Advertisement site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MC630QFEM0&feature=related
“The Last Tiger. Worth playing for.” This beer advertisement is one of the few that I particularly enjoy. It shows a fight going on between two men over a last bottle of beer.
It’s a battle alright. However smart or … dirty they play.
No words, just a change in suits and character. Each time the character changes to become one that is more powerful than the previous, viewers see the changes in kinesics (body language) as the characters try to act more menacing. The use of oculesics (eye contact) is important in pulling off the entire video, being that looking into the enemy’s eyes is meant to intimidate the other party. In the end however, apparently, the wiles of a woman still cannot be resisted … even by a robot. This unexpected twist in the end certainly made this advertisement fully entertaining. The first time I was watching it, I was really wondering how it would end as the characters were becoming more bizarre by the second.
Apart from the two main characters in the video, there are bystanders within the casual and social proxemics that observe curiously the happenings going on around them, mainly the eccentric display by the two main characters.
The message in this advertisement that the last bottle of beer is worth every last bit of trouble, is quite well conveyed through nonverbal communication. The characters involved in the arm-wrestling “fight”, were able to put across their “fight” message very easily as they were on the same channel preference. But seriously, a fight isn’t THAT hard to miss, given that our human nature is to be competitive.
Nonverbal cues are not all that simple and are not always that direct. Most of the time, it is easy to misunderstand what message another party is actually conveying. Other than that, this is a fun advertisement showing how people would go to such great lengths in order to win a competition.
Well, it’s not always brawn, but brains that matter too.
* HERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING I'M ADDING IN, ALL THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL CHENG WHO POINTED IT OUT. (4 Oct 09)
Over-drinking is another story altogether. It is up to an individual to know when they have reached their limit and know not to overdo it because of some peer pressure or other factors. The human body can only take SO much. But the funny thing is, that people would still binge drink even though they know it is not at all good for them. It's the same with smoking. Smokers know the harmful effects, yet they stupidly indulge in it and don't go for medical checkups for the fear of finding something they wouldn't want to find. Hey, ignorance is bliss, but how long can you keep running from truth?
When kids see such ads, they would definitely be curious about this drink which macho "lumpy matresses" (men) fight over. It is up to parents then, to educate their children on alcohol and its effects. There are bound to be times where kids see the need to be the "big kid in the playground" in order to win something. It's all part and parcel of growing up, and as mentioned before, sensible education is needed to let kids see that being the strongest or the best isn't everything.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Week 3 Entry: (500) days of Impending Winter Gloom
Movie: (500) days of Summer (Release Date: 8 October 2009)
Obviously, I managed to catch a sneak preview =)
Movie trailer site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM&feature=fvst
This was not exactly a typical romantic comedy. It was a tragic romance. Don’t get me wrong, nobody died or anything, it’s just that I had a different expectation to how this movie would turn out. It was however, very funny. For girls, this movie gives a brief insight into how clueless the male species can be. Like when the adult male protagonist always looks to his kid sister for advice. For boys: You would be thinking, “That’s so true! Why are women so oblivious?” As the story unfolds, you’ll find that not only the verbal exchange between the couple is entertaining, but the way Zooey Deschanel acts, her body language and facial expressions, in the nonverbal communication sense is really hilarious. Apart from that, the omniscient “commentator” definitely lends a comic element to this movie as well.
Cognitive schemata are seen in the personality contrasts between the two characters. Although both come from a broken family, their mental framework and ideals in love, from the separate upbringing, differ quite significantly. One believes in the stereotyped romances in books and movies and so forth, while the other doesn’t believe that love exists.
The movie script, unlike most movies, involves the jumping from date to date within the five hundred days. In other words, the movie doesn’t follow a fully clear chronological order. However, these leaps through the past and present show the great contrast in the progress or the deterioration of the relationship. While the characters would find themselves caught in a similar or familiar situation, only the audience would be able to see the differences and compare it.
My favorite part of the movie was when they showed a scene which was split into half: One side showed the male character’s expectations, while the other showed the reality unfolding, (which must have been nauseating to the man). This is one instance where the male character’s curiosity and his hope for closure (meaning the success in his relationship with Summer), caused him even more pain and disappointment. Well, obviously everything did not turn out as planned and the whole “patch-up relationship script” was a total flop.
All in all, this movie teaches us to live life and enjoy it. Only when the time is right, you yourself would know when to take a leap from your comfort zone into the unknown. I thought this show was brilliantly and unusually filmed as the contrasts open for discussion are so wide and it gives the audience a clearer picture of what message the show was trying to convey in the end. A good question for me to ask would be: Has everything always met up with your perceptions and expectations in life? Are there other ways besides positive thinking to avoid or overcome such disappointment?
Certainly, life isn’t all that simple, but we still live.
Obviously, I managed to catch a sneak preview =)
Movie trailer site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM&feature=fvst
This was not exactly a typical romantic comedy. It was a tragic romance. Don’t get me wrong, nobody died or anything, it’s just that I had a different expectation to how this movie would turn out. It was however, very funny. For girls, this movie gives a brief insight into how clueless the male species can be. Like when the adult male protagonist always looks to his kid sister for advice. For boys: You would be thinking, “That’s so true! Why are women so oblivious?” As the story unfolds, you’ll find that not only the verbal exchange between the couple is entertaining, but the way Zooey Deschanel acts, her body language and facial expressions, in the nonverbal communication sense is really hilarious. Apart from that, the omniscient “commentator” definitely lends a comic element to this movie as well.
Cognitive schemata are seen in the personality contrasts between the two characters. Although both come from a broken family, their mental framework and ideals in love, from the separate upbringing, differ quite significantly. One believes in the stereotyped romances in books and movies and so forth, while the other doesn’t believe that love exists.
The movie script, unlike most movies, involves the jumping from date to date within the five hundred days. In other words, the movie doesn’t follow a fully clear chronological order. However, these leaps through the past and present show the great contrast in the progress or the deterioration of the relationship. While the characters would find themselves caught in a similar or familiar situation, only the audience would be able to see the differences and compare it.
My favorite part of the movie was when they showed a scene which was split into half: One side showed the male character’s expectations, while the other showed the reality unfolding, (which must have been nauseating to the man). This is one instance where the male character’s curiosity and his hope for closure (meaning the success in his relationship with Summer), caused him even more pain and disappointment. Well, obviously everything did not turn out as planned and the whole “patch-up relationship script” was a total flop.
All in all, this movie teaches us to live life and enjoy it. Only when the time is right, you yourself would know when to take a leap from your comfort zone into the unknown. I thought this show was brilliantly and unusually filmed as the contrasts open for discussion are so wide and it gives the audience a clearer picture of what message the show was trying to convey in the end. A good question for me to ask would be: Has everything always met up with your perceptions and expectations in life? Are there other ways besides positive thinking to avoid or overcome such disappointment?
Certainly, life isn’t all that simple, but we still live.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Week 2 Entry: THE PROPOSAL
Movie: THE PROPOSAL (Release Date in Singapore: 20 August 2009)
Movie Trailer site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgZcW8MCaA&feature=fvst
A comic romance is ultimately the perfect way for a person to get that tingly feeling all over. When I first saw the movie trailer for “The Proposal”, I found that something very much stood out or deviated from a common traditional norm: The boss (a WOMAN) proposing to her secretary (a MAN). It seems like the woman (Sandra Bullock) took on the role of the usual male authority figure. This twist, indeed, indicates that the glass ceiling has been raised to a considerable height for women in the world of business. Apart from that, the movie shows very well, the interchanging “power play” between the two main characters.
Well it’s really tempting, but I’m not all out to go and ruin the movie for all those who haven’t yet watched the show, so don’t worry. =)
Now, what made Hollywood decide to film a movie that totally puts men in that rather humiliating position? The show does raise some issues, and brings to light that women today hold more power. But proposing to men? (Wow she’s got some guts.) The 21st Century Singaporean woman is often seen or perceived as one who intimidates men. I had a guy friend who said once that he would rather look for a wife from a foreign country. When I asked him why, he just said: “Singaporean girls are scary!” Certainly, the empowerment through education and various media influences have definitely helped to push women’s standing in society, to what it is today.
Besides the fact that our female population is highly educated, the culture of the media, which plays on our psychological perspective, has somewhat contributed to our wanting to be more than just the lady that stays home to look after the kids and cook for their husbands. (We’ve got ambitions too, you hear!) This form of linear interaction (linear model) through the television, radio, newspapers and magazines, has helped to influence the characteristic of being very competitive high-achievers. While movies depict more women in positions of power in the workforce, magazines that mainly cater to women encourage them to be confident and mature in society. At the same time, the radio screams: “IF MEN GOT PREGNANT, WOMEN WOULD TAKE OVER THE WORLD!” Note: We’ve got women’s rights movements because most societies have been dominantly patriarchal all along.
But seriously, are we THAT intimidating? Perhaps the male perceptions are slightly flawed. Because if that’s the case, why are we still fighting so hard against male chauvinism and discrimination?
Movie Trailer site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPgZcW8MCaA&feature=fvst
A comic romance is ultimately the perfect way for a person to get that tingly feeling all over. When I first saw the movie trailer for “The Proposal”, I found that something very much stood out or deviated from a common traditional norm: The boss (a WOMAN) proposing to her secretary (a MAN). It seems like the woman (Sandra Bullock) took on the role of the usual male authority figure. This twist, indeed, indicates that the glass ceiling has been raised to a considerable height for women in the world of business. Apart from that, the movie shows very well, the interchanging “power play” between the two main characters.
Well it’s really tempting, but I’m not all out to go and ruin the movie for all those who haven’t yet watched the show, so don’t worry. =)
Now, what made Hollywood decide to film a movie that totally puts men in that rather humiliating position? The show does raise some issues, and brings to light that women today hold more power. But proposing to men? (Wow she’s got some guts.) The 21st Century Singaporean woman is often seen or perceived as one who intimidates men. I had a guy friend who said once that he would rather look for a wife from a foreign country. When I asked him why, he just said: “Singaporean girls are scary!” Certainly, the empowerment through education and various media influences have definitely helped to push women’s standing in society, to what it is today.
Besides the fact that our female population is highly educated, the culture of the media, which plays on our psychological perspective, has somewhat contributed to our wanting to be more than just the lady that stays home to look after the kids and cook for their husbands. (We’ve got ambitions too, you hear!) This form of linear interaction (linear model) through the television, radio, newspapers and magazines, has helped to influence the characteristic of being very competitive high-achievers. While movies depict more women in positions of power in the workforce, magazines that mainly cater to women encourage them to be confident and mature in society. At the same time, the radio screams: “IF MEN GOT PREGNANT, WOMEN WOULD TAKE OVER THE WORLD!” Note: We’ve got women’s rights movements because most societies have been dominantly patriarchal all along.
But seriously, are we THAT intimidating? Perhaps the male perceptions are slightly flawed. Because if that’s the case, why are we still fighting so hard against male chauvinism and discrimination?
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