Slide Shows: How News Sites Get us to Keep Clicking

The "slide show" is a common technique used on news websites these days; sometimes they're composed of a series of photographs, sometimes a list of tips, sometimes a group of connected images or stories. This one draws on the interest in the story of a sinkhole near Tampa that swallowed up a man who was sleeping in his bed. The sinkhole story also has its own slide shows.

Mad Men in hot water over copyright issue

A 1960s designer is suing the popular AMC show for unauthorized use of her artwork.

Cars with Internet?

This article is one of several that appeared last week touring GM's new intention of providing 4G wi-fi access in its cars next year. Oddly. the response in user comments sections of various examples of this news story I looked at did not express much concern about the safety implications...

What do you think?

Is this a welcome innovation? A dangerous distraction? A futuristic bauble?

Hmmm.

Really?

Snapple: False Facts?

Snapple "What If" #1:

When you pick up a cool glass bottle of Snapple and decide to pop off the cap, what do you do first? Most people tend to check the cap for a "Snapple Fact" before they take a swig of some of the "best stuff on Earth." These "real facts," on the under side of Snapple caps, actually prove to be contrary of their title. As clearly stated on Snapple fact #0, only half of all Snapple facts are true. These "facts" are much more like "what if"s. Then the curiosity of Snapple drinkers begin to come into play; "Is my fact true?" "How many facts are there?" "What are these random numbers?" Then, the drinker notices the answer to all of their questions, written in curved text toward the bottom of the inside of the cap: "Get all the 'Real Facts' at snapple.com." Now THAT is clever advertising. Snapple uses their facts, poking at the curiosity of drinkers, to direct customers to their website and to entice them to purchase more Snapple. The more facts, the more people wonder if they're true or not. So "what if" Snapple bottles didn't have their clever little caps? Would Snapple sell as much or advertise as well? Probably not. Let's face it: there's nothing nicer than the surprise inside of a Snapple bottle, and no, I don't mean the drink.

 

-Dana Krogman (MH 9:25AM - Media & Society)

Mad Men discussion

Here is the to post your thoughts on the MAD MEN episode we watched in class, "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency." The show has been winning awards and high audience ratings since its premiere on AMC several years ago; and it was AMC's first original television program (they have siNce followed up with other very successful series including BREAKING BAD, THE WALKING DEAD,  HELL ON WHEELS, etc.)

How is this program different from other shows on TV? How has it influenced television or culture? (There is a at least one blog that has followed it since its premiere) What about the representation of women and gender? Are there hints of the burgeoning Civil Rights movement? What does the show imply about the advertising industry at the time? (this episode takes place in late 1962). What about morality, cultural norms, standards of behavior in the workplace?

Are there stylistic elements of the show worth discussing?

Oh, and this is the best thing ever.

Nick Drake song in VW ad

I was just going to post the video of the commercial, but then I found a very thoughtful article on it, calling this the "commercial of the decade" which is pretty high praise.

You can also skim through the article to view the video before reading it, too.

What do you think?

Here's another of my favorite Nick Drake songs: "Black Eyed Dog"

You're welcome.