The first clip is from the very first episode of the series, and shows Don Draper making a pitch for Lucky Strike Cigarettes: "Mad Men: It's Toasted."
The second shows a pitch for the Kodak Carousel: "Mad Men: Carousel."
As you watch the clips, consider how the use of a single word, or the choice of one word over another, can increase the persuasive appeal of an advertisement.
I felt like the second video was very powerful. "Its not a wheel, it's a time machine... It takes you back to a place where you know you were loved." The picture he was showing and the way he explained it made it sound like you could escape to a place where you will always be happy, and could never go wrong.
ReplyDeleteFor heavens sake I would buy one, if someone selling something was as charismatic as him.
The best line about advertising was in the first one: It tells you that whatever you are doing, it's ok.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone think of a better scene from madmen than the carousel?
ReplyDeleteI remember watching it thinking: I have just seen the coolest thing they will do in this show.
The second video about using nostalgia in an ad for wheels seems like it is still used today. All the tire advertisements I see seem to be centered around a "place where you feel safe". This also made me think about music and how it is used in ads. Nostalgic music seems to be used a lot in ads.
ReplyDeleteThe clip has great words in the clip. One of the words is carousel. When we think of the word carousel, it brings our mind to a place where we experienced happiness.
ReplyDeleteBy ToddHarris
The second clip was my favorite! The way he made his pitch and the words he used made it sound as if the product he was selling was worth every penny! He made you BELIEVE that you could be escape to pure happiness with his new product.
ReplyDeleteIt seems wrong that big advertising companies use things like nostalgia to psychologically trick people into buying their products just because they can pierce deep into ones emotions thereby manipulating the consumer into buying their product. Does anybody understand where im coming from on this?
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from in context of the clip, but in all honesty I really don't see much of that in todays advertisments, mostly because it is either a natural reaction, like if one were to look through a Toy's R Us magazine and see the "classic" toys that one had as a child, or it's not a useful tactic to sell a specific piece of merchandise. At least that is my opinion on the topic.
ReplyDeleteFor the first clip I really liked how he said that they weren't selling the product as much as they were selling the feeling of being okay by using a "tirgger" word like toasted. This idea of word assoication in sales is a very powerful tool, especially when selling a specific product. A lot of times you hear banks use the words, "security", "out of sight out of mind", and "easy access" when trying to sell products to gain more customers, and it is a very effective means of persuasion.
ReplyDeleteI really like the carousel one. If I was in that room I would have bought it. The way he portrays how we need to capture every moment. That's amazing. He uses affliction and how it can really help to remember your family and the memories you have shared.
ReplyDeleteIf we focus on the advertisements on TV or the radio there is always a focal point on a few words. "Beauty" or "Powerful" are just simple words that many companies build an ad around. Companies are even making the names of their brands more interesting, for example the Kia Optima which makes me think of optimistic or opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the pitch for carousel. The words that he used and the emotion he put into the pitch made it seem like such an extraordinary machine. Not only are you looking at pictures, you are going back and reliving these moments that could've been lost with time had the picture been left un-captured. You can almost feel the nostalgia in the room.
ReplyDeleteThe first one I thought was a little cheesy and I felt that the marketer or sales guy was trying to fool the company leaders into an advertising campaign that really didn't make all that sense. The second however was really moving I thought I was a customer and even thought the technology is outdated the mad man really dug deep into ones emotions of the past and memories. It had a strong advertising appeal.
ReplyDeleteThe video Its Toasted was very interesting because it makes you realize that advertiser will think of just about anything to make their product seem better and safer overall versus the competitors even though they are selling the same product.
ReplyDeleteI loved the video Carousel because it is such an emotional clip. It is designed to get an emotional response out of readers and it does this very well. The fact that it was such an emotional experience that he once guy had to leave even made it better. I have never watched Mad Men before but after this clip I am going to start watching it!
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