Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Advertising - Essay Example In excess, advertising helps in the branding of a product in that it identifies the distinct traits of the manufacturer of the product from the other manufacturers. In effect, it helps to emphasize the brand to which a consumer associates with the product (Trehan 67). It also serves as an informational tool as the price of the product may sometimes reflect in the advertisement. In other instances, an advertisement also serves as an assurance to employees and the company shareholders that the company is still operational. Usually, sponsors pay adverts to run on various media tools, which may be either audio or visual depending with the sponsor preference. They are mainly for commercial purposes as they seek to brand products and services through repetitive showing of an image or product name in their showing. Through the repetition, the consumer is able to familiarize him or herself with the qualities of a product or service through the advert. In contrast, some advertisements may be non-commercial in that their intention is not make any profit but just passing information. Mainly, political parties, faith based and non-governmental organizations explore these commercials by spending money to air them as a public service announcement. In essence, this paper will examine an advertisement placed on a popular magazine to bring out its effectiveness in achieving an anticipated wider market base. How the advertisement functions This product is new to the market. Therefore, this advertisement serves as an introductory approach to the consumer. It gives the product name and an appealing design that instantly attracts the eye. The colors used also reflect the sophistication in that the product is of high quality. Essential, an advertisement can appeal to a consumer in two ways. For one, the information given may have a rational appeal in that it reflects the quality of the product (Trehan 226). This may be in terms of its durability, great performance, and affordability of the product and its location. On the other hand, the product information given in the advert may have an emotional appeal in that it gives a sense of assurance, pride, customer satisfaction levels, and its recognizable ability in the market (Trehan 118). For instance, this advertisement gives the emotional appeal to the market as it portrays all the above-mentioned qualities. In addition, this advertisement has the fear appeal in that it portrays the consequences of not using this product, which would be to go to a dentist (Trehan133). This evokes fear to the readers, thus, they have no option but to buy the product. How the constitutive elements combine to try to sell the product There has been effective color use to try to draw the attention of the reader into taking notice of the advert. Essentially, when dull colors take centre stage the chances of the advert making impact are very low. In addition, the advert portrays the image of the product that is available for retail. T herefore, the reader is able to relate to the product’s appearance. This will be helpful when they go to buy the product, as they will be able to spot it in a store’s shelf. Additionally, the wording involved is one that cannot escape one’s eye, as they are readable and clear. They are visible enough from a distance thus a reader needs not strain to capture what the advert is trying to sell. Moreover, it is the giving of the location where the product is available at makes it easy for the intended consumer to know where to get it. As an additional element, the advert gives all the good attributes associated with the use of their product, which draws a

Monday, October 28, 2019

Creating Marketing Value for Games

Creating Marketing Value for Games Products face a lot of challenges to succeed and keep its marketing value especially with the fast development and the huge types of products. According to Ulrich Eppinger (2008), to evaluate the performance of successful product development needs to follow the five dimensions, which are product quality, product cost, development time, development cost and development capability (p.2). Games are similar to any other product need to be successful and have a long life to compete with many other kinds. Games can be classified into genres such as toys, card games, multi-person games, electronic / video games and apps games. Every game of these genres follows the different strategy of development and has some features, which make it communal. To know the secret of success and longevity for each game we should study them with more details. Toys are most popular games and can be divided into many types. LEGOS are one of the most common toys, which have many geometrical shapes and colors. Several features make these toys are successful and have high demand by costumers. First, they are made of robust plastic material. This type of material is designed in many forms and colors, which gives the specialists high tolerance to develop this game by adding numbers, letters and figures such as cars, trains, and animals. Second, the low price cost is one of the important features, which make these toys are affordable for each consumer. According to the size, material, and the shape of sets, the LEGO has a different price. Third, these types of games are fit for male, female and for different ages. Usually, when parents buy toys from supermarket, they should check the age and gender, but LEGO is suitable for all. Fourth, they are safe even for small kids. Big pieces can be used safely because the kids cannot swallow them. Finally, LEGO group has development capability for the future to change the plastic material to be friendlier to the environment. According to Roar (2015), Today, the LEGO Group announces a significant investment of DKK 1 billion dedicated to research, development, and implementation of new, sustainable, raw materials to manufacture LEGOÂÂ ® elements as well as packaging materials. Generally, the robust material, the low price, the gender, the safety usage and the future vision of development are the most important features, which have made LEGOS popular. Card games are one of the popular game all over the world.Poker and cards are common types of card games. There are several features, which make these games popular. First, they have many ways to play and every way has specific rules. For instance, in Iraq cards can be played by two or four players, each player plays with fourteen cards and must collect at least two pairs with three cards and the total number should be fifty- one. Also, in America, this game can be played in different ways such as gin rummy, blackjack, and bridge. Second, this game is considered as a commercial game. Many players get much money by playing card games either online or at famous cities. For example, Las Vegas is a famous city, which has many special places for playing poker. Third, they are very cheap and affordable everywhere. Card games can be bought for less than ten dollars for one package. Fourth, they have simple rules and easy to learn so, everyone can play card games. Even though a player doesnt have much experience can play and get much fun. Finally, they are not heavy and can be carried everywhere like public places, transportation, etc. Generally, the way of playing, the profit, the low price, the easy rules and the weight of package are most popular features, which have made card games have success and longevity. Multi-person games usually are played by tow or more than two person. Monopoly is one of the most popular Multi-person game. This game has some features that make it popular and success. First, Monopoly is designed to play by a team either among friends or family. For instance, to play it you need to persuade at least two and then should struggle to stay playing and eliminate the others so, it makes much fun and challenge among players. Second, rules of this game has been developed to be easy and simple for everyone. Although, it has a lot of pieces, papers, and the player should have some strategies, but it is easy to learn and play. Third, it is not expensive and sold everywhere. Even though monopoly has different edition such as classic and ultimate banking, but the price is very cheap. Finally, monopoly is played in many countries and in different languages. It is popular everywhere and can be different for every cultures. Generally, the design, development rules, the low price a nd country of origin are the most features, which have made this game successful and popular.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Hooked :: essays papers

Hooked Stanley Crouch's essay "Hooked" is about the music of today. He talks throughout the essay mainly about Michael Jackson, and his music and image. He talks about Jackson throughout the years, from the beginning of his career as a member of the Jackson Five, up until the release of his latest record HIStory. Crouch goes on to say in his essay that today's music is mainly about going against authority, and can be compared to Hitler's Fascism. He also talks about how many people today listen to music, without taking note of the lyrics. Stanley Crouch's essay "Hooked" is an attack on popular music of today. He argues that today's music is bad, and that most people don't even listen to the lyrics. He also compares listeners of today's music to fascists. Stanley Crouch does not back up any of his arguments with factual information. His essay is based on opinion, and observation, and in my paper I will discuss how he is obviously wrong in his arguments of these topics. First of all Stanley Crouch is wrong in arguing that all music of today is bad, because he uses only Michael Jackson as a representation of today's music. Michael Jackson is not a representative of all popular music of today. For one to write an argumentative essay rating popular music of today, one must use more then one-example of a music artist. There are many artists of the late 90's who are as mainstream as Michael Jackson is, but who also write very good music. In Crouch's essay he states that today's music " exploits the insecurities of young people by telling them, over and over, that never growing up is the best defense against an oppressive world where fun isn't given its proper due." In this statement he is saying that the music of today is mostly written to send messages to the youth of today that growing up is bad, go against the authorities do what you want while your still a child. This is very much so an opinion. There are numerous artists of today who write very mea ningful songs on a variety of topics that young people of today can relate to and take comfort in. For example Mariah Carey is a mainstream artist who writes many songs that people of all ages can listen to and relate to.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Vietnam’s Inflation

Vietnam's government is set to raise electricity prices by 15% on Tuesday, at a time when the population is already struggling with a soaring cost of living. Last week the Vietnamese government also raised the retail prices of oil products by as much as 24%. In February, inflation hit a two-year high of 12. 31%. Analysts say despite the government's measures to tighten monetary policy, price pressures are likely to continue. â€Å"The increases in energy, electricity and petroleum indicate that we are going to see inflation get a little worse despite the shift in government policy,† said Christian de Guzman of Moody's Investor Group. Overheating For years the Vietnamese government has kept a loose interest rate policy and subsidized lending in order to boost growth. The government expects the economy to expand as much as 7. 5%, up from 6. 8% in 2010. But the cost of that rapid pace is that the economy has started to show signs of overheating. Credit rating agencies cut the country's sovereign-credit rating last year. Inflation fears have also caused a sell-off in Vietnamese markets. Vietnam's benchmark stock index has slid 6. 7% in the past year. The Vietnamese government was focused on growth at all costs,† said Mr de Guzman. â€Å"By the middle of last year they had already reached their inflation target but then they continued to pursue other macroeconomic policy targets like credit growth and gross domestic product growth,† he said. Fighting inflation But since the beginning of this year, the government seems to have shifted its policies towards stabilizing prices. Last week the Vietnamese govern ment announced a set of measures to curb inflation. Electricity prices have been raised in an effort to reduce budget spending The central bank recently raised the cost of borrowing. It increased the benchmark refinance rate by 2 percentage points from 9% to 11%. The government has also vowed to reduce government debt. To that effect, it cut the budget-deficit target to less than 5% of gross domestic product, from 5. 3%. Reducing government spending on subsidies for fuel and electricity are also part of that plan. â€Å"In order to stave off inflation, they want to cut back on subsidies. It does alleviate some of the pressure on the budget,† said Mr de Guzman. Dong devaluation The other major strain on the Vietnamese economy is the currency. The central bank devalued the dong against the US dollar by 8. 5%. It is the latest in a series of devaluations the government has implemented to reduce the risk of a shortfall in foreign currency reserves. However, that will lead to higher import costs, which in turn, could again increase inflationary pressures.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Muriel Spark’s “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”

The film and novel pairing I have chosen is Muriel Spark's ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'. I have chosen this because of the large number of references made in the text that can be compared to occurrences that were happening in that period, and that have happened in Sparks own life. Spark was born in Edinburgh in 1918. She was educated at ‘James Gillespie's Girls School', which was in Edinburgh also. After finishing school, she left Edinburgh and moved to Africa where she met her husband. Spark then moved back to England, after divorcing her husband Oswald. Shortly after the war she became involved in the literary circles of London. She was then kicked out because she was described as â€Å"too adventurous†. She was interested in poetry and in 1952 her first book, a book of poetry, was published. Then, in 1961, ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' was published. In the novel ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' the plot involves a young, slightly eccentric in her thinking, complex schoolteacher at an Edinburgh girls' school, ‘Marcia Blaine'. The text is set between the periods of World War I and World War II. Brodie's teaching methods include giving ‘her girls' self-indulgent lessons on ‘life'. These lessons involve teaching about love, art and politics. Her aim is to produce a generation of ‘Jean Brodies' who experiment with sex and society. This can be reinforced by Brodie's quotation † Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she will be mine for life.† But, as the plot thickens we see Jean Brodie becoming romantically involved with two of the male teachers. With bemused horror she finds herself fighting to keep her job, or otherwise face destruction (this can be related to Muriel Spark getting kicked out of the London Literary Circles). Brodie believes that she can always count on her ‘favourite pupils' for support, but as the girls are no longer swayed by Jean Brodie, she begins to learn about love and life herself. The reason I chose this ‘pairing' in conjunction with the question is that within this novel I can see an exceptional amount of comparisons and issues referring to the period in question outside of the book, and to occurrences within Muriel Spark's life. For example, the novel is set in the 1930's. This was a patriarchal period where men dominated. Also many men had died in the war, so there was less choice and the men were more sort after. But, it is not obvious that men dominated in this period because the text is written from a women's point of view; a spinster at that. But we can see a high interest in the infamous male ‘art teacher' who both Sandy and Brodie lust after. There were images of fascism within this period of time too, with the rise of world leaders such as Benito Mussolini. We see this in the book as it reflects post-war life and brings up political issues. It also warns about the dangers of fascism. Fascism is defined as â€Å"a tendency toward strong autocratic or dictatorial control †¦ by forcible suppression of opposition.† In the novel we see Jean Brodie almost taking on a fascistic role and fascist ideology by dictating to her girls her opinions on life and what she thinks is right and wrong. † She is the absolute creed of right and wrong † She expects them to take on board the ‘Brodie ideology'. And comparable to individuals conforming to their leader in a fascist environment, in the beginning we see the girls practising all that Brodie preaches. Also, the girls have an unquestionable loyalty to Brodie, as do individuals to their leaders in their own fascist, tyrannical societies. Within her favourite pupil sect we see her searching for her â€Å"crà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½me de la crà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½me† in a way which fascist leaders searched for their strong, pure race e.g. Adolph Hitler searched for his pure Aryan supremacy, and stopped at nothing to achieve it. She aspired to be seen as a leader, and this can be backed up by the showing of the Mussolini screen showing to her pupils in the classroom. However, this only occurred in the video of ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' and not the actual text in novel form. So, in relation to themes of the period, I think fascism is a very good example because we see the rise of many fascist leaders post World War I and pre World War II, which was when it was set. Also, we see Jean Brodie fall from power, like many of the fascist leaders did. This suggests that the author, Spark, is against fascism. She portrays the fascist ideology as not ending happily. It is hardly surprising that she takes this point of view because Muriel Sparks father was a Jewish engineer during World War II, when Hitler was in control, and Hitler was an anti-Semitist. Muriel Spark's resentment for fascist leaders is shown in the character of Brodie. She rises and she falls. Also in the text, we see her as having a very middle class attitude. Referring to the period in which the novel was set I can see a strong relationship between her attitude and the attitude of those within the ‘Bloomsbury Set'.The Bloomsbury Set was the name given to a literary group that made the Bloomsbury area of London their centre of activities from 1904 to World War II. If we consider the actual names firstly, we see very strong similarities to the name of ‘The Bloomsbury Set' and ‘The Brodie Set' which is our first clue. One of the main members was a woman can Virginia Stephen Woolf who was interested in defining qualities specific to the female mind, a bit like Brodie. Woolf was also interested in things of the natural world, such as rocks and plants, because of their solitude and self-sufficiency; we see that Miss Jean Brodie possesses both characteristics. They were known as a social clique. There were a few Cambridge graduates and they would assemble on a weeknight for drinks and conversation. Members were committed to a rejection of taboos of Victorianism on religious, artistic, social and sexual matters. They remained a tight knit group for many years. The group were involved in many tangled relationships within the set. By the 1920s their reputation as a cultural circle was established. Their mannerisms were parodied and ‘Bloomsbury' became a connotation for snobbish, snotty, inward-looking or narrow-minded behaviour. The group were of high popular interest amongst scholars. Like those of the Bloomsbury set, Brodie as a character has the notion that she is better than everybody else. This is typical of ‘her class'. This is typical English middle class philosophy. It seems like Spark is poking fun at this attitude. It is like Spark uses Jean Brodie as a metaphor for the English middle class society with her snobbish aestheticism and her tight knit group (her favourite pupils) as her main characteristics. Spark is poking fun at this. Also, a major contributory clue to this theory is that Spark was a secretary to a poetry society within the London Literary Circles and was kicked out for being â€Å"too adventurous†. Her view of the middle class ideology, the ‘Bloomsbury Set', and alike is expressed in her text and the views themselves act like revenge against those of that class. In relation to Spark herself we see many similarities between the novel ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' and Muriel Spark's own life. Muriel Spark attended a school for girls just like the girls attending ‘Marcia Blaine School'. Spark describes her days at her school happy as do the Brodie Set, † The first years with Miss Brodie, sitting, listening to all those stories and opinions which had nothing to do with the ordinary world, had been the happiest time of her life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pg 15) . Muriel Spark, like Brodie, had a great love for the arts. â€Å"Art and religion first; then philosophy; lastly science. That is the order of the great subjects of life, that is their order of importance.†(Pg 25) In the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Spark models Brodie on one of her ex-teachers, Miss Kay. Miss Kay loved the arts, and she too admired Mussolini and hung a picture of him on her wall. Miss Kay like Miss Brodie would describe her exotic travels to her class. Also many of the extra-curricular activities that we see Miss Brodie doing with her set were also done with Miss Kay's students and used in the book. Miss Kay took the girls to the theatre and concerts. Miss Kay, like Brodie, feared that the pupils were not receiving enough of a cultured background from their parents. Both Kay and Brodie wanted a hold over the pupils. It is interesting to see also that a ‘Miss Brodie' used to read to Spark as a young child. Another striking similarity to actual event and fictitious plot is that Spark had a young friend who died quite suddenly and tragically, much like the death of Mary in the book. Muriel Spark has successfully blended in facts from the time the novel is set and facts and experiences from her own life into a very creative and expressive novel. She is clever in the way she has made them all blend together and we get an insight into the author's own life for a change instead of just reading a straight forward novel. Through the novel we can understand her beliefs and comprehend her opinions. In answering the question ‘ how successful is the author in articulating the themes of the time into the novel?' I would say very successful. With fascism, the Bloomsbury set, and Sparks own experiences we see a vast array of political issues, questioning of society and an insight into the authors past. We could call this a political novel, but in a curious way.