“It’ll Blow Your Mind Away”

Based on the example it is obvious Burger King’s mass media Ad and the Aston Martin used sports car ad are communicating messages in society. These messages are related to societies norms, values, and culture in North America. Just the fact this Ad was open for the public to view says a lot about the culture, values, and norms in North America especially when some people may not have taken a second look.

In my opinion images that are presented for people to view is concerning because specific ideas and messages are being transmitted. In Brym (2013) article they point out, “people are not just empty vessels into which the mass media pour a defined assortment of beliefs, values, and ideas” (p. 467).  This example relates to my critical analysis paper because the representation of media and advertisements create the messages of what it means to be a “true man” this goes even further when considering respect and there is a disconnection between respect and true manhood. The overall effects of images like this show that it is okay to sexually objectify women.

This also leads to unreasonable expectations, which advertisements create directly or indirectly. In my opinion advertisements play a role in reality and fantasy which is concerning because it alters peoples perception of reality and expectations. The article “Hegemonic Masculinity and Pornography: young peoples attitudes toward and relations to pornography” by Johansson and Hammaren. Johansson and Hammaren explained sexualisation and pornification in society. This is emphasized and seen in advertising by the influence of porn industries and how bodies and sexuality are portrayed in society. Therefor Hammaren and Johansson help acknowledge this by explaining how young men are affected by sex in porn and advertisements. Overall this has created different perceptions for each individual in a hyper sexualized society.

 

 

Bibliography

Brym, R. J., Roberts, L. W., Lie, J., & Rytina, S. (2013). The mass media. Sociology: Your compass for a new world (4th Canadian ed.) Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.

Burger King. (Photograph). (n.d). Retrieved from      http://2.bp.blogspot.com/UxA_WswrxRE/UKUMCtMIA_I/AAAAAAAAFJ8/                 HlWqhps8z7Q/s1600/burger-king-bj-092310-xlg.jpg

Johansson, T. and Hammaren, N., “Hegemonic Masculinity and Pornography: Young  people’s attitudes toward and relations to pornography,” The Journal of Men’s  Studies, 15, 1 (Winter 2007): 57-70.