Media Effects In-Class Exercise

Media Effects In-Class Exercise

Duncan Gallagher (4)

Ofelia Alvarenga (2)

Sarah Smith (3)

Most Creative Nomination:  Bourbon Doesn’t Make Me Grow Hair On My Chest

1) The Conversational John Oliver Effect

In 2015, TIME magazine and a few other outlets began describing what they called “The John Oliver Effect”. This is a description of the social and political impact John Oliver’s show Last Week Tonight had upon airing an investigative piece on a particular subject. This effect was said to manifest itself in the ways of crashing websites, inspiring fundraising and awareness campaigns, and even helping the creation, support, awareness, or even repeal of legislation. There is another effect that is less observable, however: Last Week Tonight often introduces topics of conversation friends or coworkers would otherwise never or rarely have. When one person cites a fact they learned on Last Week Tonight, and the other person in the conversation recognizes that the fact was presented on Last Week Tonight, they have just experienced the Conversation John Oliver Effect.

2) The Purely Conservative-Media Consuming Effect

Believing that gays, minorities, and others of differing spiritual beliefs all have secret agendas to dismantle Christianity, the concept of the nuclear-family, western cultural values in general, as well as having a cohesive plan to wage war on Christmas, due to relying solely on Fox News to learn about the world around oneself.

3) The Reverse-Streisand Effect

The phenomenon by which attempts to spread awareness of an issue or topic via social media backfire due to a widespread negative opinion about the topic (or if the topic is simply controversial), and attempts to share or distribute awareness are actively censored and repressed by online communities.

4) The Failed Youth-Outreach Effect

When attempts to reach out to or relate to youth voters by politicians backfires and said youth voters end up disliking the politician even more than they already did.

(Ex: Mitt Romney attempting to sing “Who Let The Dogs Out”, or Hillary Clinton’s “Pokemon Go to the polls” comment)

5) The Porn makes me Hungry Effect

By using a medium that is a considered a“forbidden fruit” or “bad” as  a frame to tell a story of fulfilling desires , the use of porngraphy  provokes behaviors of indulgence. By creating a social norm of  an “”extreme”  indulgence being accepted , individuals may be feel the freedom of practicing “not so bad” behaviors in which their own personal desires are being fulfilled.

6) The I’m moving to Mars with the rich people Effect

By using a medium that is typically considered (social norm) as informative and  conspiracy storytellers, documentaries use the powerful media effects  to persuade viewers that they are being deceived of an opportunity , which then creates a people’s choice effect. Individuals are now experiencing the Lasswell’s  propaganda theory effect of being informed and being part of a certain group.

7) Bourbon Doesn’t Make Me Grow Hair On My Chest

Mila Kunis is the face of Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon. The commercial is incredibly sexy and appeals to women. Typically, bourbon and whiskey are associated with men who enjoy this barrel aged distilled spirit. In a sense, this commercial defies stereotypical gender norms. As a female who has a great appreciation for Bourbon, Whiskey, and Scotch, it is refreshing to see that Bourbon is being marketed to not such a gender specific consumer.

8) Starbucks Is My New Handbag

Starbucks doesn’t do a whole lot of advertising. Why would they when you turn on the television and every member of the Kardashian clan is toting around their coveted cup of coffee with the infamous green mermaid siren on the cup? Have we been primed to frequent starbucks to the point of addiction?

9) I Want The Latest And Greatest

The Iphone 6 came out, everyone had to rush out and grab one! The Iwatch 2 came out, same scenario! Finally, the Iphone 7 has arrived with bionic earbuds! Despite the fact that the Iphone 6 came out, people are ready to abandon it for the latest and greatest technology. This must be our fixed mindset as Americans wanting the newest and most advanced in tech toys.