Semiotic Analysis: 3 ads

1 Print

MAC Viva La Glam
Rihanna
      -Signifier
            The singer superstar Rihanna/fashionista/Icon
      -Signified
            The ad shows it's shoppers that they're gonna want the lipstick and make-up that Rihanna
            wears and has.
      -Sign
            The sign is an image of Rihanna naked with only a wig and make-up on giving the viewer a very seductive look and inviting the consumer to want to buy her lipstick


1 Television

Old Spice: Timber
      -Signifier
            The commercial shows a man that smells like nature and outdoor stuff like wood or pine
      -Signified
            The commercial represents the "manly" man or the idea of a man's man, what men want to be or be seen as.
      -Sign
            The ad is of a man in the woods showing how much of a man he is. The attractive woman comes into the commercial showing that she wants him because he is so manly.


1 Outdoor

Coca Cola
      -Signifier
            The ad is of soda and how refreshing it is.
      -Signified
            The most refreshing soda out there which is coca cola
      -Sign
            It's a very simple ad but it has been in San Francisco for a very long time and they probably won't ever take it down unless coca cola decides to not pay for the plot.

Superbowl Ad 2015

         The superbowl ad that was my personal favorite was the #LikeAGirl campaign. I loved that they used children and adults and showed how young adult women made fun of doing things like a girl and the young girls that were asked the same question did the actions as best as they could without thinking negatively about themselves, they never questioned what they could or could not do which is wonderful since we live in a male dominated society.  I loved this commercial the most because of the women empowerment is tells the viewers. Comparing to all of the commercials where the women are sexualized are just seen as a pretty face definitely showed me how shallow our country still is and that the saying "sex sells" is still relevant and somewhat true. I think they definitely got their point across when they asked the boy if he had offended his sister and he said not his sister, but other girls. But then again, what makes someone's sister different than other girls. I absolutely loved this commercial and definitely appreciated the feminism and equality of the sexes in it.

        Superbowl is definitely a place that most people pay attention to the commercials just as much as the game itself. Many people look forward to seeing what will be featured and are surprised when it's not sport related. I was surprised that they had an insurance company commercial rather than just a product or food place. 

Wieden + Kennedy

The Ad Agency I found to be the most interesting was Wieden + Kennedy because I love the sports industry and wanted to see how they're featured. This agency is all over the world which shows me how diverse their workplaces must be since not everyone can speak all the same language. I also found out that they do a lot of the ESPN advertisements and even college Universities that may be involved in a big game coming up. The college football playoffs was profiled all over ESPN and yearly rival games. They also advertise for my boyfriend's favorite beer Heineken. They do a lot of high profile advertisement that anyone that has access to cable television has seen their ads or commercials. I also want to further my education in sports marketing or advertising because its what interests me and why would I focus on an agency that doesn't focus mainly on the sports world. Their website is also very simply designed which is straight to the point, rather than some complicated design that you can't even see their work. It also just wasn't purely sport related, they have clients in clothing and even airfare. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Nike ad campaigns were created by this agency which shows the world wide unity, regardless to it being an American ad agency and the US doesn't focus it's time on soccer/futbol.