Look, I actually am not doing a Nike commercial for once.  I found this idea for an advertisement rather interesting.  McDonald's goes for the shock factor with their bold print.  The typical gold and red, which everyone can recognize as the McDonald’s colors, are in the shape of seemingly racist lines that are meant to catch the audience’s attention.  There is a reason that the golden arches are in the bottom right hand corner smaller than the writing.  It is not the center of this ad.  This is not a normal McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” advertisement.  This is an advertisement for a cause rather than a McDonald’s product.  McDonald’s lends its name to help fight prejudice.  The fast food chain wants people to stop discriminating in hiring by setting a very public example.  The much smaller print says how McDonald’s does not look at nationality when they hire.  However, they needed an eye-catcher to make sure people actually read the small print.  When one sees the golden arches combined with a racist statement, like the one in the bigger print on this ad, they know that they need to look further on the ad to find the purpose.  McDonald’s is using its worldwide fame to make a statement on a key issue in society.  It is especially advantageous for McDonald’s reputation considering that it is already known as the most worldwide corporation.  McDonald’s is utilizing their pull throughout this nation through a simple still ad with no pictures.  McDonald’s cuts right to the center of the issue rather than muddying it up with distractions.

"Become Legendary"

    

Once again, I am focusing on a Nike commercial, but there may not be a company as ingenious as Nike when it comes to advertising.  Nike is selling Michael Jordan’s brand of shoes, an actual line of products, for a change.  This commercial, entitled “Become Legendary,” features Jordan’s voice.  Jordan, being one of the most legendary athletes in sports history, seems like he is speaking for the younger people.  Just Jordan’s iconic voice keeps the viewer’s attention locked on the television.  His speech is adds to the intensity of this commercial.  His statements transcend sports, such as “I know what it is within me, even if you can’t see it yet.”  The commercial shows another case of Nike using a one on one style to make a connection with their audience.  The ad focuses only on faces and eyes, making the commercial personal.  The viewer feels as if they are in the mind of each face.    The serious faces once again ad to the impact of the intensity of the whole ad.  Also, Nike utilizes not only athletes but also normal people, who are supposed to represent all of the non-athletes.  Nike is once again trying to sell a lifestyle to every non-athlete.  Nike wants you to know that Michael Jordan supports your potential regardless of what you choose to do.  Nike always employs effective strategies in reaching an audience most sporting equipment companies can not reach.  This advertisement is another example of why so many non-athletes still proudly sport the “swoosh.”

State Patty's Day Dilemma

  

    This last weekend, as everyone probably knows, was State Patty's Day.  With all of the anti-State Patty's press over the last week, you would think that Penn State would just keep up with the sentiment.  However, instead of merely ignoring or discouraging the feast of State Patrick, Penn State charged event price parking.  So, in effect, the university said that State Patty's was a football weekend.  With all of the attempts to kill the unofficial student holiday, the school decided that it was appropriate to cash in on the opportunity.  This is a showing of conflicting rhetoric.  Which way should we view State Patty's Day?  Should we see it as the "event" that the university shows it is through their parking prices or the out of control drinking holiday that they try to force upon the students?  Penn State demonstrates a failure of rhetoric that gives students two different ideas of the way that they should respond to the idea of State Patty’s Day next year.  The constant intimidation that we saw through all of the Daily Collegian articles has been compromised by a menial showing of greed from the university.  The simple charging of a few extra dollars for a parking ticket sends a message that is tough to ignore, especially if you are a proponent of the fake holiday.  Whether you participate in the festivities on State Patty’s or not, it is easy to see why the fake holiday would continue based off of the mixed messages sent by the Penn State hierarchy.