Culture - Product Placement Music Videos

What makes you buy a new product? Is it some sleek new advertising campaign? Is there perhaps some celebrity endorsement involved? Or is there Nicki Minaj twerking her ass for a nearly minute video with various different products being flashed at you?

Since the release of Nicki Minaj's new music video, Anaconda, on 19th August 2014, it has been viewed over 234,000,000 times. It may be a catching song, but generally it has been shared over and over again via social networking sites, because she is showing a lot of her booty. Considering her popularity within the charts, and many fans she has world wide, a lot of people have disliked the video. The video has appeared to have created a Marmite affect - you either love it or hate it. But either way, you are talking about it - which I believe may be the whole reason behind the concept of the music video.

Nicki Minaj may be 'acting like a whore' or 'just shaking what she was born with' but either way people are watching the video - and if they are watching the video, they are also victim to the many brands that are littered in this video. When I first watched the video, I saw three different brands, and in the lyrics she referenced two more. Having all these different brands involved in this highly explicit video may shot them in the foot - people may not like the fact they are associated with such a video. However, I believe this isn't the case, the majority of people like the video and are taking in these different brand without even releasing it.

I mostly don't have a problem with products being used in music videos, as more often that not, I don't watch the video on YouTube and other platforms, but have the music playing in the background whilst working, so I'm not likely to see them. However Nicki Minaj includes a Mate Fit water bottle in the video. The bottle is positioned in such a way you can constantly see the logo - which is far enough, they want exposure. But she then goes on to take a sip from the bottle in such an over the top way, she looks like she's in an nasty infomercial that you see on Channel 5 after Super Casino at about 4am. It made her look tacky, and that's saying something considering her bum was out for the majority of the video.


Information found via;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs

http://flavorwire.com/473285/a-guide-to-all-the-gratuitous-product-placement-in-nicki-minajs-anaconda-video

Technology - Facebook Advertisements

Have you ever been on Amazon or Google, searched for something, and then logged onto your Facebook later, and seen what you've search for. Coincidence? Sadly no. No, your private information is being tracked and searched all so you can buy a product from someone else. I'd recently searched for layout pads online to see if I could get a good deal by buying in bulk - 2 hours later I'm searching Facebook and in the corner of the screen I see an advertisement for layout pads. I'm not fussed if someone wants to try sell me layout pads - but what else can Facebook see. What other information is Google, Amazon and other sites providing?

I'd like to think I have nothing to hide, but I still like my privacy. I'm not concerned if Google shares information that I've been searching way to bake a cake in a microwave, or how to cook pasta - but what about the private matters. What about all those teenage boys who have just discovered sites like PornHub and YouPorn? Or more importantly, what about banking online? If I'm banking online, I'd like to know my money is totally safe and not being tracked by a website just so they can take my personal details and sell them on. It's my right to have a safe online environment, where I am not constantly watched and being used.

If it's not bad enough that Facebook are trying to sell you out to anyone and everyone online, they are also the most creepiest stalkers known online as far as I'm concerned. It was brought to my attention recently that the Facebook app and the Facebook Messenger app, where asking your permission for a little more that most intended. When you download these apps, you have to confirm that you agree to the conditions of the download. But did you know Facebook has the power, once you click agree to look at you, and record you without your knowledge. Now not online can they see your online footprint, they can access you real life - and that information like all other information Facebook collects can go directly to advertisers.

Information found via;

http://www.geek.com/mobile/facebook-app-now-listens-and-records-audio-when-you-post-updates-from-your-phone-1595873/

Culture - Glastonbury Festival

I enjoy festivals just as much as anyone else. I like the variety of performances, the atmosphere and the feeling of total euphoria. But one place I despise for it's over the top show boating style is Glastonbury Festival. Glastonbury is the place where everyone claims they want to be, but really you are just stood in a muddy field with drunk and high strangers around you with queues for the toilets stretching miles. 'FUN'. Why pay that much money, when it's broadcast on television anyway, and you can enjoy it in a nice setting, like your bed, all cosy and warm. But this year, tickets have sold out in a record breaking 25 minutes. That's around 6000 tickets sold a minute. It's always fathomed me why? Why is Glastonbury such an amazing and magical place for so many people? So I did a little research..

 

First, I looked into who was playing at Glastonbury. If I had to go to Glastonbury Festival as a matter of life and death - the only way I could possible bear it is if Coldplay were there. Which made me think, perhaps people go to Glastonbury because of the artists, and it's a great way to see multiple artists at once for one price. I was wrong. It appears Glastonbury Festival don't release their acts until early spring 2015. Which means customers have brought these highly sort after tickets - which now due to ID requirements, they can't sell on - to watch a headlining act which they may dislike. This information completely confused me - I don't understand why people would pay so much, for a weekend of performances they may hate.

 

So I started to look at Glastonbury in a completely different light. They are a business and as such are trying to shift as much product as possible, in this case tickets to the main event. But how do you get people to have a connection with a product without knowing the product itself - answer: COLOUR. Colours can affect the way an audience may receive the message of the brand, and can also help associate different feelings with brands also. Looking at the design of Glastonbury's 2014 logo, it seems they have used a lot of coloured to suggest summer - red, orange and yellow. Summer is a warm and exciting time, as many people - especially young people, have the summer to be free and do whatever they wish. The use of yellow is very prominent in their advertisements and also on their website - which is a colour which generally promotes the feelings of happiness and joy. This warm happy feeling may be the only thing that entices thousands to Glastonbury every year. Something as simple as a colour may be the reason everyone is coming back year on year - it certainly isn't the brown colour of the mud. 

Information found via;

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/glastonbury-festival-2015-reasons-to-stop-crying-over-not-getting-tickets-9775298.html

Technology - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10. Windows

Anyone notice how the number '9' was missing from the title of this post? Seems Microsoft aren't a fan of number '9' either. Despite having released Windows 8 only 2 years ago, the technology giants are due to release a new operating system - called Windows 10!

The Windows 8 operating system has be critiqued thoroughly, and people aren't happy. A lot of people feel that it is too different from it's previous systems. And that can be proven in statistics by NetMarketShare, According to the research firm, only 12.3% of desktop PCs run Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Whereas 52.7% are using Windows 7 and 23.9% are powered by Windows XP.

Looking through the changes Windows are making - it seems Microsoft have turned into the next Apple, where they change one thing and all of a sudden it's a new product. By re-introducing the start button, Microsoft believe they have now created a product that is user friendly and still sleek and stylish. 

Screen shot of new Windows 10 layout

Personally, I feel that Windows 8 was never a good idea. I have it installed on my current laptop and absolutely loath it. I don't want to have apps with different games and the latest news available at the click of a button - I want a basic computer, to do my work and browse on-line. Changing key features on such a complex product like computer software was a mistake in the first place. Here's hoping Windows 10 isn't a complete let down like it's predecessor.

Information found via;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29431412

http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0

http://forums.wpcentral.com/windows-10/314704-show-off-your-windows-10-start-hybrids.html

Advertising - Sainsbury's Big Blunder

With the big run up to Christmas approaching, you'd think supermarkets would be doing their best to show themselves off as the best value for money. Well, Sainsbury's this week may have just shot themselves in the foot with that one. Now, you're stupid if you believe that all shops and businesses are not after your money - but do you want to know about it?

So it appears Sainsburys are asking their staff to try and encourage customers to spend a little more on each shop on the run up to Christmas. This is actually very common practice - I myself have worked for businesses where we were encouraged as staff to look at all the offers, and repeat them to customers. However, I would never publish what my employees had told me - nor would I leave employee notices around for customers - but one Sainsbury's employee accidentally did. 

But now because of this blunder, the superstore is being ridiculed on social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter - I found the story through clicking on a link via my Facebook page. What's  probably the most odd thing to come out of this story is the crazy comments people leave under the link - many people believe Sainsbury's will start double scanning items, or have a bar code in stitched to the sleeve of employees and they will simply glide their arm past the bar code scanner. All very interesting thesis, however, I highly doubt one of the biggest supermarket store in the U.K will resort to petty theft.

Unfortunately Sainsbury's has now got to deal with this little bit of backlash from the public, but to be honest, we will all forget next week. We will still spend hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds each year individually at stores like Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda. What ever happened to boycotting stores like Tesco and Aldi because of the horse-meat scandal? It didn't happen - we all want a 'great' deal and want to be ignorant as to where that deal comes from. 

Information found via;

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sainsburys-50p-challenge-poster-telling-staff-to-encourage-customers-to-spend-more-placed-in-shop-window-instead-of-staff-room-9764582.html

Health and Lifestyle - Toxic Cycle

'Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death in England, accounting for 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease.'

Early 2014 the NHS stop smoking service, Smokefree, released a new advertisement to encourage smokers to stop smoking. As a smoker myself, I find it ridiculous when on a packet of cigarettes, they have to put warning like 'Smoking kills'. These visual reminders do nothing but annoy me. I know smoking can and does kill. Everyone knows this fact. If you want to get a smoker to stop smoking, one disengaging picture is not going to help. However, one thing that does make me think is the video. Actually seeing the smoke travel through the body and react with different organs makes people really think about what the product is doing to them. The latest video advertisement, 'Toxic Cycle' shows the reaction of smoke, in a way that almost makes you physically want to be sick. The grotesque imagery shocks viewers to think more about what they are actually doing to themselves. The video also ends with links as to where to get advice if you want to quit. More often than not, links to stop smoking sites or helpful advice is also withheld from the cigarette packets. The video ad seems to be the only consistent and effective way to encourage people to stop smoking. Although, if I'm being completely honest, I would love for the video to go into greater deepth and explore more issues, or contain even more grotesque imagery - this could really effect the behaviour of many smokers. 

As much as I wanted more from the video itself, it's made me think about smoking more - that's all they really want, is to get people to think about the damage it can do.

Information found via;

http://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Ul9QIfBno

Education - Connect With Plymouth University

Here Design is a small advertising agency based in East London, and have recently been hired by Plymouth University to re-brand the university. Only 2 years ago I had to make the decision as to where I would like to study for my degree - luckily I had fully researched the different courses offered by various universities and found my perfect one. However, many young people are unsure as to where to go.Plymouth University to me, being a local, has always been out of date, and almost a last resort to my educational future. However, with this new design, Plymouth University's image reflects the recent development and updating it has had done. 

Plymouth University has also taken a more active role with it's local A-level students, and potential Plymouth University students, by visiting local colleges and sixth forms. With this new typography type branding, the university looks more modern, and interesting. To further gain more awareness, and have a consistent bran image, the university has added this identity to their free gifts - bags, hats, pens, etc. - and also their website and university signs around campus. Well done Plymouth University for entering the modern world!

Information found via;

http://www.heredesign.co.uk/

http://www5.plymouth.ac.uk/