My initial response to the advertisement I saw in a magazine called Homes and Gardens, was depressing. You see a an image in black and white of a woman staring at herself with a blank and emotionless stare that shows no resemblance to happiness. It made me feel uncomfortable and my first reaction was to skip to the next page but I went back to further examine the advertisement. It says on the bottom "alzheimer's association." I realized this advertisement is for not a person with or developing alzheimer's but rather a family member who is. This advertisement portrays as it is being directed to people who have the disease by putting a statement such as "... and do one little thing to save yourself?" but really it is not for them, it is for the wife or the son/daughter of the victim. People of all ages are reluctant to admit there is something wrong with them especially to conditions that prove their upcoming end or the demonstrates humans morality. It is easier for a family member to recognize the problem and help the afflicted get help and seek treatment. This advertisement shows a friendly and smart way to approach the family member and how it can be an effective way to convince them to visit the doctor. This ad is very effective to its purpose by showing the black and white image which creates a depressing mood which links to the alzheimer's disease but by showing the statement in purple it creates a power and liberating feeling to conquer the disease.
Link to the Advertisement: http://imgur.com/T3k5OXS
Thank you, Raymond, for your opinion. It is true. Sometimes people have Alzheimer. They suffer. Who can help them and how? Advertisement is very important for family, for relatives. You are right:
ReplyDelete“This advertisement shows a friendly and smart way to approach the family member and how it can be an effective way to convince them to visit the doctor. This ad is very effective to its purpose by showing the black and white image which creates a depressing mood which links to the Alzheimer’s disease but by showing the statement in purple it creates a power and liberating feeling to conquer the disease.”
Sometimes people don’t know diagnosis, only doctor can help. How to find a doctor? Ad helps.
Tatiana
I agree with you that the image of a woman staring at herself with an emotionless face does make you feel uncomfortable. It feels like an intimate moment; it seems that she's either examining herself, in a moment of deep thought, or else simply lost in her mind. The way the woman on the left's face is partially gone is a bit haunting (though I think that was due to a light source when you took the photo rather than the advertisement being like that). The words in purple are purposely put between the woman and her other self so that people will read it as they scan from one woman to the other. I agree with their message that "Now is that part in the movie." Too often people wait until it is too late to do something and lament their decision. In the top right corner it says "Do a little big thing." By raising awareness with this advertisement the Alzheimer's Association is trying to prevent people from regretting their decisions and trying to get everyone to do what they can no matter how small or insignificant that "little thing" seems.
ReplyDeleteAs a society, we often shy away from looking at television commercials and/or magazines advertising uncomfortable situations. I agree with you that this advertisement is very effective as it shows a family member trying to reach out to another. Families helping each other are the most effective ways to get help for the disease. In my opinion, I actually believe these two women staring back at each other is the same person. It seems as if she is looking at herself, much older, and the progression/development of the disease is taking its course. On the bottom of the advertisement, it says, “Everyone is at risk—even you.”
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly a depressing advertisement. However, after examining it closely, I actually thought it was intended to be directed primarily to those who are vulnerable to Alzheimer's. The image of the woman staring blankly into her reflection implies a personal intimacy. Furthermore, the paragraph at the bottom even states that "everyone is at risk-even you." Alzheimer's disease can be hereditary, so there are many people out there who are aware that they are likely to obtain the disease due to its history in the person's family. Regardless, this advertisement exploits viewers' emotions (pathos) in order to achieve its intended goal.
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