I found this poster when I googled "anti-drug posters" on google images. I chose this poster because I felt like it can be interpreted in many different ways. It is saying that drugs are bad for people in a unique way.
Questions:
- Why is "cool" spelled out in cigarettes?
- Does this poster have a strong or weak message by just using words instead of showing the affects on a human being?
- What demographic is this poster targeting?
- How is pathos used in this ad?
- Does the background impact the message in any way?
The creator of this poster used cigarettes to spell the word "cool" to refer to the common misconception of teenagers, and even adolescents, that smoking makes you "cool". If one were to look at only this aspect of the poster, the message would be positive towards drugs. The addition of the words "way to destroy your body", however, add that negative connotation about cigarettes. The poster is targeting smokers, obviously, but also appeals to parents with adolescents and teenagers.
ReplyDeletePrompt 1
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Kyle is saying, and I also think satire is thriving through this ad. I think the word "cool" spelled out in cigarettes establishes a tone of irony and sarcasm in the the ad. I almost think the author of this ad is making fun of the misconception that smoking cigarettes is "cool". I think this tone of the ad makes the viewers feel silly for believing this misconception.
Prompt 6
ReplyDeleteI think that the creator of this ad introduces a new way to promote an old message. In typical cigarette ads, it always talks about the direct side effects that smoking can have on your body. In this ad, that message is brought across with a hint of sarcasm. The word ‘cool’ spelled out in cigarettes is what immediately attracts the eye. The idea of that specific word being spelled out in cigarettes has a lot of meaning. Most cigarette companies want to portray smoking as a cool, popular and attractive thing to do. I think that it gives the ad a touch of irony. Under the word cool is the statement ‘way to destroy your body’. I like that the ad doesn’t just come out and say, “Cigarettes destroy your body.” I think that the ad has a better impact because it has a hint of sarcasm and irony and will attract more people to it.
Blog Prompt #1
ReplyDeleteWhile this poster is trying to make a point that cigarettes destroy the body, it can also be interpreted to be describing cigarettes as "the lesser of two evils". When talking about more "hardcore" drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, destroying the body occurs at a much higher rate and probably to a greater extent. When looking at this poster, one could also see cigarettes as better than those hardcore drugs, in terms of destroying the body. Now, destroying the body is undesirable by most, but the fact is that there are worse things out there than cigarettes.
I think that the author of this ad spelled "cool" in cigarettes to take a sarcastic poke at the common misconception among teenagers that smoking makes you look cool. I think that the message within the picture stays the same, whether you portray it through a person or words. I actually like this as opposed to using a person, because it may grab someones attention just for the fact that it is a bit different. As stated earlier this poster is probably to target teenagers and some young adults, because they tend to think that smoking is "cool." The background and overall setting really is just dark and as usual with settings like that it casts am eerie light on the topic.
ReplyDeleteThe words could mean that its okay to destroy your body and the coolest way to do that is to smoke cigarettes. The target demographic is teenagers because they generally want to fit in with their peers and be the 'cool' person to hang out with.
ReplyDelete1. Cool is spelled out in cigarettes because there is supposed to be a message of irony in the poster. The fact that the cigarettes spell out "cool" shows how some people may consider smoking a fashionable thing to do when in the long run it may be the cause of your death.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the poster is somewhat vague in that it uses cigarettes to spell out the word. At first I didn't even know that they were cigarettes that were spelling out "cool" and it took a little bit of time for me to realize what exactly the message was. But maybe that is the point. Maybe they are trying to make you think.