Source: http://www.adglitz.com/2010/08/mcdonald-ad-slogans-taglines-advertising-over-the-years-commercials-from-1970-1980-1990-2000/
Denotative examination: This is a McDonald's billboard advertising its Egg McMuffin product. The design is simplistic, using a solid red background, a picture of the sandwich, and a humorous message underneath. "Don't stare too long, you'll miss the train" references the poster location, a train station in the city. By saying this, the ad is implying that the picture of the sandwich is so enticing, that you might get distracted by it and miss the train.
Connotative examination: The message that the billboard conveys makes use of the deadly sin "lust." Lust is a strong desire for something, whether it be a person or an Egg McMuffin.The creator of this poster used a suspiciously photogenic sandwich to tempt the viewers and make them desire the product enough to buy it. The text also contributes to the message, suggesting that the audience is so taken aback by the beauty of this breakfast sandwich that they might forget what they were doing. At a glance, this ad might look harmless to its viewers, but in reality McDonald's is really EGGing them on.
Intended audience: Because the advertisement was posted in a train station, everyone riding the trains could see it. Of those people, McDonald's is most likely appealing to commuters riding the train to work or back home. These people are mostly middle class because they are using public transport instead of a private car. McDonald's food can be taken to go as well, providing a cheap, quick, and handheld meal for the working class. The age of this demographic could hover around early twenties college students to mid-fifties employed individuals.
I think this ad was a cool one to analyze. It's so common to see restaurants advertise by using lust, displaying food that looks absolutely delicious to persuade people to come eat at their restaurants. I think a lot of the times it works because if it looks really good, people are going to want to try it out. However, I think sometimes the advertisements don't present their food correctly, showing their food as better than it actually is. In my opinion, I believe that this ad is effective by the simplicity of it and the location where a lot of people in a hurry can see it.
ReplyDeleteMay I first preface this by saying that the subject matter was no surprise to me, Sarah hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteAs for my comment,
Your analysis of the actual location the ad was placed was very important because it leads to the general audience. This is something I feel a lot of people may miss because this is more than an ad shown on T.V. or some pop-up online. The idea of food being a source of lust doesn't come to mind as quickly as other ads which rely mainly of sexual lust. This lust prays on the busy, on-a-budget worker who would find the quick and cheap nature of McDonald's appealing. Well done, 黄樱花