Topics in Digital Media – Spring 10

13 Comments

1. Leslie 12:29, Mar 23rd, 10

   Hey Alex- these are two great ideas from an advertising perspective. And, I know the Dove one has definitely gotten people talking. I love that Dove Evolution video they made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U.

   I like your last question- how much have these campaigns actually promoted social change? Yea, they’re getting people thinking for a minute about the topic, but is it lasting? One of my friends is actually quite dedicated to this cause and has actually gone so far as to start a website (launched maybe a month ago now?). It’s called The Daily Femme: http://www.thedailyfemme.com/femme/. If you want, I can give you her contact info- she might have some good insight into the topic.

2. Alexandra 12:33, Mar 23rd, 10

   Thanks Leslie, I would love her contact info. I’m not sure exactly where I’m taking this yet but I am definitely interested in getting other people’s perspectives.

3. Harris 13:55, Mar 23rd, 10

   Very very interesting. I think gaps and cracks in the discourse of beauty in the media can be used as exploits to transform that discourse.
   I’m not sure if Dove and Kotex initiated this trend or are only following an emerging trend? I would compare them to Google in a sense that although they accept certain emerging liberating trends and in that way give them legitimacy, they are corporations in the end and profit is a motive. Although I think even for corporations, profit is not the only common goal.

   I don’t know how you can ‘measure’ any change in girls’ life that this practice will bring about, but I’d say just go there on those websites and talk to women, see if they’re willing to talk about their experience, anonymously in text, or through artwork, or webcam interviews?

4. Leslie 08:12, Mar 25th, 10

   Hey Alex! I forgot to give you the info the other day. My friend’s name is Cherie & her email address is: cherie.hannouche [at] gmail [dot] com. I just saw that she actually just posted an article about the “U” by Kotex ads on her site: http://www.thedailyfemme.com/femme/?p=2318

5. Leslie 08:21, Mar 25th, 10

   Ohhh just saw this in her status message too: “Women, Action, and the Media” Conference in NYC this Saturday – http://www.womenactionmedia.org/events/wamit/nyc/#miniconference

6. Alexandra 08:25, Mar 25th, 10

   Thanks for the info Leslie! The conference looks interesting and I may check it out!

7. mushon 10:27, Mar 26th, 10

   Indeed interesting approach from a corporation. This is a subject we discussed in class before, how conscience can a corporation really be and what type of partnership can it build with the consumers / civil society. I think it’s an important one, I think there is PR revenue in social change and while we should be clear about incentives, every dime going to building women self esteem rather than breaking it is good. I don’t expect Dove to promise to stop having ads where a sexy white model is rubbing her long legs with Dove soap or moisture or whatever, so sincerity is probably not the issue. But how can it really partner with consumers to lead an ideological change that would strengthen its brand, have nice bottom line results and be sustainable beyond the scope of a single campaign?

   The “real” aspect and the “sharing” ideology are both led by the aesthetics of social media, can the corporation really tap into it?

   Concerning your use of the slideshow, it was nice but very basic, not much content there yet. I think you can do a better job by using voiceover too (see Elizabeth’s latest post). Also refer to my critique of her use of slides, you use to much text for a slideshow, and too little for an textual post. If it would have worked better w/o rich media, then there’s more work for you to do to reach the sweet spot.

   Good luck!

8. Alexandra 10:34, Mar 26th, 10

   Thanks for your comments Mushon. I know this post wasn’t very interesting – but I have some better tricks up my sleeve for next time. I am hoping to interview the creative director at Organic (who designed the ubykotex site) and maybe get some contacts at Kotex out of him. If he gives me permission, I’d like to record the interview and use part of it in my next post. Do you have any suggestions on how best to do this? I’m not sure yet whether it will be on the phone or in person.

9. mushon 11:22, Mar 26th, 10

   here

10. Alexandra 11:30, Mar 26th, 10

    That wasn’t very nice! Just because the answer was obvious to you doesn’t mean it was obvious to me. You might have had a favorite or trusted source for this type of thing. I also mentioned that I might be conducting the interview in person, in which case skype wouldn’t really be the best method for me. I asked you because you know a lot about digital media and I thought you might have some helpful information that I wouldn’t otherwise have access to. I can Google myself but I don’t know what’s inside your head.

11. mushon 12:09, Mar 26th, 10

    Sorry Alexandra, I didn’t mean it in a passive aggressive way at all. I have never had the chance to conduct a Skype interview myself but I heard it’s the easiest way to go. I can’t recommend much but this screencast seems very serious, and the Conversation Network are a trusted source in my book:
    http://www.slideshare.net/dkaye/skype-for-interviews
    I also embedded it in our resources page.

    Again, sorry for coming off nasty. I actually am a big believer in trial and error and I like lmgtfy.com because it implies the kind of autonomy you can have without having to get my take on things. It’s a great way to say: “You have all you need to find the answer yourself”. But to judge by you being insulted by it, maybe it’s not so great… Again, sorry…

12. Alexandra 13:56, Mar 26th, 10

    No worries – thanks for your understanding and recommendation.

13. ElzbthMllr 14:55, Mar 26th, 10

    Alexandra, if it’s online check out viddler.com, I’ve used this before with pretty good success! If you are doing it in person I’ve used my personal FLiP camera, which I can lend you (although I won’t be back in NY until late Monday night so it may be too late). And just FYI SlideShare has been giving me serious headaches over the past few days, choppy, not uploading and then not finding files. I’ll be amazed if my post stays up there unharmed for a few more days. Good luck!