The Truth About Men - Tracy Byrd

This is a music video by Tracy Byrd. Pay attention to the song lyrics and what they say about men. Do the video and lyrics try to make fun of stereotypes or are they meant to be taken seriously?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs6VYx9V-Nw

Blonde in a library

This is a mercedes benz commercial that uses humor to try to sell a car. Who do you think is the target audience of the commercial? How might the humor in the commercial help sell the car?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZE3ccT7VC8

Promotion Through Sex and Empowerment

These are two commercials advertising very different products but using methods of strength, each representing one sex respectively. the first commercial is about  men and Guinness beer. The second is about Nike  and it uses prominent female athletes. What are the different characteristics used to show the empowerment of each commercial? Why is the issue of sex and its use more prevalent in the women’s commercial? Why were no machines used during this video other than very simple ones?

Guinness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b96ION3azqg
Nike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B5sfE1fjLs

Being Gay in School

This is a website where a simple format of a letter is taken to make points about various topics from an individuals, or groups point of view. Is it okay to be openly gay in a public school? Can prejudice be solved by non-violent means or will it always have to take some kind of force? Are there any positive or negative consequences to having gay parents?

http://dearblankpleaseblank.com/search.php?dbpb=two+amazing+dads

This is a commerical for Tide laundry detergent.  When watching the advertisement pay attention to the mother's attitude toward her daughter, the contrast in attire between the mother and the child, and the background. What does the mother's attitude say about female gender expectations?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LTRbWsGOI

This music video is called "Cater 2 U" by Destiny's Child.  When watching this video pay close attention to the lyrics, their societal implications, and the promiscuity of the singers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juqws1LIH-I

P!nk- "Stupid Girls"

This music video is called "Stupid Girls" by P!ink. Do you guys think it's ironic? What do you think about the different stereotypes it portrays? Do you think they are exaggerated?  What is the significance of the girl picking up the football at the end?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR4yQFZK9YM

CK Fragrance Commercials

Here are two Calvin Klein Fragrance commercials. The first one is for men and the second one is for women. Try to find the difference between these two commercial when they are approaching to different gender. Pay attentions to the details, such as the background, the music, actor's dressing, etc. How did those details reflect the different gender representation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zPEK5a0xKU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_B6yshAUk4

Battle of the Sexes - Group 2

Dr. Pepper Commercial - Not For Women

This video is an interesting and unique take by advertisers. The men in this video are clearly being cast as a stereotype, but the over-arcing theme and apparent message is the twist.  Do you feel that the message is truly only selling to men? How does watching this commercial make you feel as a man, or as a woman? Are the authors of this video making fun of stereotypes or using them for their own gain? Do the specific scenes or his demeanor matter?

Things to consider : Clothing, action, message, theme
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iuG1OpnHP8

Transition in Gender Roles - Group 2

New Huggies Commercial - Dad Campaign

The men in this video have taken on the role of "fatherhood." After watching this advertisement do you feel that the message is making fun of their masculinity by depicting them as the "nurturer?" Pay close attention to the details and side notes mentioned. Who do you think this audience is geared toward?

Things to consider: Attitudes, Ethnicity, Interaction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIdRq-AxeU0  

Switching Roles - Group 1

Beyonce - If I were a boy

Beyonce in this video switches roles with the man she's in a relationship with. Pay attention to details of their lives and how they react with other people in the video. What do you think she's trying to say about relationships and the roles that men and women should have in them.

Things to consider: jobs, attitude,  and communication.

Gender Competition - Group 1

Nike Commercial Men vs. Women

This commercial heavily focuses on competition between men and women. What does this commercial have to say about men and how they respond when women are succeeding physically and are able to compete against them?

Things to consider. celebrities, selling the product, interaction

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like - Old Spice

Old Spice: Not Meant for All Men (1983)

Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Watch these two Old Spice commercials carefully. How does the 1983 commercial compare to the newer one? How are they similar and how are they different? How does each commercial represent masculinity? How do these commercials attempt to sell a product to a male audience? A female audience? Things to consider: race, class, male and female stereotypes, etc.

Of the two commercials, the more recent ad is the most interesting. Consider how the commercial uses humor to appeal to the audience by drawing their attention to male/female stereotypes. Does this approach "undo" these stereotypes by making them explicit? Or does the commercial perpetuate the very stereotypes it works to parody?

Dress Like a Woman!

Sofia Vergara Kmart Commercial - as seen on Oxygen

Sofia Vergara Kmart Commercial - as seen on MTV

In Sophia Vergara's commercial for Kmart, she advertises her new clothing line for women inviting them to "be proud, be sexy," and finally, to "dress like a woman." Based on her commercial, what does it mean to dress like a woman? How does she appeal to a female audience? Does she appeal to a male audience? If so, how? Is her commercial empowering for women—why or why not? Is she trying to market empowerment? Is she successful? Why or why not?

Additionally, as you can see, I've included two versions of this commercial. One version appeared on Oxygen and the other version appeared on MTV. Watch both videos with particular attention to the ending sequence with Sofia. There is a distinct difference that is hard to miss. Why do you think Version 1 appeared on Oxygen and Version 2 appeared on MTV? How does each version appeal to its respective audience? Do the differences between the two undermine or affirm an empowering representation of women?