Media Analysis Questions

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Media Analysis Questions

• How to Analyze Commercials, Print Ads, Political
  Ads, and Web Sites

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Overview of Media Analysis

• Who is the author?
• What is the purpose of the message?
• What techniques are used to attract attention?
• How is conflict expressed?
• How are lifestyles, values, and points of view
  expressed?
• What is omitted from the message, and what is
  included?

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1 - Who is the Author?

• A company selling the product?
• A candidate for a political office?
• A provider of information as a public service?

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2 - What is the Purpose of the Message?

• To inform you?
• To persuade you to buy something?
• To persuade you to take a certain action?
• To entertain you?
• To present a conflict?
• To express an emotion?

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3 - What Techniques are Used to Attract Attention?

• Visual Effects such as color, type font and size,
  video, photography, drawings, or visual special
  effects (conflict v. harmony)
• Sound such as music, speaking, or special effects

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4 How is Conflict Expressed?

• What types of conflict does the media represent?
• Person v. person
• Person v. Environment
• Person v. Technology
• Person v. Self
• How is that conflict expressed using visual and
  sound techniques?

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Conflict in Media
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Conflict in Media (Continued)
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Harmony in Media
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Color in Media
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Color in Media and Advertising
Red The color of fire and blood conveys energy, love, war, power It brings text and images to the foreground.
Yellow The color of the sun conveys joy, cheerfulness, happiness. Attention getter, also for promoting leisure.
Blue The color of the sky and ocean conveys trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence. Provides a calming effect.
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Color (Continued)
Purple It is found rarely in nature. Symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition Represents wealth and extravagance.
Green Green is the color of nature. Conveys growth, harmony, freshness. Strong emotional correspondence to safety and healing.
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Color (Continued)
Black Conveys power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. Can represent strength and authority. As a background it makes many other colors stand out.
White Conveys light, goodness, innocence, purity. Suggests simplicity, cleanliness.