Scrutinizing Advertisements

“Pick an advertisement and analyze it”.  I wonder if Ian thought about how far we can take this?  I mean....ANY advertisement?  Our world is basically MADE of advertisements.  

However, as I surfed through old magazines I found that locating a potential ad was harder than I thought for two reasons.  The first being that every time I attempted to look through a magazine, I found myself reading the articles rather than actually staying on task.  The second being that finding an advertisement worthy of analyzing is surprisingly not as easy as it sounds.  I eventually came to the conclusion that I could certainly choose an elaborate, unique ad that I could pick apart and analyze like crazy.    However, I decided to pick the most boring, simple advertisement and discuss it instead.  

I chose to analyze the “Intimately Beckham” perfume and cologne advertisement.  It is simply a large black and white photo of Victoria and David Beckham, with their fragrances in the bottom right corner:

http://evilbeetgossip.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/posh_becks_perfume.jpg

Ok so now for the analyzing.  

The first thing I think about when I see this advertisement is “Wow, look how cute they are!” I don’t think about their fragrances, and it certainly does not draw my attention to the product so that I will purchase it.  I think about the power and intensity that the black and white photo possesses.  I think about how beautiful the people in the picture are.   I do not think about what the fragrances would smell like on me, and to be honest I don’t even think about what the fragrances smell like at all.  

To me, this product seems to be representing the power and beauty of the Beckham couple. It screams at me that if I buy this fragrance, I will magically look and smell like Victoria Beckham.  If an individual of the opposite sex happened to simultaneously wear the cologne at the same time as I wore the perfume, would we be drawn together by a supernatural force and beautifully embrace like Victoria and David?  Is this harming the minds of the young individuals who are looking at this advertisement?  Is this advertisement advertising the Beckham fragrances or is it advertising the Beckham couple? 

 I chose to analyze this advertisement because it is simply an image.  This image is stunning and proves to the world how exquisite Victoria and David are.  This  photograph does not prove to the world how amazing their fragrances are.  All of this power, and information is coming from within an image.  This image forces young girls to believe they should look like Victoria Beckham, they should have a boyfriend or one day a husband that looks like David Beckham.  The sensuality and tastefulness of this image has the power to persuade people into buying their product so they can unrealistically compare themselves to celebrities.  

  

In conclusion, my analysis for this advertisement does not include many positive points because I believe that the company is advertising in the wrong way.  I found this advertisement on Google, but it originates from the following web page:

http://evilbeetgossip.film.com/category/david-beckham/