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
[B
It's not as blatant as it was in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and GI Joe heyday 80s... but it's still a horrific thing IMHO. While kids can't tell the difference at a young age, the adults don't fare much better because they were never given the tools for critical thinking. [/B]

Seems much more blatant now to me. No one released a major, if any, film starring Snap, Crackle and Pop, but Jimmy Neutron, Spongebob, et al, glare at you from all kinds of food boxes on the shelves. There weren't websites 15, 20 years ago aimed at kids starring their favorite character in games released by food conglomerates.
When my kids were toddlers (and maybe now), Toys R Us frequently ran promotions-with every purchase, your kids got a box full of goodies. Mostly this consisted of snacks and coupons for those snacks. OK, so it introduces my kids to something they may never have otherwise tried. But wrap shit in beautiful paper and put a ribbon on it....it's still shit- more pleasing to the eye, but stinks just the same.

Cynthetiq · 06-24-2004, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ngdawg
Seems much more blatant now to me. No one released a major, if any, film starring Snap, Crackle and Pop, but Jimmy Neutron, Spongebob, et al, glare at you from all kinds of food boxes on the shelves. There weren't websites 15, 20 years ago aimed at kids starring their favorite character in games released by food conglomerates.
When my kids were toddlers (and maybe now), Toys R Us frequently ran promotions-with every purchase, your kids got a box full of goodies. Mostly this consisted of snacks and coupons for those snacks. OK, so it introduces my kids to something they may never have otherwise tried. But wrap shit in beautiful paper and put a ribbon on it....it's still shit- more pleasing to the eye, but stinks just the same.

I guess you never heard of the film Mac and Me funded by McDonald's for the most part...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095560/

but yes there wasn't any websites at the time, cross media and licensing wasn't as big as it is now. Lucas is the master of the licensing after Star Wars hit big, and that's where the motherlode of companies get their money from. Note that Scholastic brand Clifford is not able to compete as well because his missive does not allow for him to be on sugary things, so he's on Kix and a fruit gummy thing.

hammer4all · 06-27-2004, 02:14 AM

Here is a really fascinating documentary all interested in this thread should see: The Corporation ... *cough*

hunnychile · 06-29-2004, 05:51 PM

.....and just for grins...take a look at Joe Camel. See that huge cock and balls in his face? There is hardly Anything subliminal there. They say that the Reynolds Co. has been asked to remove Joe from areas close to schools.

Moobie · 06-29-2004, 09:21 PM

Actually I was under the impression that Camel was unable to use Joe Camel in ads anymore. How long has it been since you've seen him in their ads? Now they have the flapper girl from the '20s and other iconic women as spokes characters.

ARTelevision · 06-29-2004, 09:37 PM

Joe Camel got his walking papers in 1997.
Here's a link that details how the successful campaign to remove his blatantly cock-and-ballsy face from ads came about:

http://www.no-smoking.org/sept97/9-17-97-2.html

Here's the final coffin nail (*cough cough*):

http://www.facts.com/wnd/camel.htm

Cynthetiq · 07-14-2004, 06:18 AM

Harvard study is first to measure Hollywood 'ratings creep'
By Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Movies today have more sex, violence and profanity than similarly rated films did a decade ago, a Harvard study suggests.
The Harvard School of Public Health findings are the first to support the notion of "ratings creep," more risqué and violent scenes being allowed in films rated G, PG, PG-13 and R than in the past.

"This raises the question of 'What does PG really mean?' If parents are basing their experience on (movies) a long time ago, maybe they need to get recalibrated," says study co-author Kimberly Thompson, a Harvard associate professor and director of the school's Kids Risk Project. "The reality is, the ratings don't mean what they did 10 years ago."

Researchers studied films released from 1992 to 2003 with a database of the Motion Picture Association of America's rating reasons and movie content information from independent movie content reviewers Kids-in-Mind (www.kids-in-mind.com) and Screen It! (www.screenit.com).

Among the findings:

•Over the 11-year period, sex and violence in PG films increased, as did sex, violence and profanity in PG-13 films and sex and profanity in R-rated films.

•Smoking, which was not listed by the MPAA as a rating reason for any of the movies, appeared in 79% of films. Alcohol, tobacco or drugs appeared in 93% of films, including 51% of G-rated movies.

•More violence appeared in animated G-rated movies than in non-animated G movies.

Previously, the researchers found significant violence in G-rated animated films and in teen-rated video games. "Parents don't always realize that animation is not a signal that a movie is OK for kids," Thompson says.

Confusing the ratings issue are video games that tie into films such as R-rated The Matrix and the PG-13-rated Lord of the Rings films. Many games target children below the movie's suggested age group, Thompson says, a problem that would be lessened if there were a universal rating system for movies, TV and games.

The MPAA did not comment on the study, but president Jack Valenti has called the rating system "a beneficial tool." The voluntary ratings are determined by a rotating panel of 10 to 13 people in California, who watch 400 to 500 films a year.

With Valenti being replaced Sept. 1 by former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, there is an opportunity for reform, says online reviewer Nell Minow, also known as The Movie Mom. "The fact there's an overall deterioration (of values) is no excuse for the MPAA to mislead parents who think they have a sense of what PG-13 means by continually diluting that."

SinisterMotives · 07-14-2004, 12:41 PM

I have to admit I didn't read this whole thread. I saw through the Madison Avenue Cult and identified it as such many years ago. I philosophized about it, read books about it, and wrote poetry about it. Then I lost interest in it.

The only way out of it I can see is to not participate. I don't own a television set. I don't subscribe to periodicals or look at billboards. I only listen to the radio when the severe weather sirens go off in my town.

For a full philosophical treatment of the "Spectacle", as the Situationists called it, see Guy-Ernest Debord's Society of the Spectacle. Then unplug yourself from the boob tube and go live your own life.

Cynthetiq · 07-14-2004, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SinisterMotives
I have to admit I didn't read this whole thread. I saw through the Madison Avenue Cult and identified it as such many years ago. I philosophized about it, read books about it, and wrote poetry about it. Then I lost interest in it.

The only way out of it I can see is to not participate. I don't own a television set. I don't subscribe to periodicals or look at billboards. I only listen to the radio when the severe weather sirens go off in my town.

For a full philosophical treatment of the "Spectacle", as the Situationists called it, see Guy-Ernest Debord's Society of the Spectacle. Then unplug yourself from the boob tube and go live your own life.

nice idea. I used to not watch much TV nor listen too much to the radio either.

But in the past 10 years my TV watching has increaded at least 1000%, espeically since I'm in the industry.

Cynthetiq · 07-14-2004, 01:19 PM

Cable a la Carte Still Half-Baked By Michael Grebb
Story location: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64203,00.html

02:00 AM Jul. 14, 2004 PT

It's one of the most perplexing questions ever to face humankind: Why can't you buy just the cable channels you actually watch?

At a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on Wednesday, a diverse panel of witnesses representing cable operators, cable channels, consumer advocates and religious broadcasters will jockey for position in the debate.

Several lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), already support mandated "a la carte" carriage. Under such a system, people could pick only the few channels they want rather than have to buy large "tiers" of cable programming that include 70 or 80 channels.

The cable industry argues that an a la carte system would destroy the economics of the business. The argument goes like this:

Without carriage on broad tiers, startup and niche programming wouldn't be able to attract advertising and would quickly wither away, leaving consumers with fewer choices. In addition, as audiences fragment among all the channels, plummeting advertising rates would force surviving networks to raise the license fees they charge cable companies. Those higher fees would in turn get passed right along to customers, increasing the price of each individual channel.

"Even if consumers were to choose just 17 channels, their bills would go up considerably," said Brian Dietz, spokesman for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. "Bundles of programming provide the best value for consumers."

Consumer advocates, however, charge that the cable industry just wants to preserve its power to squash any independent networks in which it doesn't have an ownership stake.

"I think that's a lot of it," said Kenneth DeGraff, a policy analyst at the Consumers Union. "If you ask the smaller cable guys, they're in favor of (a la carte). It's the big media companies that are opposing it."

Indeed, the American Cable Association, which represents small rural cable operators, said it would voluntarily offer a la carte programming if the big program networks would let it.

In legal comments (PDF) to the FCC last year, the group wrote that "the sole reason" it doesn't offer a la carte to its customers "is because media conglomerates, including Disney, Fox and others, flatly deny this option to smaller cable operators."

DeGraff pointed out that the gay-themed channel PrideVision TV has seen much success on Canadian cable systems since the channel's launch in 2000, but it has "had no success getting on here (in the United States)" largely because it is independent. "They can't be offered because they have no leverage," he said.

DeGraff said such niche channels would find it easier to gain carriage in an a la carte world because they wouldn't take up any space on a bundled tier.

Of course, it's unclear how much power the big cable companies actually wield.

According to the FCC's 2004 report on video competition, none of the top six cable system conglomerates holds an ownership interest in more than 18 percent of all national programming networks.

"The a la carte bundling helps the most totally independent, non-vertically integrated networks," said Frank Lloyd, a cable industry attorney at the Washington law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. "Otherwise, these networks could never survive."

Lloyd represents GoodLife TV Network, an independent programmer that opposes a la carte mandates.

In May, the House Commerce Committee requested that the FCC study the a la carte issue. Legal comments in that proceeding are due on Thursday, and the final report is expected out later this fall.

A report (PDF) last year by the Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office), however, concluded that cable a la carte wasn't worth the trouble and would actually increase rates for some consumers.

But the GAO report has never impressed a la carte advocates, who charge that the agency assumed a world in which a la carte replaced rather than simply augmented the current tiered system.

"That doesn't apply to the model we're talking about," said DeGraff.

Caught in all of this confusion are TV viewers everywhere, some of whom still wonder why buying access to A&E and Court TV requires that they also support Comedy Central and those raunchy kids on South Park.

Considering the complex nature of this debate, they may still be wondering long after Wednesday's hearing.
---------------

I understand what they are saying but I don't readily or easily agree with the fact that the costs will skyrocket. I think that like all things there should be an ala carte offering and if I chose to get a better "value" by bundling then I do that....

wonderwench · 07-14-2004, 01:23 PM

This is the same reasoning used by the Music Biz to keep songs bundled in albums. The real rationale is that bundling is needed to support a higher price structure and enable their massive overhead.

SinisterMotives · 07-14-2004, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ARTelevision
Some folks even believe they have critical thinking abilities.
Unfortunately however, believing one has them isn't the same as having them. It's going to be a long road. IMO, it ain't gonna happen. We're lost...like babes in the woods.

Those who pride themselves on their critical thinking abilities are the most brainwashed of all. Take, for example, people who extoll the virtues of the government's "laissez faire" stance on the economy when they can't even see how the government is complicit in cultural imperialism in that it makes "growing the economy" the central issue in our society. Washington, Madison Avenue, and Hollywood are co-conspirators in convincing the masses that rigorous exercise of the seven deadly sins are vital to the welfare of our nation.

SinisterMotives · 07-14-2004, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
It's one of the most perplexing questions ever to face humankind: Why can't you buy just the cable channels you actually watch?

Oh please. This is exactly what I'm talking about. Nobody's life depends on watching any of it in the first place. It's a luxury. If people want a luxury item bad enough, they should pay the asking price.

When did life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness turn into the dubious freedom to choose between Pepsi and Coca-Cola anyway?

Cynthetiq · 07-15-2004, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SinisterMotives
Oh please. This is exactly what I'm talking about. Nobody's life depends on watching any of it in the first place. It's a luxury. If people want a luxury item bad enough, they should pay the asking price.

When did life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness turn into the dubious freedom to choose between Pepsi and Coca-Cola anyway?

If you follow the history of the FCC and the deregulation of the cable industry, you'll find that it's not about luxury. For premium items like HBO/Showtime yes, agreed, those are luxury items. Bundling items together example our MTV sister channels are all sold together. We bundle them together so that we as a business can get the most advertising leverage possible, even if you don't watch BET, we still will want you to have it because that's another number on the statistic.

But to be able to get broadcast channels, it's not a luxury item. It's a finite resource that belongs to the people. I live in NYC and there is no chance of getting signals over the air into my apartment.

While you may think that TV is a luxury item, at this point in time in my life, it's my bread and butter.

Cynthetiq · 07-15-2004, 07:54 AM

here is a good example as to difficulty of bundling and fledgling networks.

Quote:

Fox announces 'Fox Reality Channel' cable network plans... whither goes Reality Central?

By Wade Paulsen, 07/13/2004

In an announcement that roils the waters of the reality television world, Fox Networks Group today announced the creation of a new cable and satellite network, Fox Reality Channel, that is scheduled to debut in first quarter 2005. Fox Reality Channel will thus compete head-to-head with the previously-announced Reality Central network, which, according to the New York Daily News, is also planning to launch in first quarter 2005 (a year later than originally scheduled).

However, Reality Central, in which several reality stars are reputed to have invested, has only managed to ink digital distribution deals with a couple of small cable franchises (#8 Mediacom and #9 Insight), despite its repeated claims that it was about to reach an agreement with a Top 5 carrier. Meanwhile, Fox Reality Channel will be broadcast, at a minimum, through the Fox-owned DirecTV satellite network, according to Hollywood Reporter, giving it a huge advantage. As the country's largest satellite television provider, DirecTV claims 12.6 million digital customers, while Insight Communications reports 1.4 million basic cable subscribers and Mediacom Communications 1.55 million (with only a fraction of either company's subscribers receiving digital service.)

According to the announcement, Fox Reality Channel's planned program line-up will consist of several long-form and short-form original series, as well as unscripted series owned by Fox that have been newly customized with original bonus features. Fox Reality Channel will likewise utilize original and more immediate off-network content from Fox-owned studios, as well as from outside suppliers. The new network will offer a topical perspective on past and current reality series, and showcase highly popular relationship-based and competitive reality program formats. Fox also says the network's programming won't only be limited to FOX-affiliated reality programming, and its current licensing track record has been consistent with those claims. After paying a reported $30 million for the syndication rights, the company's FX cable network is currently broadcasting repeat episodes of Endemol's Fear Factor this summer, although NBC holds exclusive syndication rights to the show. Therefore since Fox Networks Group has been willing to shell out some serious dollars to acquire reality product for its existing cable networks, there's is no reason to believe that the Fox Reality Channel won't receive the same treatment. In addition to show reruns, Fox also claims that the Fox Reality Channel will provide a "steady diet" of contestant commentary, pre- and post-show interviews, auditions, outtakes and behind-the-scenes clips. The new network will also provide complementary Fox Reality Channel-branded video on demand and interactive opportunities to coincide with the core network's availability in early 2005. Personally, we can hardly wait for the announcement of a tie-in between Fox Reality Network and Fox's American Idol, the #1 rated program in the U.S. during the 2003-04 TV season. By contrast, so far Reality Central has only revealed plans to rebroadcast the original overseas English language editions of four foreign-originated reality shows. The shows are Strip Search (from New Zealand, in which ordinary men compete for five slots in a strip-dance group); Single Girls (from the U.K., in which eight single women move in together and set out to find mates); Marry Me (from Australia, in which couples propose under unusual circumstances); and The Villa (from the U.K., in which singles are sent to a Spanish villa and must pair up while participating in challenges). Even GSN, the former Game Show Network, has a far superior slate of reality fare than Reality Central's currently announced programming. For example, GSN has acquired the rebroadcast rights to ABC's The Mole and NBC's Average Joe and Dog Eat Dog, as well as having launched new reality shows of its own such as the Evan Marriott-hosted Fake-A-Date and the Darva Conger-hosted Vegas Weddings Unveiled, leaving Reality Central facing a far different (and much more competitive) network landscape than the one that existed when it was first announced in Spring 2003.

Of course, Reality Central has always planned that about half of its daily programming will be original, including a nightly 11 PM ESPN SportsCenter-like reality wrap-up show tentatively titled Get Real and a Talk Soup-like show that will cull clips from reality shows currently airing on other networks, with the balance of the original programming centered around E! Networks-like reality news reports and features. However, even with the explosion of digital platforms, many cable operators are likely to gamble on only one start-up reality-only network, and the choice between Fox Reality Channel, with its tie-ins to Fox shows, and Reality Central, appears pretty one-sided at this moment. Said Fox Networks Group President and CEO Anthony Vinciquerra, "Fox has created some of television's most enduring reality programming while consistently taking the genre into exciting new directions. Our combination of in-house studios, networks and distribution companies have all enjoyed tremendous success with the form. It was never so much a question of whether we might take this next step and launch a dedicated reality channel. It was only a matter of when."

Fox Reality Channel will target young adults, who tend to be especially strong supporters of the reality genre. The new network will also have access to Twentieth Television, Fox Television Stations, Fox Cable Networks and 20th Century Fox Television Distribution product.

Fox has positioned its studio operations like 20th Century Fox Television (and its new boutique Fox 21) and Fox Television Studios as producers of original reality fare, while Fox Television Studios' international unit Fox World specializes in original international adaptations of top reality series. In addition, Fox Reality Channel will benefit from relationships with key international programmers like Asia's STAR-TV and Europe's BSkyB, which are both subsidiaries of Fox owner News Corporation, for still other off-network series and original U.S. adaptations-making it unlikely that Reality Central will end up partnering with those companies and eliminating some potential programming outlets that Reality Central had planned to mine.
Fox's announcement certainly doesn't mean that Reality Central will be shut out of the rebroadcast rights market however. In addition to numerous other independent international production companies, American reality TV producers such as Mark Burnett, the brains behind Survivor and The Apprentice, have not yet committed to permit repeats of their programming to be aired by any cable outlet. Were Reality Central to win the rights to such programming-which would presumably require a monumental increase to its current licensing budget-it would have a credible base to challenge Fox Reality Channel ... and Fox's decision to steal reality show concepts by the barrelful may make these producers wary of ceding too much clout to the company's reality arm.

Additionally, Fox Reality Channel and Reality Central are not the only outlets for reality shows. In addition to GSN and well-known reality pioneer MTV, E! Networks has announced several new reality shows. Plus, both NBC's Bravo and the A&E network have become much more reality-oriented, the ABC Family Channel has aired several reality projects, and TBS has also been moving aggressively into the space. It's worth noting that the market for 24-hour cable news networks, which for a long time was presumed to be one (CNN), has instead grown to support three (Fox News and MSNBC, in addition to CNN). Thus one certainly can't say that the planned launch of Fox Reality Channel dooms the hopes of Reality Central ... but when coupled with the spread of reality TV to other cable networks, the development may well sound the death knell of the scrappy start-up effort that was initially funded by the prize winnings of several early reality show contestants.

According to the Associated Press, upon being informed of Fox's plans, Larry Nemur, the co-founder of Reality Central (as well as of E! Entertainment, the 80's cable start-up upon which Reality Central is in many ways basing its model), claimed that Fox had stolen his company's idea, the same way that it steals reality programming. "When you get a validation from one of the big media conglomerates, it's flattering," said Nemur.
Flattering, perhaps. But it also may be flattening ... for Reality Central, that is. We have a feeling that the people affiliated with Reality Central, ranging from the ex-reality star investors to COO Blake Mycoskie of The Amazing Race 2 fame, heard a shoe drop today. Now they are just waiting for the other one.

More interestingly, we note that in August 2002, almost a year prior to the "creation" of Reality Central by Larry Nemur and Blake Mycoskie, Fox publicly discussed its plans to create a U.S. 24/7 reality TV network named Fox Reality Channel, which would be launched as both a digital-tier cable network and a satellite network "by 2005 at the latest." In other words, Fox is simply following through on its original plan, and the real copycat here is not Fox-for once-but rather Reality Central. We wonder if Fox execs felt flattered when Reality Central was announced.

ARTelevision · 07-15-2004, 07:59 AM

Thanks for all the good info, Cynthetiq. To me of course, it reminds me of the old saying, "pick your poison." I suppose we, at least, have some sort of "right" to do that in a commercial marketplace. Too bad about the marketplace of ideas though. It's still a vast wasteland out there.

Dawson70 · 07-15-2004, 07:02 PM

Oh man....I could go on for hours on this issue. I agree 100% that our lives are dictated by media. Not enough time to pour my thoughts into this one.

Cynthetiq · 07-15-2004, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dawson70
Oh man....I could go on for hours on this issue. I agree 100% that our lives are dictated by media. Not enough time to pour my thoughts into this one.

please do.. you don't have to put so much into the first post.. but please join the conversation and add some more to the mix.

ARTelevision · 07-19-2004, 11:19 AM

I thought it too relevant not to refer to the discussion that's proceeding in the following thread:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=62987

The discussion concerns perhaps the most obvious material example of what havoc the power of advertising can wreak upon a citizenry. I see whole shelves of junk food crammed inside the skins of too many people every day not to make the most obvious and clear connection to the relative helplessness of the individual against the collected might of billions of dollars of corporate research into the most sophisticated and advanced manipulation apparatus ever imagined by mankind.

ARTelevision · 08-04-2004, 02:02 PM

The Cola Jjihad

Muslims make hard pitch with soft drinks

Posted: August 2, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Editor's note: Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for the last 25 years.
By Yoram East
© 2004 G2 Bulletin.com
Mecca-Cola, distributed in recent years to Arab consumers throughout the Islamic world, in the framework of the "war against America and Zionists", has found its way to an unlikely market – Israel.

Coke's legacy had spurred the launch of an alternative soft drink company, Mecca-Cola, some three years ago. It was designed to cash in on anti-American sentiment around the world. Mecca-Cola was introduced in France in 2002, and is now exported throughout Europe and the Arab world.

"Arabs are entitled to enjoy brands that were made especially for them", the company's Israel director, said. He dismissed there was a political message behind the brand's marketing in the Jewish state, but announced "10 percent of the profits will be distributed as donations to Palestinian children. It is intolerable that they should suffer, starve and miss school."

And that's just the beginning of the cola wars. There is a glut of new consumer products – mostly soft drinks – hitting the market from the Middle East.

New Islamic consumer products penetrating the North American market, mostly in the snack and fast-food sector, contain political markers and frequently subtle political insinuations.

In most cases these messages are anti-American, anti-Semitic or anti-multinationals – while at the same time cleverly promoting subliminal Islamist ideas. In essence these products, marketed with western techniques, serve as a means of condemning the very concepts used to bring them to consumers' shelves.

Some of the products arrived in the West immediately after Sept. 11 and most during the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One example of a mostly non-political and non-Islamist product being marketed in the U.S. is Cola-Turka. This product is marketed by using clear, well-known and valued symbols of the American culture.

Obviously, one goal is to penetrate the lucrative American market without openly criticizing the U.S. At the same time advertising techniques are used to vaguely suggest a cultural change can be achieved even when a soft drink is marketed through American promotion systems.

The beverage, launched in 2003 in Turkey, became part of the so-called cola wars waged on all five continents. In a number of publications Cola-Turka is hailed as the new kid on the block. Commercials for the cola star Chevy Chase. Filmed in New York, the ads show Americans drinking Cola-Turka becoming Turkish.

Cola-Turka arrived in the market shortly after the beginning of the 2003 pre-Iraq war Turkish-U.S. political strain. Market experts say the refusal of Turkey to allow coalition troops to operate from its territory, and later other U.S.-Turkish tension spots such as the 2004 arrest of 11 Turkish soldiers by American forces in Kurdistan, hyped anti-American sentiments and with that came an apparent attack on one of America's symbols.

One message says: "Drink Cola-Turka and become Turkish." Cola-Turka is steadily progressing in the beverages market, and is preparing to penetrate more. Undoubtedly the so-called Cola wars include clear signs of a cultural conflict between East and West.

An Egyptian product named Arab-Cola entered the market through use of what pollsters of Arab markets explain as: "Looking for new ways to piggyback on western terminologies to further nationalistic or religious Islamic needs."

The owners of the Egyptian product say the symbol represents "our identity." They clarify by adding: "Our main concern is aiming to be positive and initiative elements in our context proving we can succeed on our own, proud of being Egyptian in the first place and Arabs in wider sense."

The message of the Egyptian product is comprehensible to the public even without making too many political waves. Some observers say this wave of promoting nationalism through consumer products and changing the names of the product to become more symbolic began following the Iranian revolution of 1979. Iran is the home of Zam Zam-Cola, named after the holy spring in Mecca, a popular beverage in the Muslim world, especially among Shiites. Popularity and distribution of Zam Zam-Cola gradually weakened until the beginning of the first Palestinian Intifada in 1988. It then regained momentum during the battle over hegemony in Afghanistan, the campaigns in Chechnya, and more than any other event, the two wars in Iraq led by the U.S.

There are other new beverages such as the European-based Muslim owned Qibla-Cola. This product is now looking to expand to markets in North America and Australia, where there are extensive Muslim communities. The word Qibla defines the Muslim religious ritual of facing Mecca when praying. This on its own has a deep spiritual meaning for every faithful Muslim, and here, too, there is no need to add any words or spell out who the targeted consumer is. According to Muslim leaders in the U.K., it motivates many British Muslims to prove loyalty to their faith by preferring Qibla-Cola over the American Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola. It is important to note that Qibla is a name for one of the African terror groups that emerged during the '80s in South Africa with a hard-core of jihadists and a long list of terror attacks. One expert on the Qibla group told G2B: "There is no link whatsoever between the beverage bottling company and the illegal organization, however, those who support the terrorists will prefer to hold a product bearing the name Qibla rather than purchasing a similar western product. There is no doubt the word Qibla is also a form of a battle cry."

Another assessment is that campaigning violently for political-religious beliefs through canned cola drinks might seem silly to western eyes, but it is definitely a motivator and a reason for pride among Islamic youth, especially in economically weak societies where anything that can hurt America is deemed good and acceptable.

Another beverage with clear political markers is France-based Mecca-Cola. The site of this beverage, which is among the leaders of the cola wars, identifies the business as having charitable goals. Mecca-Cola claims to be anti-materialist and anti-capitalist, labeling the marketing origin of western top beverages as based on corruption. One argument is that others, namely western and American products, do not share their revenue with zakat (charity), whereas Mecca-Cola claims to be assigning 20 percent of its income to charity.

While insisting it has peaceful goals, the Mecca-Cola website leaves no doubt most of their donations go "to the Palestinian people who are experiencing indifference and general complicity, these being the most wretched and most contemptible acts of Apartheid and Zionist fascism." This beverage, marketed and sold in North America turns any food store or cooler selling Mecca-Cola, to a political billboard aimed also at the U.S.

One battlefield of the cola wars is in Iraq. The campaign there is noticeable more in Baghdad where, Arab and Muslim brand names bitterly campaign against American bottling plants re-opened after 13 years of boycott. The fact American Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola are now available angers Muslim zealots. They are doing their utmost to harm the marketing of "infidel cola," suggesting the buyer should prefer drinks produced and bottled in Egypt, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon, and whenever possible purchase an explicit "Arab-Muslim drink." One report on Pepsi distribution in Iraq suggests that in 2003 Pepsi sold 7.2 million bottles a month, indicating the figure is down more than 60 percent from its pre-war sales figures. A report from a Baghdad supermarket quotes the owner saying he is going to stop selling Iraqi-bottled Pepsi until the formation of an elected Iraqi government expected next year. This political linkage, laced with nationalist elements, is felt in many places across Iraq and the region.

A British expert on terrorism funding told G2B militants are showing greater interest in marketing Islamic products resembling popular international goods. He said the main reason for this phenomenon is the successful U.S.-led campaign against terror funding through relatively easily traced zakat charities and traditional banking systems.

"In the business of selling Muslim chewing gum or Muslim chocolate it is easy to hide cash flow which goes from the cash register to zakat and in most cases even by-passing the till," said the expert. Terror watchers in the western world are aware of attempts to manufacture and market a variety of products to western countries, predominantly in Europe, the U.S. Canada and Australia.

Businessmen with roots in the Middle East are researching the required standards of the FDA and similar agencies for the manufacturing of snacks. A source in Los Angeles told G2B some activists interested in supporting the global jihad are on their way to produce canned soups carrying a religious title with clear preference to al-Quds, (the Arab name of Jerusalem), Mecca and names of Muslim heroes like Saladin and even bin Laden, not by using the full and legal name of the master terrorist but rather related nicknames or abbreviations such as O.B.L. for Osama bin Laden.

Another way is naming a product Muslim-Up to resemble 7-Up without specifying the brand name. One manufacturer of Islamic Cola in France told journalists he is working on the idea to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken, KFC, by opening a Halal fast-food outlet such as Halal Fried Chicken or H.F.C. Halal is a dietary Muslim concept similar to the Jewish kosher food dietary rules. An Italian Muslim entrepreneur is planning a Muslim pizza with titles such as Mecca-Pizza to imitate Boston-Pizza or al-Buraq-Pizza delivery named after Muhammad's white horse which he rode on his ascension to heaven from Jerusalem.

The phenomenon of Muslim or jihadi products is anchored in the Arab boycott of western, American and Israeli products. The boycott is now entering a new phase of combating American symbols by introducing Muslim symbols in look-a-like products. These are sold worldwide and in the last few years have begun to compete with American symbols in America itself. Intelligence analysis of the phenomena suggests the need to examine the labeling and advertising of each product suspected of sharing profits with terrorism. An Israeli analyst told G2B Arab and Muslim countries systematically inspect each and every product they import to guarantee there is no connection to Israel.

............................

For some reason, I'm cool with all this.
I agree that we export our so-called "values" by virtue of exporting our products. I can't blame the parts of the world that hate our values for hating our products - just because of what they are perceived to "stand for."

As for the talk of "Zionists" etc., well, they hate us. That's that.
I'm just saying I can understand this.

tangledweb · 08-04-2004, 06:35 PM

Coke and Pepsi have always been our most iconic exported symbols. The products have historically seen a boom in sales due to their close attachment with American culture and 'coolness'. In Japan and other Asian countries, they still seem to benefit but Middle-eastern countries are gaining an all-new depth to their hatred of us. That hatred is taught from a very early age and is affixed in much of the middle-eastern value system.

Establishing a product mix that compels people to purchase from a patriotic standpoint isn't new. Wal-Mart used to put "MADE IN AMERICA' in all of their commercials and on most of their product signage. Hell, the theme song that played in all of their commercials was "Proud to be an American". They told us we were supporting the small towns and small businesses by buying from Wal-Mart.

What happened? Greed.

Go to a Wal-Mart and find something that is MADE IN AMERICA. I dare you.

Cynthetiq · 08-10-2004, 10:27 AM

Cartoon Network to go after preschool crowd

By CAROLINE WILBERT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/09/04

Despite plenty of competition, the Cartoon Network is making a foray into programming for preschoolers.

The Atlanta-based network will launch a block of original programming next spring, targeting young children.

There are a number of other players in the field, from old standbys like PBS and newer entrants like Playhouse Disney.

Also, Comcast, the country's largest cable operator, is reportedly developing a 24-hour network aimed at the young set, through a partnership with Public Broadcasting System, Sesame Workshop and a European company. Comcast has not confirmed plans for such a network.

Still, Cartoon thinks there is room for more. Cartoon's hook: It will be funny, if not necessarily educational. The block's motto will be "fun, funny and fearless."

The Cartoon Network has traditionally gone after older children during the day and adults at night.

Alice Cahn, vice president of development and programming, said humor is a "skill kids need to know."

She said children with senses of humor and optimistic outlooks on life "tend to lash out less, verbally and physically, tend to have more friends, tend to have an easier time in the world."

This announcement comes on the heels of a widely publicized report in the spring from the American Academy of Pediatrics that said children under age 2 should not watch television at all. The report links television-watching by young children to attention deficit problems.

Cahn says research doesn't adequately prove the claim that television causes attention problems, though she acknowledges it is not a good idea for young children to watch hours and hours of television per day.

She said today's parents are comfortable with TV and use it as a teaching tool, just like books or toys.

We look at media the way our kids see it, as furniture," she said. "It isn't special anymore."

The preschool block, which will air while older children are at school, is a joint venture between Cartoon and Warner Bros. Television Group. Both are units of media conglomerate Time Warner.

The Warner Bros. group will produce many of the shows that air during the new block, including "Krypto," which will be about the adventures of Superman's dog.

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/busi...10cartoon.html

ARTelevision · 08-13-2004, 07:58 AM

"...programming for preschoolers"

"...targeting young children"

"...aimed at the young set"

"...gone after older children during the day"

"We look at media the way our kids see it, as furniture," she said. "It isn't special anymore."

Perhaps at some point in the future we'll see these statements as unthinkably barbaric.

Cynthetiq · 08-13-2004, 09:00 AM

art, it's a shame... because Scholastic Entertainment (people who did Magic School Bus, Clifford the Big Red Dog) have a conflicting interest in this.

They have been trying to partner with someone else anyone else in order to reach the children, but their credo directly conflicts with the goals of "mass marketing"

Quote:

Scholastic produces educational materials to assist and inspire students:

To cultivate their minds to utmost capacity
To become familiar with our cultural heritage
To strive for excellence in creative expression in all fields of learning, literature, and art
To seek effective ways to live a satisfying life
To enlarge students' concern for and understanding of today's world
To help build a society free of prejudice and hate, and dedicated to the highest quality of life in community and nation

We strive to present the clearest explanation of current affairs and contemporary thought, and to encourage literary appreciation and expression consistent with the understanding and interests of young people at all levels of learning.

We believe in:

The worth and dignity of each individual
Respect for the diverse groups in our multicultural society

The right of each individual to live in a wholesome environment, and equally, the personal responsibility of each individual to help gain and preserve a decent and healthful environment, beginning with informed care of one's own body and mind

High moral and spiritual values

The democratic way of life, with basic liberties — and responsibilities — for everyone

Constitutional, representative government, and even-handed justice that maintains equality of rights for all people

Responsible competitive enterprise and responsible labor, with opportunities for all

Cooperation and understanding among all people for the peace of the world

We pledge ourselves to uphold the basic freedoms of all individuals; we are unalterably opposed to any system of government or society that denies these freedoms. We oppose discrimination of any kind on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, or national origin. Good citizens may honestly differ on important public questions. We believe that all sides of the issues of our times should be fairly discussed — with deep respect for facts and logical thinking — in classroom magazines, books, and other educational materials used in schools and homes.

ARTelevision · 08-13-2004, 09:09 AM

Yep, I'm aware of Scholastic Entertainment. It's a dog-eat-dog media circusworld out there. Hard to compete with the big advertising-backed outlets.

Cynthetiq · 08-18-2004, 08:09 AM

yet another consumable market...

Quote:

NYtimes.com
August 18, 2004
ADVERTISING
The Guy From Green Day Says He Has Your Mother on the Cellphone
By JEFF LEEDS

ock bands have long prospered by living - and selling - images of hard living and brash poses. But sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll are no longer enough. The definition of cool for some acts now includes mobile phone ring tones.

Ring tones, the synthesized melodies that are programmed to play when a cellphone rings, have proved to be such a lucrative side business for cellphone companies that record labels in the United States have decided they want a piece of the revenue. Warner Brothers Records in the last few days began showing commercials on MTV and MTV2 for a set of voice-greeting ring tones recorded by members of the punk band Green Day. Executives in the music and cellular industries said it was the first time a record label had paid to run its own ads for ring tones in the United States market.

The commercials, which are part of a broader advertising campaign to promote the Sept. 21 release of "American Idiot,'' the band's first album in four years, are a milestone for an industry that is looking to products other than compact discs to steady its shaky sales.

To some artists and music executives, the ploy suggests the subversion of music to marketing. "There is a sense among some that it bastardizes the music, takes away the sincerity and the original intent of the artist,'' said Tony Dimitriades, an agent who represents acts like Tom Petty. "With where we are today, there seems to be a notion that anything goes and who cares."

But Tom Whalley, the chairman of the Warner Brothers label, part of the Warner Music Group, said that advertising the phone tones was just one part of his label's shift from mere disc factory to marketer of lifestyle products.

"We're in the culture with each and every one of our artists,'' Mr. Whalley said. "The ring tone can help connect that fan to the artist. If it's done with taste, I don't think it crosses that line where it's commerce over art.''

Taste is not the first notion that springs to mind when sampling the Green Day ring tones, which cost up to $2.49 each. They include the band members belching and cursing, as well as offering witty ripostes. "Pick up the phone!" demands Mike Dirnt, the band's bassist, in one. "It's your mother. I know. She's with me.''

But the ring tones are in keeping with the sneering image of the punk outfit, best known for songs like "Basket Case" and "Brain Stew," both of which are also being sold as ring tones.

Even if ring tones do not represent pure artistic ambition, they are resonating with the public. Last year, cellphone users worldwide spent $3.1 billion on ring tones, according to Consect, a mobile market research and consulting firm, with popular choices including Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love.'' (The global music business is about 1o times as large.)

The United States market, which lags those in Europe and Asia, rose to about $150 million in retail sales, from $45 million the year before. Analysts expect the market to expand even faster now that phone manufacturers are producing more sophisticated phones that can play multichannel audio files with pieces of an actual recording. The sound quality of the new files is far superior to the tinny synthesized versions of songs known as monophonic or polyphonic tones. The phones usually have a screen that can display a list of hundreds of titles, which sell for $1.50 to $2.50 and contain a 30-second clip of the song.

Record executives say the market appeared to hold only limited benefits for them until recently. To produce monophonic or polyphonic tones, mobile companies did not need to license the actual recording of a song. Instead, they licensed the composition from a music publisher, paying a 10 percent to 12 percent royalty on average. (A song's writer or copyright holder and the artist who records it are not always the same person.) But when the real recording is used, as with so-called master tones, record labels typically receive a 50 percent cut.

Record companies and music publishers are still battling over how to divvy up ring tone revenue, which could result in rights to songs being withheld, similar to problems suffered by online music stores. And even as labels forge ahead, there may be holdouts among some artists who did not foresee their music being sliced into snippets for cellphone users.

Complaints about the encroachment of commercial interests into the music world are nothing new, of course. Outrage over the licensing of music for advertisements, like Nike's use of the Beatles' "Revolution" to peddle sneakers in the 1980's, has faded so much that few eyebrows are raised when Jaguar uses the Clash's "London Calling'' to sell cars or Wrangler Jeans borrows Creedence Clearwater Revival's anti-establishment "Fortunate Son" for a feel-good campaign to sell pants.

But more artists are taking up the offer to cash in, sometimes on more than their music. Earlier this month, the rap star 50 Cent said he had signed a deal with Zingy, a ring tone service, to distribute original voice recordings and images. In May, Zingy said it had signed a similar deal with the rap artist Snoop Dogg.

"I think the kids that want them are going to get them and the kids that don't will ignore them,'' Mr. Dirnt of Green Day said. "Nowadays you've got to be a little more creative. MTV doesn't play nearly as many videos as they used to. You move forward with whatever the new medium is." Warner Brothers is also selling packages of blank CD's outfitted with Green Day labels, expecting fans to buy digital downloads of the band's catalog and burn them to the discs.

The business is so promising that the world's largest music company, the Universal Music Group, created an in-house ring tone division, Universal Music Mobile, two years ago. The chief executive of that unit, Cedric Ponsot, said a third of its sales come from nonmusic tones, including sound effects and jokes from impersonators, like the one who imitates George W. Bush (in Chinese, for some markets).

Mr. Ponsot said he occasionally had trouble persuading artists, including the rock band U2, to approve selling their music in ring tone form, especially before recent improvements in sound quality. He said he has told artists, "If your fans are willing to pay two to three euros for a ring tone, you should respect that.''

Cynthetiq · 08-28-2004, 12:24 PM

I recently found this again.... I'm not sure if any of you saw this back in 2001.

Quote:

'Just Say No to H20'
(Unless It's Coke's Own Brew)

by David F. Gallagher

In this age of branding, even plain old milk needs a big ad campaign and celebrity endorsements. But another popular beverage, tap water, has no such support — a tactical misstep that has left it vulnerable to aggressive competitors like the Coca-Cola Company.

The Associated Press
Coca-Cola's entry in the bottled-water sweepstakes.

Coca-Cola offered a glimpse of its battle plan against tap water in an article on one of its Web sites headlined "The Olive Garden Targets Tap Water & WINS." Aimed at restaurants selling the company's fountain drinks, the article laid out Coke's antiwater program for the Olive Garden chain as a "success story" for others to emulate.

The article was posted three years ago but went unnoticed until this summer, when Rob Cockerham, a graphic designer in Sacramento, Calif., stumbled across it. It then spread through Internet circles until Coca-Cola started fielding questions about it and took the entire site down. A spokeswoman said the company was concerned that the site, which was due to be dismantled anyway, might be misinterpreted by consumers.

The article follows, along with other examples of the company's campaign to address the water problem.

The Situation

Water. It's necessary to sustain life, but to many Casual Dining restaurant chains it contributes to a dull dining experience for the customer. Many customers choose tap water not because they enjoy it, but because it is what they always have drunk in the past. In response, some restaurant chains are implementing programs to help train crews to sell alternative choices to tap water, like soft drinks and noncarbonated beverages, with the goal of increasing overall guest satisfaction. Because of its own successful campaign against water, the Olive Garden has recently sent a powerful message to the entire restaurant industry — less water and more beverage choices mean happier customers.

The Plan

Olive Garden restaurants, like many other Casual Dining locations, were facing a high water incidence rate. They wanted their restaurant crews to emphasize the broad array of alternative beverage selections available, with the hope of reducing tap water incidence. Olive Garden's goal was to influence customers to abandon their default choice of tap water and experience other beverage choices to improve their dining experience.

The Olive Garden asked Coca-Cola USA- Fountain (CCUSA-Fountain) to help them create their beverage plan. CCUSA-Fountain stepped up to the plate and suggested a tap water reduction program named H2NO.

The Plan Details

H2NO is a crew education kit containing information about beverage suggestive selling techniques (a technique used when a server suggests a profitable beverage in place of water to the customer during the ordering process). It matched perfectly with what Olive Garden had envisioned. Restaurant managers and servers use the kit to emphasize the wide range of beverage selections available, including soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages and alcohol. As a side effect, overall check averages should increase, and remember, increased check averages mean higher profits for the restaurant and more cash in servers' pockets.

Olive Garden restaurants embraced the program and even took it to a higher level. H2NO was incorporated into the restaurant chain's schedule of monthly skill sessions where sales managers (store managers) led the crew through training exercises. In addition, The Olive Garden developed an employee incentive contest linked to H2NO with CCUSA-Fountain called "Just Say No to H2O."

Olive Garden sales managers set beverage sale store goals and server goals in connection with the contest. All restaurants that reached the combined goal had a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip for servers and the management team to Atlanta. Other prize packages containing Coca-Cola merchandise were awarded.

The Win

When the contest was completed, almost all participating restaurants realized significant increases in beverage sales and reduced levels of tap water incidence — a strong indication that Olive Garden restaurants succeeded in enhancing the customer's dining experience. And perhaps most importantly, Olive Garden expects to see this trend continue as the skills learned become part of the crew's everyday interaction with restaurant customers.

•

Dull dining experiences are clearly an issue, but another article on the same site, titled "On the Waterfront," was less circumspect about the real problem with tap water: it's free. Research by Coca-Cola found that some restaurants were shooting themselves in the foot by serving patrons tap water they had not even requested.

Some 20 percent of consumers drink tap water exclusively in Casual Dining restaurants and 17 percent drink it in Family Style restaurants. And, according to the latest findings, these numbers continue to grow. This trend significantly cuts into retailer profits. . . . Research was conducted to better understand why tap water consumption is so prevalent and why consumers are making this beverage choice. . . .

The most important research findings may be the simplest — consumers choosing tap water may not have been given a choice at all. Many respondents said they were served water without being asked. Likewise, they were unaware of value offers, like free refills, which can positively influence a beverage decision in favor of a soft drink. . . .

Research shows why consumers drink tap water, and clear alternatives exist in each case. It is possible to make other beverage choices more relevant to consumers in an attempt to increase the number of soft drinks sold and boost additional profits. Water conversion can be a win for consumers too — their meal will always be enhanced by a quality beverage choice. . . .

Twenty percent of tap water drinkers at both lunch and dinner say they "choose" water "because it's there." Conversion strategy: Encourage servers to influence the beverage ordering process to increase consumer awareness of other choices. For instance, offer water to consumers only upon request; highlight value or refill menu messages . . . and train servers and hosts to use suggestive selling techniques or point out beverage choices on the menu. . . .

Approximately 15 percent of lunchtime water drinkers, and 21 percent at dinner, choose tap water out of habit. Conversion strategy: Previously mentioned conversion suggestions can subtly influence consumer purchase decisions in this case. However, research showed that those who drink water out of habit are the least likely to convert.

While researchers delved into the mysterious attraction of tap water, Coca-Cola's marketing side was coming up with a way to sell it. Dasani, a bottled water Coca-Cola introduced in 1999, sits on store shelves next to waters from distant mountain springs, and can cost just as much. But, like Pepsi's Aquafina water, its origins are more humble, as evidenced by these excerpts from the "Understanding Dasani" Web page at www.dasani.com:

Q. What is Dasani?

A. Dasani is a purified water enhanced with minerals for a pure, fresh taste. It comes in light blue-tinted, recyclable bottles. Dasani is The Coca-Cola Company's first bottled water in North America.

Q. What does the name Dasani mean?

A. People are having a lot of fun guessing the origin of the name Dasani. One Coca- Cola executive jokingly said it sounded like a `Roman god of water.` Actually, the name Dasani is an original creation. Consumer testing showed that the name is relaxing and suggests pureness and replenishment.

Q. Where does the water for Dasani come from?

A. To create Dasani, Coca-Cola bottlers start with the local water supply, which is then filtered for purity using a state-of-the- art process called reverse osmosis. The purified water is then enhanced with a special blend of minerals for a pure, fresh taste.

Coca-Cola now seems eager to promote water, just not the free kind. In April, the company teamed up with a Web site called Ideas.com, a kind of marketplace for idea-seekers, to solicit input from the public on ways to simplify the drinking of branded water. By the time the "idea quest" ended in July, 2,090 people had offered suggestions. From the Ideas.com site:

Idea Quest:

Encouraging People to Drink More Water

Buyer:

The Coca-Cola Company

Description:

Many doctors have suggested that people should drink eight glasses of water a day. What ideas can you think of, that would make it easier for people to drink more water? Your idea can include Coke's current water brand, Dasani, or a new brand. It can include current products, or newly created ones you've invented yourself. It can even include new devices for the home, office, school or person on the go.

Payout:

$5,000 will be awarded to the best idea submitted.

The company says it has yet to choose a winner.

Cynthetiq · 08-28-2004, 12:25 PM

I recently found this again.... I'm not sure if any of you saw this back in 2001.

link

Quote:

'Just Say No to H20'
(Unless It's Coke's Own Brew)

by David F. Gallagher

In this age of branding, even plain old milk needs a big ad campaign and celebrity endorsements. But another popular beverage, tap water, has no such support — a tactical misstep that has left it vulnerable to aggressive competitors like the Coca-Cola Company.

The Associated Press
Coca-Cola's entry in the bottled-water sweepstakes.

Coca-Cola offered a glimpse of its battle plan against tap water in an article on one of its Web sites headlined "The Olive Garden Targets Tap Water & WINS." Aimed at restaurants selling the company's fountain drinks, the article laid out Coke's antiwater program for the Olive Garden chain as a "success story" for others to emulate.

The article was posted three years ago but went unnoticed until this summer, when Rob Cockerham, a graphic designer in Sacramento, Calif., stumbled across it. It then spread through Internet circles until Coca-Cola started fielding questions about it and took the entire site down. A spokeswoman said the company was concerned that the site, which was due to be dismantled anyway, might be misinterpreted by consumers.

The article follows, along with other examples of the company's campaign to address the water problem.

The Situation

Water. It's necessary to sustain life, but to many Casual Dining restaurant chains it contributes to a dull dining experience for the customer. Many customers choose tap water not because they enjoy it, but because it is what they always have drunk in the past. In response, some restaurant chains are implementing programs to help train crews to sell alternative choices to tap water, like soft drinks and noncarbonated beverages, with the goal of increasing overall guest satisfaction. Because of its own successful campaign against water, the Olive Garden has recently sent a powerful message to the entire restaurant industry — less water and more beverage choices mean happier customers.

The Plan

Olive Garden restaurants, like many other Casual Dining locations, were facing a high water incidence rate. They wanted their restaurant crews to emphasize the broad array of alternative beverage selections available, with the hope of reducing tap water incidence. Olive Garden's goal was to influence customers to abandon their default choice of tap water and experience other beverage choices to improve their dining experience.

The Olive Garden asked Coca-Cola USA- Fountain (CCUSA-Fountain) to help them create their beverage plan. CCUSA-Fountain stepped up to the plate and suggested a tap water reduction program named H2NO.

The Plan Details

H2NO is a crew education kit containing information about beverage suggestive selling techniques (a technique used when a server suggests a profitable beverage in place of water to the customer during the ordering process). It matched perfectly with what Olive Garden had envisioned. Restaurant managers and servers use the kit to emphasize the wide range of beverage selections available, including soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages and alcohol. As a side effect, overall check averages should increase, and remember, increased check averages mean higher profits for the restaurant and more cash in servers' pockets.

Olive Garden restaurants embraced the program and even took it to a higher level. H2NO was incorporated into the restaurant chain's schedule of monthly skill sessions where sales managers (store managers) led the crew through training exercises. In addition, The Olive Garden developed an employee incentive contest linked to H2NO with CCUSA-Fountain called "Just Say No to H2O."

Olive Garden sales managers set beverage sale store goals and server goals in connection with the contest. All restaurants that reached the combined goal had a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip for servers and the management team to Atlanta. Other prize packages containing Coca-Cola merchandise were awarded.

The Win

When the contest was completed, almost all participating restaurants realized significant increases in beverage sales and reduced levels of tap water incidence — a strong indication that Olive Garden restaurants succeeded in enhancing the customer's dining experience. And perhaps most importantly, Olive Garden expects to see this trend continue as the skills learned become part of the crew's everyday interaction with restaurant customers.

•

Dull dining experiences are clearly an issue, but another article on the same site, titled "On the Waterfront," was less circumspect about the real problem with tap water: it's free. Research by Coca-Cola found that some restaurants were shooting themselves in the foot by serving patrons tap water they had not even requested.

Some 20 percent of consumers drink tap water exclusively in Casual Dining restaurants and 17 percent drink it in Family Style restaurants. And, according to the latest findings, these numbers continue to grow. This trend significantly cuts into retailer profits. . . . Research was conducted to better understand why tap water consumption is so prevalent and why consumers are making this beverage choice. . . .

The most important research findings may be the simplest — consumers choosing tap water may not have been given a choice at all. Many respondents said they were served water without being asked. Likewise, they were unaware of value offers, like free refills, which can positively influence a beverage decision in favor of a soft drink. . . .

Research shows why consumers drink tap water, and clear alternatives exist in each case. It is possible to make other beverage choices more relevant to consumers in an attempt to increase the number of soft drinks sold and boost additional profits. Water conversion can be a win for consumers too — their meal will always be enhanced by a quality beverage choice. . . .

Twenty percent of tap water drinkers at both lunch and dinner say they "choose" water "because it's there." Conversion strategy: Encourage servers to influence the beverage ordering process to increase consumer awareness of other choices. For instance, offer water to consumers only upon request; highlight value or refill menu messages . . . and train servers and hosts to use suggestive selling techniques or point out beverage choices on the menu. . . .

Approximately 15 percent of lunchtime water drinkers, and 21 percent at dinner, choose tap water out of habit. Conversion strategy: Previously mentioned conversion suggestions can subtly influence consumer purchase decisions in this case. However, research showed that those who drink water out of habit are the least likely to convert.

While researchers delved into the mysterious attraction of tap water, Coca-Cola's marketing side was coming up with a way to sell it. Dasani, a bottled water Coca-Cola introduced in 1999, sits on store shelves next to waters from distant mountain springs, and can cost just as much. But, like Pepsi's Aquafina water, its origins are more humble, as evidenced by these excerpts from the "Understanding Dasani" Web page at www.dasani.com:

Q. What is Dasani?

A. Dasani is a purified water enhanced with minerals for a pure, fresh taste. It comes in light blue-tinted, recyclable bottles. Dasani is The Coca-Cola Company's first bottled water in North America.

Q. What does the name Dasani mean?

A. People are having a lot of fun guessing the origin of the name Dasani. One Coca- Cola executive jokingly said it sounded like a `Roman god of water.` Actually, the name Dasani is an original creation. Consumer testing showed that the name is relaxing and suggests pureness and replenishment.

Q. Where does the water for Dasani come from?

A. To create Dasani, Coca-Cola bottlers start with the local water supply, which is then filtered for purity using a state-of-the- art process called reverse osmosis. The purified water is then enhanced with a special blend of minerals for a pure, fresh taste.

Coca-Cola now seems eager to promote water, just not the free kind. In April, the company teamed up with a Web site called Ideas.com, a kind of marketplace for idea-seekers, to solicit input from the public on ways to simplify the drinking of branded water. By the time the "idea quest" ended in July, 2,090 people had offered suggestions. From the Ideas.com site:

Idea Quest:

Encouraging People to Drink More Water

Buyer:

The Coca-Cola Company

Description:

Many doctors have suggested that people should drink eight glasses of water a day. What ideas can you think of, that would make it easier for people to drink more water? Your idea can include Coke's current water brand, Dasani, or a new brand. It can include current products, or newly created ones you've invented yourself. It can even include new devices for the home, office, school or person on the go.

Payout:

$5,000 will be awarded to the best idea submitted.

The company says it has yet to choose a winner.

Cynthetiq · 08-28-2004, 12:26 PM

ARTelevision · 08-28-2004, 03:14 PM

Yes, this nasty tap water habit must be nipped in the bud. This type of strategic campaign is something the tobacco companies could use to dissuade us from our unprofitable addiction to air.

QuasiMojo · 08-28-2004, 09:15 PM

Huzza on an excellent thread~

Is it possible that a large portion of this conceived "mind control" issue that is being proported is just the work of the prankster predelictation of advertising proponants?

hmmmI think that the initial offerings in the thread were indeed just that. Inside jokes,
creative explosions set off by marketing brainstorms that culminated in lightening strikes that were made manifest by the multitude of examples that have been laid forth.

NOW
We evolve(?) into this abomination that lies above this very post.(well, above ART's post) This truly is thee dark side of marketing and advertising. The love and want of money is lamentably apparent.

"Coca Cola" and "Olive Garden" can "Suck My Cock"

Oh, by the way, if you want to know what type of people drink "Evian" water, all you need to do is spell "Evian" backwards.

go to nature Bill Hicks

QuasiMojo · 08-28-2004, 10:10 PM

tap water incidents....keeeeeeeeeekyst

ARTelevision · 09-07-2004, 11:03 PM

Makeup and marketing - welcome to the world of 10-year-old girls

Survey says put cosmetic vending machines into schools

Owen Bowcott
Wednesday September 8, 2004
The Guardian

The plastic bag that wraps around Bliss, a magazine for teenage girls, this month says it all. "FREE INSIDE! makeup palette," it screams. Across the bottom of the bag it teases with a "Lush mascara offer" "Gorgeous lip gloss offer", as well as a £5 voucher for "spray tan".
On the Bliss website, even before you get to the front page, a pop-up advert appears from Ralph Lauren asking readers: "How old are you?" If you answer 10-15, it goes on to ask "What was the last fragrance you purchased?" followed by "Which shop do you buy fragrances from?"
Bliss, Sugar, Cosmo girl, Elle girl, the list goes on ... The power of such marketing is highlighted today by a survey which shows that most seven- to 10-year-olds are using makeup.
The survey showed that by the age of 14, around nine out of 10 girls apply some type of eyeliner, mascara or lipstick. The number of those in the 11-14 age group who report using lipstick or lip gloss on a daily basis has more than doubled intwo years.
Mintel, one of the UK's leading consumer research organisations, which carried out the survey, draws the controversial conclusion from its results that cosmetic companies could go much further in their drive to entice young girls to buy their products. Firms should place vending machines for their products in schools and cinemas to target teenage consumers, Mintel says.
The study, based on marketing questionnaires, fails to distinguish whether makeup is being used merely for play, involving dressing up at home, or as part of a beauty regime when going out. But claims that youngsters are being forced to express their sexual identity long before childhood is over have provoked rows and moral panics in recent years.
Earlier this year the Association of Teachers and Lecturers called for age restrictions on magazines such as Bliss, Sugar and Cosmo girl on the basis that they were "full of explicit sexual content" and "glamorise promiscuity".
When Mad About Boys, a glossy magazine aimed at nine- to 12-year-old girls, was launched in 2001, MPs warned that it portrayed them as sex objects, gave tips on makeup and encouraged them to diet.
'Corruption'
Two years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, criticised consumerism for its "corruption and premature sexualisation of children". Paris Fashion Week has provoked outcries for parading nine- and 10-year-old girls on a catwalk wearing plunging necklines and high hemlines.
The Mintel survey acknowledges such concerns but points out there are commercial opportunities. "Cosmetic manufacturers must be ever mindful of the fine line they tread between encouraging children to look and behave like adults and promoting their products as being good, clean fun," said Claire Hatcher, one of the firm's senior consumer analysts.
"Despite their self-assurance, when it comes to grooming products, these girls are still learning about what suits them and are therefore open to experimentation and new products offered in ways which appeal to their age group."
Retailing toiletries to teenagers has suffered neglect, the report adds. "Makeup, in particular, is often an impulse purchase, so placing teen brands in unusual locations such as in vending machines in schools, cinemas and bowling alleys may persuade consumers into buying something they had not previously considered."
According to the survey, 63% of seven to 10-year-olds wear lipstick, more than two in five eye shadow or eyeliner, and almost one in four mascara. Three quarters of 11- 14-year-old girls use eye shadow and a similar proportion mascara.
Lip gloss and lipstick is even more popular, with eight in 10 girls aged 11-14 applying it. Half of girls in that age group wear blusher, with 14% saying they use it every day or more. By the age of 14, almost three in five (58%) girls use perfume.
"Long before girls become teenagers, they use a wide selection of cosmetics as well as other skin care products and toiletries," said Ms Hatcher. "Their interest in these products is fuelled by teen magazines and by swapping ideas and recommendations with their peer group and, of course, watching what their mothers use.
"Manufacturers of consumer products such as makeup and fragrance should therefore be wary in over-promoting celebrities in the belief that all young teenagers aspire to a notion of perfection which many do not realise is unobtainable."
The survey, which questioned 5,856 youngsters aged seven to 19, also showed that fake tan is popular, with 13% of 11-12 year old girls using self tanning cream, lotion or oil. This rises to one-in-five among the 13-14 group. Hair colourants are also used by many young girls: 27% of those aged 11-14 use them, rising to 35% of 13- 14-year-olds.
Childcare organisations reacted with caution to the figures. "Children should be free to enjoy childhood without undue pressure," the NSPCC said.
"However, young girls have always experimented with makeup and the dressing-up box ... This should only really cause alarm if a child feels that it's something they are uncomfortable with but feel forced to do."
Many schools already discourage pupils from wearing makeup and some ban cosmetics.
The two main teaching unions reacted with disbelief to the suggestion of installing vending machines in schools.
Chris Keates, the acting general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "It's an extraordinary idea for anyone to come up with.
"Do people want to lose the focus of what school is about? Pupils should not be thinking about whether they have an opportunity to use cosmetics."
A spokesman for the NUT said: "Pupils have always tried to get around bans. But the purpose of school is education of the child not an opportunity to increase their sex appeal."
..........

In terms of marketing self-image, there's no difference between 10-year olds and teenagers. Today's "10-teens" are into the whole not-good-enough-unless-altered sense of themselves that was once the province of the insecure and youth-market dominated teen years. There's less "children" and less childhood these days than there used to be. What's been gained? What's been lost?

ngdawg · 09-08-2004, 01:28 PM

Way back in colonial times(well, maybe not THAT far back), Twiggy was the one to emulate. Big, black, overdone eyes, pouty pink shiny lips and stick-figure body. She even had a slight slouch. So, by 7th grade, we walked around with heavy black eyes, gobs of lipstick and earrings so big, they dragged down our lobes.We ate nothing but Lifesavers for lunch so we'd be stick-thin. Dresscodes were pretty strict, but we always tried to make the skirts a little shorter and the tops a little tighter. But, Mom and Dad were there to rein most of us in when the calls from the teachers or administrators came.
Kids still try to emulate the famous. But the famous ones push the envelopes ever further, forgetting or ignoring boundaries in taste and decorum. The major difference? Parents more often than not allow the kids to do whatever they want in their quests to be like their idols. No time for battles, maybe, don't care, perhaps....want to be a pal and not an authority figure to their children(god forbid they lay rules like THEIR parents did). Too often, the call from school comes and the parents berate the caller instead of correcting the situation.
The good side? Kids learn a lot earlier what their decisions reap. Maybe they don't WANT accountability and responsibility for their actions, but it comes.
I allow my daughter to wear eye makeup and I have colored her hair funky colors-it's her way of self-discovery and I would much rather guide her along than let her flounder alone. That will happen soon enough and I won't be able or allowed to guide. So, I kind of welcome the challenges these media whores send our way. It gives me and my children the opportunity to face it and make decisions based on their own lives and needs.

ARTelevision · 09-11-2004, 02:32 AM

Yes. As you may know, I'm of the opinion that we are unable to sufficiently resist media to displace their influence in either our own lives or our children's lives to any significant extent.

HockeyGuy · 09-11-2004, 05:48 AM

Sorry to join this discussion late on but has anyone been the the Guiness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland? I was there last week and as I enjoy my guiness I thought that it was a great place to visit. I link this to here tho because they have a floor in the building called 'advertising' and basically people like myslef have come in and paid to see all of their past adverts and they are being constantly shown to us. Also looking through some from the 50's with slogans such as 'Guiness is good for you' and 'Guiness gives you strength' I found these proper drilled into my head once i left. IMHO places like this and the jamesons distillery etc are also huge on the mass media mind control! T

06-08-2004, 09:19 AM	#321 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	sub? Here's an interesting image used in a Stepford Wives ad. It seems that it goes by very fast. (see below) ............. Controversial 'Stepford Wives' Ad Shows Hillary, Condoleezza UPDATED: 12:04 PM EDT June 8, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some people are saying the way Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice are portrayed in an ad for the new "Stepford Wives" film is distasteful, even outrageous. The spot shows an image of Rice made to look nude from the waist up, and a picture of Clinton that morphs into what looks like a cookie-baking Stepford wife. The pictures move across the screen very quickly, but they caught the eye of a Kansas City woman, who recorded the spot to make sure of what she was seeing. Becky Reynolds said when she taped and watched the ad again, she "realized it was even worse" that what she'd suspected. "It's just inappropriate, and it needs to be stopped," Reynolds said. For those who haven't seen the 1975 thriller by director Bryan Forbes, the 2004 version is pretty much the same, but with a dash of technical wizardry. Both films are based on a book by Ira Levin about a small Connecticut town where the women act too perfectly -- because their husbands have replaced them with robots. But Reynolds says the less-than-perfect images in the advertisement for the new film will keep her out of the theater. Pat Gray, who works with Northstar Marketing Group, said the ad shows bad taste toward Rice and Clinton. "In today's media environment, I don't know whether it's unacceptable morally or not -- distasteful, for sure," Gray said. "If I were them, I'd probably sue." Gray also said the ad wouldn't drive him to the theater. "That certainly wouldn't stimulate me to go see the movie," he said. Nancy Kirkpatrick, a spokeswoman for Paramount Pictures, said the film studio hasn't received any complaints about the spot. Paramount hasn't heard from Rice or Clinton, either. __________________ create evolution

06-08-2004, 10:35 AM	#322 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	interesting... I spent the weekend talking to a professor at NYU who is moving down to Savannah to head up the Digital Media department there. He talked to me about all the digital manipulation and such. The thing that struck me was the goal.. photo realism. i told him that I would love to see ILM vs. Weta vs. Rhythm & Hues vs. Digital Domain etc., doing EXACTLY the same scene, and see definitively who is the better house. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

06-24-2004, 09:41 AM	#324 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Some folks even believe they have critical thinking abilities. Unfortunately however, believing one has them isn't the same as having them. It's going to be a long road. IMO, it ain't gonna happen. We're lost...like babes in the woods. __________________ create evolution

06-29-2004, 05:51 PM	#328 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	.....and just for grins...take a look at Joe Camel. See that huge cock and balls in his face? There is hardly Anything subliminal there. They say that the Reynolds Co. has been asked to remove Joe from areas close to schools. __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

06-29-2004, 09:21 PM	#329 (permalink)
Moobie Insane Location: baked beans	Actually I was under the impression that Camel was unable to use Joe Camel in ads anymore. How long has it been since you've seen him in their ads? Now they have the flapper girl from the '20s and other iconic women as spokes characters. __________________ Obscenity is the crutch of inarticulate motherfuckers. We like money. Give us your money you stupid consumer whore.

06-27-2004, 02:14 AM	#327 (permalink)
hammer4all Insane	Here is a really fascinating documentary all interested in this thread should see: The Corporation ... cough

06-29-2004, 09:37 PM	#330 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Joe Camel got his walking papers in 1997. Here's a link that details how the successful campaign to remove his blatantly cock-and-ballsy face from ads came about: http://www.no-smoking.org/sept97/9-17-97-2.html Here's the final coffin nail (cough cough): http://www.facts.com/wnd/camel.htm __________________ create evolution

07-14-2004, 06:18 AM	#331 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Harvard study is first to measure Hollywood 'ratings creep' By Mike Snider, USA TODAY Movies today have more sex, violence and profanity than similarly rated films did a decade ago, a Harvard study suggests. The Harvard School of Public Health findings are the first to support the notion of "ratings creep," more risqué and violent scenes being allowed in films rated G, PG, PG-13 and R than in the past. "This raises the question of 'What does PG really mean?' If parents are basing their experience on (movies) a long time ago, maybe they need to get recalibrated," says study co-author Kimberly Thompson, a Harvard associate professor and director of the school's Kids Risk Project. "The reality is, the ratings don't mean what they did 10 years ago." Researchers studied films released from 1992 to 2003 with a database of the Motion Picture Association of America's rating reasons and movie content information from independent movie content reviewers Kids-in-Mind (www.kids-in-mind.com) and Screen It! (www.screenit.com). Among the findings: •Over the 11-year period, sex and violence in PG films increased, as did sex, violence and profanity in PG-13 films and sex and profanity in R-rated films. •Smoking, which was not listed by the MPAA as a rating reason for any of the movies, appeared in 79% of films. Alcohol, tobacco or drugs appeared in 93% of films, including 51% of G-rated movies. •More violence appeared in animated G-rated movies than in non-animated G movies. Previously, the researchers found significant violence in G-rated animated films and in teen-rated video games. "Parents don't always realize that animation is not a signal that a movie is OK for kids," Thompson says. Confusing the ratings issue are video games that tie into films such as R-rated The Matrix and the PG-13-rated Lord of the Rings films. Many games target children below the movie's suggested age group, Thompson says, a problem that would be lessened if there were a universal rating system for movies, TV and games. The MPAA did not comment on the study, but president Jack Valenti has called the rating system "a beneficial tool." The voluntary ratings are determined by a rotating panel of 10 to 13 people in California, who watch 400 to 500 films a year. With Valenti being replaced Sept. 1 by former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, there is an opportunity for reform, says online reviewer Nell Minow, also known as The Movie Mom. "The fact there's an overall deterioration (of values) is no excuse for the MPAA to mislead parents who think they have a sense of what PG-13 means by continually diluting that." __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-14-2004, 12:41 PM	#332 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	I have to admit I didn't read this whole thread. I saw through the Madison Avenue Cult and identified it as such many years ago. I philosophized about it, read books about it, and wrote poetry about it. Then I lost interest in it. The only way out of it I can see is to not participate. I don't own a television set. I don't subscribe to periodicals or look at billboards. I only listen to the radio when the severe weather sirens go off in my town. For a full philosophical treatment of the "Spectacle", as the Situationists called it, see Guy-Ernest Debord's Society of the Spectacle. Then unplug yourself from the boob tube and go live your own life.

07-14-2004, 01:19 PM	#334 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Cable a la Carte Still Half-Baked By Michael Grebb Story location: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64203,00.html 02:00 AM Jul. 14, 2004 PT It's one of the most perplexing questions ever to face humankind: Why can't you buy just the cable channels you actually watch? At a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on Wednesday, a diverse panel of witnesses representing cable operators, cable channels, consumer advocates and religious broadcasters will jockey for position in the debate. Several lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), already support mandated "a la carte" carriage. Under such a system, people could pick only the few channels they want rather than have to buy large "tiers" of cable programming that include 70 or 80 channels. The cable industry argues that an a la carte system would destroy the economics of the business. The argument goes like this: Without carriage on broad tiers, startup and niche programming wouldn't be able to attract advertising and would quickly wither away, leaving consumers with fewer choices. In addition, as audiences fragment among all the channels, plummeting advertising rates would force surviving networks to raise the license fees they charge cable companies. Those higher fees would in turn get passed right along to customers, increasing the price of each individual channel. "Even if consumers were to choose just 17 channels, their bills would go up considerably," said Brian Dietz, spokesman for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. "Bundles of programming provide the best value for consumers." Consumer advocates, however, charge that the cable industry just wants to preserve its power to squash any independent networks in which it doesn't have an ownership stake. "I think that's a lot of it," said Kenneth DeGraff, a policy analyst at the Consumers Union. "If you ask the smaller cable guys, they're in favor of (a la carte). It's the big media companies that are opposing it." Indeed, the American Cable Association, which represents small rural cable operators, said it would voluntarily offer a la carte programming if the big program networks would let it. In legal comments (PDF) to the FCC last year, the group wrote that "the sole reason" it doesn't offer a la carte to its customers "is because media conglomerates, including Disney, Fox and others, flatly deny this option to smaller cable operators." DeGraff pointed out that the gay-themed channel PrideVision TV has seen much success on Canadian cable systems since the channel's launch in 2000, but it has "had no success getting on here (in the United States)" largely because it is independent. "They can't be offered because they have no leverage," he said. DeGraff said such niche channels would find it easier to gain carriage in an a la carte world because they wouldn't take up any space on a bundled tier. Of course, it's unclear how much power the big cable companies actually wield. According to the FCC's 2004 report on video competition, none of the top six cable system conglomerates holds an ownership interest in more than 18 percent of all national programming networks. "The a la carte bundling helps the most totally independent, non-vertically integrated networks," said Frank Lloyd, a cable industry attorney at the Washington law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. "Otherwise, these networks could never survive." Lloyd represents GoodLife TV Network, an independent programmer that opposes a la carte mandates. In May, the House Commerce Committee requested that the FCC study the a la carte issue. Legal comments in that proceeding are due on Thursday, and the final report is expected out later this fall. A report (PDF) last year by the Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office), however, concluded that cable a la carte wasn't worth the trouble and would actually increase rates for some consumers. But the GAO report has never impressed a la carte advocates, who charge that the agency assumed a world in which a la carte replaced rather than simply augmented the current tiered system. "That doesn't apply to the model we're talking about," said DeGraff. Caught in all of this confusion are TV viewers everywhere, some of whom still wonder why buying access to A&E and Court TV requires that they also support Comedy Central and those raunchy kids on South Park. Considering the complex nature of this debate, they may still be wondering long after Wednesday's hearing. --------------- I understand what they are saying but I don't readily or easily agree with the fact that the costs will skyrocket. I think that like all things there should be an ala carte offering and if I chose to get a better "value" by bundling then I do that....

07-14-2004, 01:23 PM	#335 (permalink)
wonderwench Banned	This is the same reasoning used by the Music Biz to keep songs bundled in albums. The real rationale is that bundling is needed to support a higher price structure and enable their massive overhead.

07-15-2004, 07:59 AM	#340 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Thanks for all the good info, Cynthetiq. To me of course, it reminds me of the old saying, "pick your poison." I suppose we, at least, have some sort of "right" to do that in a commercial marketplace. Too bad about the marketplace of ideas though. It's still a vast wasteland out there. __________________ create evolution

07-15-2004, 07:02 PM	#341 (permalink)
Dawson70 Here to Help My Fellow TFP'er Location: All over the Net....(ok Wisconsin)	Oh man....I could go on for hours on this issue. I agree 100% that our lives are dictated by media. Not enough time to pour my thoughts into this one. __________________ "I Finally Finished My Goal....You Can Too! Yippie Ki Ya...

07-19-2004, 11:19 AM	#343 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	I thought it too relevant not to refer to the discussion that's proceeding in the following thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=62987 The discussion concerns perhaps the most obvious material example of what havoc the power of advertising can wreak upon a citizenry. I see whole shelves of junk food crammed inside the skins of too many people every day not to make the most obvious and clear connection to the relative helplessness of the individual against the collected might of billions of dollars of corporate research into the most sophisticated and advanced manipulation apparatus ever imagined by mankind. __________________ create evolution

08-04-2004, 02:02 PM	#344 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Death to infidel cola The Cola Jjihad Muslims make hard pitch with soft drinks Posted: August 2, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for the last 25 years. By Yoram East © 2004 G2 Bulletin.com Mecca-Cola, distributed in recent years to Arab consumers throughout the Islamic world, in the framework of the "war against America and Zionists", has found its way to an unlikely market – Israel. Coke's legacy had spurred the launch of an alternative soft drink company, Mecca-Cola, some three years ago. It was designed to cash in on anti-American sentiment around the world. Mecca-Cola was introduced in France in 2002, and is now exported throughout Europe and the Arab world. "Arabs are entitled to enjoy brands that were made especially for them", the company's Israel director, said. He dismissed there was a political message behind the brand's marketing in the Jewish state, but announced "10 percent of the profits will be distributed as donations to Palestinian children. It is intolerable that they should suffer, starve and miss school." And that's just the beginning of the cola wars. There is a glut of new consumer products – mostly soft drinks – hitting the market from the Middle East. New Islamic consumer products penetrating the North American market, mostly in the snack and fast-food sector, contain political markers and frequently subtle political insinuations. In most cases these messages are anti-American, anti-Semitic or anti-multinationals – while at the same time cleverly promoting subliminal Islamist ideas. In essence these products, marketed with western techniques, serve as a means of condemning the very concepts used to bring them to consumers' shelves. Some of the products arrived in the West immediately after Sept. 11 and most during the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. One example of a mostly non-political and non-Islamist product being marketed in the U.S. is Cola-Turka. This product is marketed by using clear, well-known and valued symbols of the American culture. Obviously, one goal is to penetrate the lucrative American market without openly criticizing the U.S. At the same time advertising techniques are used to vaguely suggest a cultural change can be achieved even when a soft drink is marketed through American promotion systems. The beverage, launched in 2003 in Turkey, became part of the so-called cola wars waged on all five continents. In a number of publications Cola-Turka is hailed as the new kid on the block. Commercials for the cola star Chevy Chase. Filmed in New York, the ads show Americans drinking Cola-Turka becoming Turkish. Cola-Turka arrived in the market shortly after the beginning of the 2003 pre-Iraq war Turkish-U.S. political strain. Market experts say the refusal of Turkey to allow coalition troops to operate from its territory, and later other U.S.-Turkish tension spots such as the 2004 arrest of 11 Turkish soldiers by American forces in Kurdistan, hyped anti-American sentiments and with that came an apparent attack on one of America's symbols. One message says: "Drink Cola-Turka and become Turkish." Cola-Turka is steadily progressing in the beverages market, and is preparing to penetrate more. Undoubtedly the so-called Cola wars include clear signs of a cultural conflict between East and West. An Egyptian product named Arab-Cola entered the market through use of what pollsters of Arab markets explain as: "Looking for new ways to piggyback on western terminologies to further nationalistic or religious Islamic needs." The owners of the Egyptian product say the symbol represents "our identity." They clarify by adding: "Our main concern is aiming to be positive and initiative elements in our context proving we can succeed on our own, proud of being Egyptian in the first place and Arabs in wider sense." The message of the Egyptian product is comprehensible to the public even without making too many political waves. Some observers say this wave of promoting nationalism through consumer products and changing the names of the product to become more symbolic began following the Iranian revolution of 1979. Iran is the home of Zam Zam-Cola, named after the holy spring in Mecca, a popular beverage in the Muslim world, especially among Shiites. Popularity and distribution of Zam Zam-Cola gradually weakened until the beginning of the first Palestinian Intifada in 1988. It then regained momentum during the battle over hegemony in Afghanistan, the campaigns in Chechnya, and more than any other event, the two wars in Iraq led by the U.S. There are other new beverages such as the European-based Muslim owned Qibla-Cola. This product is now looking to expand to markets in North America and Australia, where there are extensive Muslim communities. The word Qibla defines the Muslim religious ritual of facing Mecca when praying. This on its own has a deep spiritual meaning for every faithful Muslim, and here, too, there is no need to add any words or spell out who the targeted consumer is. According to Muslim leaders in the U.K., it motivates many British Muslims to prove loyalty to their faith by preferring Qibla-Cola over the American Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola. It is important to note that Qibla is a name for one of the African terror groups that emerged during the '80s in South Africa with a hard-core of jihadists and a long list of terror attacks. One expert on the Qibla group told G2B: "There is no link whatsoever between the beverage bottling company and the illegal organization, however, those who support the terrorists will prefer to hold a product bearing the name Qibla rather than purchasing a similar western product. There is no doubt the word Qibla is also a form of a battle cry." Another assessment is that campaigning violently for political-religious beliefs through canned cola drinks might seem silly to western eyes, but it is definitely a motivator and a reason for pride among Islamic youth, especially in economically weak societies where anything that can hurt America is deemed good and acceptable. Another beverage with clear political markers is France-based Mecca-Cola. The site of this beverage, which is among the leaders of the cola wars, identifies the business as having charitable goals. Mecca-Cola claims to be anti-materialist and anti-capitalist, labeling the marketing origin of western top beverages as based on corruption. One argument is that others, namely western and American products, do not share their revenue with zakat (charity), whereas Mecca-Cola claims to be assigning 20 percent of its income to charity. While insisting it has peaceful goals, the Mecca-Cola website leaves no doubt most of their donations go "to the Palestinian people who are experiencing indifference and general complicity, these being the most wretched and most contemptible acts of Apartheid and Zionist fascism." This beverage, marketed and sold in North America turns any food store or cooler selling Mecca-Cola, to a political billboard aimed also at the U.S. One battlefield of the cola wars is in Iraq. The campaign there is noticeable more in Baghdad where, Arab and Muslim brand names bitterly campaign against American bottling plants re-opened after 13 years of boycott. The fact American Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola are now available angers Muslim zealots. They are doing their utmost to harm the marketing of "infidel cola," suggesting the buyer should prefer drinks produced and bottled in Egypt, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon, and whenever possible purchase an explicit "Arab-Muslim drink." One report on Pepsi distribution in Iraq suggests that in 2003 Pepsi sold 7.2 million bottles a month, indicating the figure is down more than 60 percent from its pre-war sales figures. A report from a Baghdad supermarket quotes the owner saying he is going to stop selling Iraqi-bottled Pepsi until the formation of an elected Iraqi government expected next year. This political linkage, laced with nationalist elements, is felt in many places across Iraq and the region. A British expert on terrorism funding told G2B militants are showing greater interest in marketing Islamic products resembling popular international goods. He said the main reason for this phenomenon is the successful U.S.-led campaign against terror funding through relatively easily traced zakat charities and traditional banking systems. "In the business of selling Muslim chewing gum or Muslim chocolate it is easy to hide cash flow which goes from the cash register to zakat and in most cases even by-passing the till," said the expert. Terror watchers in the western world are aware of attempts to manufacture and market a variety of products to western countries, predominantly in Europe, the U.S. Canada and Australia. Businessmen with roots in the Middle East are researching the required standards of the FDA and similar agencies for the manufacturing of snacks. A source in Los Angeles told G2B some activists interested in supporting the global jihad are on their way to produce canned soups carrying a religious title with clear preference to al-Quds, (the Arab name of Jerusalem), Mecca and names of Muslim heroes like Saladin and even bin Laden, not by using the full and legal name of the master terrorist but rather related nicknames or abbreviations such as O.B.L. for Osama bin Laden. Another way is naming a product Muslim-Up to resemble 7-Up without specifying the brand name. One manufacturer of Islamic Cola in France told journalists he is working on the idea to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken, KFC, by opening a Halal fast-food outlet such as Halal Fried Chicken or H.F.C. Halal is a dietary Muslim concept similar to the Jewish kosher food dietary rules. An Italian Muslim entrepreneur is planning a Muslim pizza with titles such as Mecca-Pizza to imitate Boston-Pizza or al-Buraq-Pizza delivery named after Muhammad's white horse which he rode on his ascension to heaven from Jerusalem. The phenomenon of Muslim or jihadi products is anchored in the Arab boycott of western, American and Israeli products. The boycott is now entering a new phase of combating American symbols by introducing Muslim symbols in look-a-like products. These are sold worldwide and in the last few years have begun to compete with American symbols in America itself. Intelligence analysis of the phenomena suggests the need to examine the labeling and advertising of each product suspected of sharing profits with terrorism. An Israeli analyst told G2B Arab and Muslim countries systematically inspect each and every product they import to guarantee there is no connection to Israel. ............................ For some reason, I'm cool with all this. I agree that we export our so-called "values" by virtue of exporting our products. I can't blame the parts of the world that hate our values for hating our products - just because of what they are perceived to "stand for." As for the talk of "Zionists" etc., well, they hate us. That's that. I'm just saying I can understand this. __________________ create evolution

08-04-2004, 06:35 PM	#345 (permalink)
tangledweb slightly impaired Location: Down South	Coke and Pepsi have always been our most iconic exported symbols. The products have historically seen a boom in sales due to their close attachment with American culture and 'coolness'. In Japan and other Asian countries, they still seem to benefit but Middle-eastern countries are gaining an all-new depth to their hatred of us. That hatred is taught from a very early age and is affixed in much of the middle-eastern value system. Establishing a product mix that compels people to purchase from a patriotic standpoint isn't new. Wal-Mart used to put "MADE IN AMERICA' in all of their commercials and on most of their product signage. Hell, the theme song that played in all of their commercials was "Proud to be an American". They told us we were supporting the small towns and small businesses by buying from Wal-Mart. What happened? Greed. Go to a Wal-Mart and find something that is MADE IN AMERICA. I dare you.

08-10-2004, 10:27 AM	#346 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Cartoon Network to go after preschool crowd By CAROLINE WILBERT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/09/04 Despite plenty of competition, the Cartoon Network is making a foray into programming for preschoolers. The Atlanta-based network will launch a block of original programming next spring, targeting young children. There are a number of other players in the field, from old standbys like PBS and newer entrants like Playhouse Disney. Also, Comcast, the country's largest cable operator, is reportedly developing a 24-hour network aimed at the young set, through a partnership with Public Broadcasting System, Sesame Workshop and a European company. Comcast has not confirmed plans for such a network. Still, Cartoon thinks there is room for more. Cartoon's hook: It will be funny, if not necessarily educational. The block's motto will be "fun, funny and fearless." The Cartoon Network has traditionally gone after older children during the day and adults at night. Alice Cahn, vice president of development and programming, said humor is a "skill kids need to know." She said children with senses of humor and optimistic outlooks on life "tend to lash out less, verbally and physically, tend to have more friends, tend to have an easier time in the world." This announcement comes on the heels of a widely publicized report in the spring from the American Academy of Pediatrics that said children under age 2 should not watch television at all. The report links television-watching by young children to attention deficit problems. Cahn says research doesn't adequately prove the claim that television causes attention problems, though she acknowledges it is not a good idea for young children to watch hours and hours of television per day. She said today's parents are comfortable with TV and use it as a teaching tool, just like books or toys. We look at media the way our kids see it, as furniture," she said. "It isn't special anymore." The preschool block, which will air while older children are at school, is a joint venture between Cartoon and Warner Bros. Television Group. Both are units of media conglomerate Time Warner. The Warner Bros. group will produce many of the shows that air during the new block, including "Krypto," which will be about the adventures of Superman's dog. Find this article at: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/busi...10cartoon.html __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-13-2004, 07:58 AM	#347 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	"...programming for preschoolers" "...targeting young children" "...aimed at the young set" "...gone after older children during the day" "We look at media the way our kids see it, as furniture," she said. "It isn't special anymore." Perhaps at some point in the future we'll see these statements as unthinkably barbaric. __________________ create evolution

08-13-2004, 09:09 AM	#349 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Yep, I'm aware of Scholastic Entertainment. It's a dog-eat-dog media circusworld out there. Hard to compete with the big advertising-backed outlets. __________________ create evolution

08-28-2004, 12:26 PM	#353 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY

08-28-2004, 03:14 PM	#354 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Yes, this nasty tap water habit must be nipped in the bud. This type of strategic campaign is something the tobacco companies could use to dissuade us from our unprofitable addiction to air. __________________ create evolution

08-28-2004, 09:15 PM	#355 (permalink)
QuasiMojo King Knave Location: Lancaster	Huzza on an excellent thread~ Is it possible that a large portion of this conceived "mind control" issue that is being proported is just the work of the prankster predelictation of advertising proponants? hmmmI think that the initial offerings in the thread were indeed just that. Inside jokes, creative explosions set off by marketing brainstorms that culminated in lightening strikes that were made manifest by the multitude of examples that have been laid forth. NOW We evolve(?) into this abomination that lies above this very post.(well, above ART's post) This truly is thee dark side of marketing and advertising. The love and want of money is lamentably apparent. "Coca Cola" and "Olive Garden" can "Suck My Cock" Oh, by the way, if you want to know what type of people drink "Evian" water, all you need to do is spell "Evian" backwards. go to nature Bill Hicks __________________ AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

08-28-2004, 10:10 PM	#356 (permalink)
QuasiMojo King Knave Location: Lancaster	tap water incidents....keeeeeeeeeekyst __________________ AzAbOv ZoBeLoE

09-07-2004, 11:03 PM	#357 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	10-teen Makeup and marketing - welcome to the world of 10-year-old girls Survey says put cosmetic vending machines into schools Owen Bowcott Wednesday September 8, 2004 The Guardian The plastic bag that wraps around Bliss, a magazine for teenage girls, this month says it all. "FREE INSIDE! makeup palette," it screams. Across the bottom of the bag it teases with a "Lush mascara offer" "Gorgeous lip gloss offer", as well as a £5 voucher for "spray tan". On the Bliss website, even before you get to the front page, a pop-up advert appears from Ralph Lauren asking readers: "How old are you?" If you answer 10-15, it goes on to ask "What was the last fragrance you purchased?" followed by "Which shop do you buy fragrances from?" Bliss, Sugar, Cosmo girl, Elle girl, the list goes on ... The power of such marketing is highlighted today by a survey which shows that most seven- to 10-year-olds are using makeup. The survey showed that by the age of 14, around nine out of 10 girls apply some type of eyeliner, mascara or lipstick. The number of those in the 11-14 age group who report using lipstick or lip gloss on a daily basis has more than doubled intwo years. Mintel, one of the UK's leading consumer research organisations, which carried out the survey, draws the controversial conclusion from its results that cosmetic companies could go much further in their drive to entice young girls to buy their products. Firms should place vending machines for their products in schools and cinemas to target teenage consumers, Mintel says. The study, based on marketing questionnaires, fails to distinguish whether makeup is being used merely for play, involving dressing up at home, or as part of a beauty regime when going out. But claims that youngsters are being forced to express their sexual identity long before childhood is over have provoked rows and moral panics in recent years. Earlier this year the Association of Teachers and Lecturers called for age restrictions on magazines such as Bliss, Sugar and Cosmo girl on the basis that they were "full of explicit sexual content" and "glamorise promiscuity". When Mad About Boys, a glossy magazine aimed at nine- to 12-year-old girls, was launched in 2001, MPs warned that it portrayed them as sex objects, gave tips on makeup and encouraged them to diet. 'Corruption' Two years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, criticised consumerism for its "corruption and premature sexualisation of children". Paris Fashion Week has provoked outcries for parading nine- and 10-year-old girls on a catwalk wearing plunging necklines and high hemlines. The Mintel survey acknowledges such concerns but points out there are commercial opportunities. "Cosmetic manufacturers must be ever mindful of the fine line they tread between encouraging children to look and behave like adults and promoting their products as being good, clean fun," said Claire Hatcher, one of the firm's senior consumer analysts. "Despite their self-assurance, when it comes to grooming products, these girls are still learning about what suits them and are therefore open to experimentation and new products offered in ways which appeal to their age group." Retailing toiletries to teenagers has suffered neglect, the report adds. "Makeup, in particular, is often an impulse purchase, so placing teen brands in unusual locations such as in vending machines in schools, cinemas and bowling alleys may persuade consumers into buying something they had not previously considered." According to the survey, 63% of seven to 10-year-olds wear lipstick, more than two in five eye shadow or eyeliner, and almost one in four mascara. Three quarters of 11- 14-year-old girls use eye shadow and a similar proportion mascara. Lip gloss and lipstick is even more popular, with eight in 10 girls aged 11-14 applying it. Half of girls in that age group wear blusher, with 14% saying they use it every day or more. By the age of 14, almost three in five (58%) girls use perfume. "Long before girls become teenagers, they use a wide selection of cosmetics as well as other skin care products and toiletries," said Ms Hatcher. "Their interest in these products is fuelled by teen magazines and by swapping ideas and recommendations with their peer group and, of course, watching what their mothers use. "Manufacturers of consumer products such as makeup and fragrance should therefore be wary in over-promoting celebrities in the belief that all young teenagers aspire to a notion of perfection which many do not realise is unobtainable." The survey, which questioned 5,856 youngsters aged seven to 19, also showed that fake tan is popular, with 13% of 11-12 year old girls using self tanning cream, lotion or oil. This rises to one-in-five among the 13-14 group. Hair colourants are also used by many young girls: 27% of those aged 11-14 use them, rising to 35% of 13- 14-year-olds. Childcare organisations reacted with caution to the figures. "Children should be free to enjoy childhood without undue pressure," the NSPCC said. "However, young girls have always experimented with makeup and the dressing-up box ... This should only really cause alarm if a child feels that it's something they are uncomfortable with but feel forced to do." Many schools already discourage pupils from wearing makeup and some ban cosmetics. The two main teaching unions reacted with disbelief to the suggestion of installing vending machines in schools. Chris Keates, the acting general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "It's an extraordinary idea for anyone to come up with. "Do people want to lose the focus of what school is about? Pupils should not be thinking about whether they have an opportunity to use cosmetics." A spokesman for the NUT said: "Pupils have always tried to get around bans. But the purpose of school is education of the child not an opportunity to increase their sex appeal." .......... In terms of marketing self-image, there's no difference between 10-year olds and teenagers. Today's "10-teens" are into the whole not-good-enough-unless-altered sense of themselves that was once the province of the insecure and youth-market dominated teen years. There's less "children" and less childhood these days than there used to be. What's been gained? What's been lost? __________________ create evolution

09-08-2004, 01:28 PM	#358 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Way back in colonial times(well, maybe not THAT far back), Twiggy was the one to emulate. Big, black, overdone eyes, pouty pink shiny lips and stick-figure body. She even had a slight slouch. So, by 7th grade, we walked around with heavy black eyes, gobs of lipstick and earrings so big, they dragged down our lobes.We ate nothing but Lifesavers for lunch so we'd be stick-thin. Dresscodes were pretty strict, but we always tried to make the skirts a little shorter and the tops a little tighter. But, Mom and Dad were there to rein most of us in when the calls from the teachers or administrators came. Kids still try to emulate the famous. But the famous ones push the envelopes ever further, forgetting or ignoring boundaries in taste and decorum. The major difference? Parents more often than not allow the kids to do whatever they want in their quests to be like their idols. No time for battles, maybe, don't care, perhaps....want to be a pal and not an authority figure to their children(god forbid they lay rules like THEIR parents did). Too often, the call from school comes and the parents berate the caller instead of correcting the situation. The good side? Kids learn a lot earlier what their decisions reap. Maybe they don't WANT accountability and responsibility for their actions, but it comes. I allow my daughter to wear eye makeup and I have colored her hair funky colors-it's her way of self-discovery and I would much rather guide her along than let her flounder alone. That will happen soon enough and I won't be able or allowed to guide. So, I kind of welcome the challenges these media whores send our way. It gives me and my children the opportunity to face it and make decisions based on their own lives and needs.

09-11-2004, 02:32 AM	#359 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Yes. As you may know, I'm of the opinion that we are unable to sufficiently resist media to displace their influence in either our own lives or our children's lives to any significant extent. __________________ create evolution

09-11-2004, 05:48 AM	#360 (permalink)
HockeyGuy Psycho Location: London, England	Sorry to join this discussion late on but has anyone been the the Guiness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland? I was there last week and as I enjoy my guiness I thought that it was a great place to visit. I link this to here tho because they have a floor in the building called 'advertising' and basically people like myslef have come in and paid to see all of their past adverts and they are being constantly shown to us. Also looking through some from the 50's with slogans such as 'Guiness is good for you' and 'Guiness gives you strength' I found these proper drilled into my head once i left. IMHO places like this and the jamesons distillery etc are also huge on the mass media mind control! T