Archive Index: February 2006
Archive: February 2006
Kids Gobble Up Interactive Junk Food Marketing
Heads-up, parents! Advertisers are voraciously developing new ways to brand kids' brains, while stealthily flying under your radar.
Players as young as 5 are captivated by games built into corporate Web sites, earning points by interacting with products, and bonuses for clicking links to more junk food sites.
Older kids with mobile phones have even greater access to these "sweet" deals. When they buy candy or chips, they get offers for text-based messages, free music downloads, ring tones, and whimsical wallpaper for their phone screens. They’re usually routed to a Web site, where they’re hit with even more junk food advertising. And the messages they get on their phones? Ads, contests, e-cards, fun phrases to forward to friends, and invitations to return to the site for more so-called exclusive freebies.
Where are the Girls? It's Time to Take Notice of Gender Imbalance in Films
(Editor's Note: A recent study commissioned by See Jane, a program of the non-profit Dads & Daughters, found that male characters outnumber female characters 3 to 1 in G-rated films. Below, See Jane founder Geena Davis discusses the importance of gender balance in films)
I’ve always had a keen interest in women’s images in the media. It first started because I wanted to play interesting, complicated characters and I saw how few of those there were.
Then I developed a super sensitivity after being in “Thelma and Louise” because the reaction of women I ran into was so strong, saying things like “Oh my God, you have no idea; that movie changed my life!” That was much different that someone saying, “Oh, I liked you in Beetlejuice.”
That experience really brought home to me what we know—that media images can really affect us. It was important to me to realize that the movies offer women so few opportunities to feel strong and like celebrating themselves.
Dove To Be Commended for 'Real Beauty' Superbowl Ad
A few days removed from this year's Superbowl, the moment that still sticks with me had nothing to do with the game. Nor the halftime show.
Instead, I remember the beautifully shot 45 second spot that aired in the second quarter promoting Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. Launched last year, the campaign is designed to promote realistic ideals of beauty for girls and young women. It's an unfortunate fact that, in a culture where they are bombarded with images promoting untenable ideals of beauty, girls need to be reminded that not everyone looks like a runway model.
Superbowl Fast Food Ads Highlight Kids and Nutrition Issues
It’s no secret that the Superbowl has become much more than the culmination of the football season. For decades now the big game has been as much a celebration of pigskin as it has been a forum for two of our greatest excesses: advertising and eating – and often a combination of the two. We at Common Sense kept track of every food and drink product advertised during the Superbowl – and the results were pretty revealing.
Gearing Up for the Grammys
How will this past year of music be remembered? It's a mixed bag, really -- especially for families concerned about music's messages.
The Black Eyed Peas brought pop music to a lyrical low with "My Humps" ("You love my lady lumps"). Meanwhile, Kanye West challenged listeners to think about health care and political activism.
Mariah thrilled with her voice, Madonna got us dancing -- though neither had much to say. R. Kelly was more than R-rated, and 50 Cent was shocking, misogynistic, nasty -- and just plain tedious.
Before the Grammy Awards air next Wednesday , and we get caught up in glamorous fashions, over-the-top performances -- and wondering, who, if anyone, will have the nerve to give a political speech, we want to offer a few Grammy night predictions -- and hand out a few awards of our own.
