Summer Assignment: Commercial Analysis

Men’s Men
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhkDdayA4iA　
The Surface Meaning:This Honda commercial shows Matthew Broderick skipping out on work to have a day to himself. Most of this ad shows Broderick driving around in a new Honda, while the rest of the slot is of him enjoying local activities.
　
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning:The advertiser wanted this commercial to show that a hard working man, like Broderick, could have all their troubles melt away and enjoy the fast moving world by owning and driving the new 2012 Honda CR-V.
　
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning:This ad shows every mans dream of escaping from their job and going out doing the things that they want to do.

Men’s Women
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tWZB7OUSU　
The Surface Meaning:This Axe commercial shows a gigantic group of women, all wearing bikinis, running towards a single man using Axe body spray.
　
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning:This ad uses music that gives off a feeling that the millions of women running towards the man are in a race to the death to reach him first. By this the advertiser is saying that if a man uses their product he will attract many women to him.
　
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning:The almost naked women running to the man is a very common mans dream. Also that all the women are skinny they appear to most of the male population to be more attractive adding on to the fantasy.

Women’s Men
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltA50HKyM14　
The Surface Meaning:This commercial shows a married couple in a home that they have frequently visited in the past. This time there is a terrible storm. The wife then gets spooked by the storm and jumps into her husbands arms. He tells her he’ll always protect her and then gives her a Kay Jewelers necklace.
　
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning:The advertiser is trying to tell the viewer that by buying their product they will show their lover that they truly care about them.
　
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning:This ad shows a typical scenario of a woman jumping into a man’s arms. This shows a woman’s dream of a caring man who wants to protect his wife.

Women’s Women
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZFGdcSlQU　
The Surface Meaning:This advertisement shows Jennifer Hudson talking about the things she can do now that she has joined Weight Watchers that she was unable to do on other diets.
　
The Advertiser’s Intended Meaning:The advertiser for this commercial wanted the viewer to see that Weight Watchers is a dieting program that they can actually lose weight and enjoy doing it.
　
The Cultural or Ideological Meaning:By having the female voice sing “I can” repeatedly it gives a sense that a woman could do anything, not just lose weight.