TA: shock/fear in advertising

I’d like to mention a few things about a technique used in the advertising world. Often times, advertisers will use shock or fear in order to motivate their audience to do or purchase something. There are a variety of opinions out there on this subject. The technique itself is somewhat questionable on the basis of it’s effects on its audience. I speak specifically about those commercials on TV designed to motivate people to stop using tobacco, or drinking alcohol. Are they too shocking? Some people argue that the cases shown in these commercials (where somebody has cancer or some side effect that is clearly and physically disabling and perhaps unnerving) are too graphic. Those employing these shock/fear techniques would argue that unless they use an ad that is clearly shocking, it will go unnoticed. The technique of using shock, however, for this purpose seems to be somewhat effective for the target audience. The major problem that I see is that they will sometimes inadvertently hit other unsuspecting audiences (other TV viewers). Should these other audiences be exposed to these types of commercials? Personally I think these commercials don’t hurt people, they give a perspective of an issue that may be worth seeing. If the shock they use is untrue, it need not be used and is actually deceiving, but real life situations can be effective teaching tools for everyone.

FW: Metzener

So my band (Metzener) had out last big show yesterday. The culmination of 3 years of rocking power, 2 albums, and much merchandise came to a close. We played a gig at “Freeze Fest,” BYU’s winter party at 7 peaks where they had free ice skating, a santa clause, a dance, and of course 2 live bands. It was a fun little gig. People came out in goodly numbers and rocked the night away with us. I kind of wonder how much I’m going to miss playing. It took a lot of work to be in a living, breathing, rock band. There’s weekly practice, song writing, recording, advertising, organizing shows, and a bunch of little things that all need to be paid attention to in order to see that everything gets done as it should. So I’m glad that I’ll have my time freed up to do other things. As far as music goes, I enjoy our music, but there’s other things that I want to do personally with song writing. I will say this, being in a band and playing shows is an experience all of it’s own. Making my own music is quite a bit different than having an actual band. So seeing people come to shows and dance and sing along to songs and crowd surf will probably be missed. Then again, I’m not really that big into large group events. I never went and hung out with other people and fans and what not after the shows. I would rather have just hung out with my girlfriend or something. But all in all, it was some good times.

FW: rivalry

I can still remember the exactly where I was when I heard about the Sept. 11 attacks on the world trade center. The BYU/Utah game last year was the same way. I remember the exact feeling and circumstances of that marvelous victory when John Beck threw the last pass of the game to Johnny Harline in the endzone to win the game. This year’s game was the same way, except that I got to witness the action live. It did not disappoint. I don’t remember ever really feeling that intense of a rivalry toward Utah until yesterday morning when I was driving to McDonalds and I saw some Utah fans standing outside holding anti-BYU signs. I couldn’t believe they had the nerve to do that. It’s one thing to be cheering for your team at a game, but a whole different issue to be standing out in the street of the home team and bashing them. That’s when I came to the sad realization that these fans are idiots, and so is the rivalry. I think that there is a true feeling of animosity between some of the Utah and BYU fans that stretches to the depth of their souls. It’s a little disturbing really. I had the opportunity to ask president Samuelson about his loyalties regarding BYU and Utah football and he told me that it’s not necessary to like one and dislike the other in order to create competition. I think that is true.

FW: happy

I have nothing really to write except for what’s been on my mind the past little while. I was sitting at home late on Friday night and all of my roommates seemed to be in a sour mood for some reason. I also started thinking about how often I meet people who seem to be unhappy, or how moody people around me are. I had this really depressing thought momentarily that happiness is elusive. So I decided to consult the scriptures on the matter, because I didn’t actually believe that depressing thought. So I did and I also read some things that some general authorities and other scholars have said about happiness and decided that first of all, we are supposed to be happy in life. And that that happiness can be facilitated by loving/serving others, and living life in harmony with commandments of God. But I feel like I know people who do these things are nonetheless not very happy. I think that those things are qualifications for happiness, but really being happy is a choice. We can choose to be happy or we can let negative things drag us down. I just was thinking about this and had nothing else to write. Take it for what it’s worth.

TA: Artistic Metaphors

I wanted to just mention some things that I think make musical lyrics interesting, rather than practice a technique, per se. I read a quote the other day that made me think about this: “Science has a great deal more in common with poetry than most of us realize; both enterprises involve unusual juxtapositions of ideas and a certain romantic vision of the world.”

I thin this idea is what helps make a metaphor or simile effective; that is, an unusual juxtaposition. Many well known metaphors and similes get stale because there is nothing new or thought provoking or interesting about them. But a good one will present an idea in a way that makes you think about it differently.

One reason that I have long enjoyed the band Modest Mouse is because of their use of metaphors and similes. For example, “I saw a friend the other day, opinions were like kittens I was givin’ ‘em away, yeah….” This line makes me think about throwing out my opinions to much or too forcefully in a new light. I also like this lyric quite a bit from Death Cab For Cutie: “Cuz in my head, there’s a greyhound station. Where I send my thoughts, to far off destinations. So they may have a chance of finding a place where they’re far more suited than here.” The idea conveyed in this lyric is cleverly conveyed and does encompass that romantic look at the world mentioned above. Without that cleverness and unique way of phrasing ideas, metaphors and similes often fail to accomplish anything.

FW: Music and grapes

I flew to Missouri this past week and the opportunity to peruse the on flight magazine presented itself. I read an interesting article about Maynard Keenan. He is the singer for Tool and past singer for A Perfect Circle. Needless to say, the man is pretty hardcore. However, he also has taken to wine brewing. He actually now has his own vineyard and plans his shows and tour dates around his wine making. This way he has time to test the wine and take care of everything and still rock our souls with music. I just thought that was an interesting tidbit of information that everyone should know.

In other music news, my little brother has recently started a blog that he uses to show his music. He’s studying music here at BYU and has been writing stuff for quite some time. Unfortunately he doesn’t own a vineyard, but I do think that he likes grapes. Nevertheless, I dig his stuff. He’s a creative fellow.

Lastly, my band rocked this past Friday night. Unfortunately we are getting older (in the provo scene) and many of our fans have left town, or are married, or graduated or something. Despite this, we do our best to serve the community by bringing solid rock and rock to the masses in the best ways we know how.

FW: Nothing

I’ve never been a big sports FAN. I’ve always loved to play sports, but not watch them. College has changed me, I think. When I arrived at BYU my freshman year I started watching BYU football pretty frequently. The main reason I did this was so that I could fit in with the rest of the guys. I came to school not knowing anyone, and my folks just sort of dumped me off in the dorms and told me to have a good time. So I started watching football and I’ve had an all sports pass every year.

I’ve also never followed basketball at any level. High school, college and professional were all equally shunned. This year however, some of my friends started doing this fantasy basket thing where you pick you’re players and are in a “league” with your friends. And now I’ve become a basketball fan. I seem to follow it so that I can see how my team is doing. It takes some time. The sad thing is that I don’t even have to do anything. I just watch it. And watch it. And hope something happens.

I can conclude from these experiences that college students have less social hobbies. People are social, but they don’t have as many social things to DO (this is seen in the classic example. You ask someone what they like to do. They tell you they like to talk, hangout, and make friends. None of these things involve any activity per se). In high school my friends were sort of defined by the activities I did and by geography. I wan’t much interested in dating in highschool, so my friends and I climbed, listened to punk rock, pulled pranks, and other things high school kids do. Now that I’m not as interested in stuff like that I have to find other things to fill my time. I think I do more personal hobby type of things than most college kids, but I’ve still succumbed to the trend of sport watching. If I weren’t Mormon, I would probably be entertaining myself with alcohol and women. But since people seem to do less socially than in years past, and for a lot of guys sports seems to be a big part of that, I conform. Go BYU football.