Postman's Reach Out and Elect Someone, stresses the use of commercials on the television in relation to politics. The part of the article that sparked some interest to me was this: "What the advertiser needs to know is not what is right about the product but what is wrong about the buyer. And so the balance of the business expenditures shifts from produt research to market research. The television commercial has oriented business away from making products of value and toward making consumers feel valuable, which means the business of business has now become pseudo-therapy. Pseudo-therapy, meaning a false perception. Often times, commericials have famous stars, sport players, or known politics to sell a product. The consumer gets so involved of who is selling the product, rather than how good or maybe what the product even is. Our culture has become a culture that gets so caught up with the image rather than what is being really advertised. The example that I chose for this article in relation was the "Obama Girl" on You Tube. This video actually took me by surprise. Honestly I am not too involved with politics and do not even visit You Tube that often, so this may not be a surprise to anyone. However, The "Obama Girl" on You Tube is a young beautiful woman that one would say is obsessed with Obama. The original Obama Girl, still beautiful started in 1952. Current Obama Girl, Amber Lee Ettinger is most famous for her song, "I gotta crush on Obama." This girl has become well-known all overm being seen on tv, newspapers, magazines, and on The Morning Show. This example that I have is one that relates to Postman's article, because "Obama Girl" is like a marketing tool for Obama in the presidential elections. One of the narrator's for the You Tube video even said, "When you hear of a leading presidential canidate, you got this." A product may not be respresented in this case, but it is the same concept. A beautiful girl who models and sings could be what gets an extra vote for Obama! It is exactly like lets say, Tyra Banks selling a makeup product on a commercial. Any girl would want to buythe product, because they think they will look as beautiful and stunning as them once they have it. The "Obama Girl" is obviously liked and wanted otherwise she would not still be around. Supposively there is now a "Guiliani Girl" posing as a new competitor for "Obama Girl." Not to offend anyone, but I think this is getting a little ridiculous. I agree with Postman when image and how the way something is being portrayed is looked upon moreso than the actual product or point getting acrossed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77yNLuji-rE&eurl=http://caffeblla.blogspot.com/
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I agree with everything you have said in your post. It is getting ridiculous the way politics are portrayed today. Even the fact that Opera is openly supporting Obama in hopes of getting her million viewers to support him as well. Wasn't there a time when voting was supposed to be something private, secret, and sacred. Politicians are no longer trying to express their views on how to help the country today, rather than get famous supporters and hope for the best. There was a time when voting was a privilege and the candidates really worked for office. Now it seems as if the candidate with the most money, the most publicity and the most famous supporters will ultimately win.
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