Whos in Control

1. I believe Morgan Spurlock couldn’t find a sponsor for his film because in the media they like to hide subliminal messages like seen in the mind control video. As much as the product saying or image is shown to the youth the more familiar the person would get to the brand. Even though Morgan’s idea was to just point out the product directly towards the audience the companies didn’t want to take a risk in directly spreading out their product. Because we learn when watching the merchants of cool the youth doesn’t like products to be directly handed to us, but to find a way that it becomes a trend.

2. Corporations play a role in trying to take the money from the youth, by simply placing a celebrity in place of advertising their product or even having words or flyers handed out to their consumers. For example in concerts/conventions companies will place their logos on the background of the stage or even have booths for their consumer to try their product to see if they like it or not.

3. Some brands I identify with are;

- Apple, because the brand is seen often in the teenage society whether it is in the form of a laptop, a phone, or MP3 player. The product becomes more familiar to the youth making itseem more reliable to the consumer.

- MTV, I identify myself with this brand because the channel has shows that are strange but yet can grab your attention with its unique style of shows, even though this channel is meant to be for music and not sitcoms, they have a way to grab the audience’s attention.

- Dr. Pepper, this drink is a commonly drunken drink making it familiar to the public. And because the drink is wildly known this is why I can identify with this brand.

- Vans, is a shoe that is worn by a lot of teens and because I often see the shape, design, or even the logo of the company at school they make their products feel close to the “what we call the individuals needs. “

4.

4.Cool hunters go around finding the new fads that are to occur in society. And with their “research” they are able to make millions of dollars off a simple idea. They are like colonial powers because they convince the public that they want this product and need it to survive in life.

5. The merchants of cool do get the ideals of marketing correct because they see the focus of their consumers and get into their minds to see the needs of the consumer, even if the need is to see hidden advertisements like in movies where brand name logos would be hidden inside the framework of the movie from companies who contributed money to have their names in that specific movie.

6. Yes, I believe my life is manipulated by brands because if you watch closely when watching tv the commercials that are on will reoccur every time the channel takes a break. And within these commercials the companies will try to create an image of what the teen wants and needs in life or make it so their product looks “cool.” Since the commercials are often reoccurring the companies make the consumer (us) more familiar with their products. For example on YouTube before watching a video now a days a commercial will be placed to try and get the consumers attention of their product.

7. Some ways companies advertise are:

- Commercials, placing celebrities to get their followers to buy a certain product or follow a

certain trend.

- Handouts/ flyers, using flyers to give out information about their product or their service to try and receive more business for their company.Or to show a new form of music, or promote their company is simple matters in life.

8. Seeing these videos make me feel as if life has been exploited to the measure that only deals with the world taking away money from the youth, and also brain washing us to see and hear what the companies want us to hear. With these videos I realized that my identity is just the same as anyone else’s because it seems that the companies see us as fish in a barrel an easy way to earn money through quick and easy measures.