THE ENGL 101
ADVERTISEMENT WEB SCAVENGER HUNT
Instructions: Get together with your partner, decide who will be the “driver” (who will handle the
mouse and keyboard on the search computer as well as record the results) and who will be the
“navigator” (who will read the directions and questions). Once you have made the decisions you may
begin the scavenger hunt.
I will call time five minutes before class ends and the navigator will post his/her group’s results as a
reply to this a blog post as well as printing out a hardcopy for me. The group that has completed the
most items on the list in the shortest time will get a prize.
*Keep in mind, the whole web (that is the classroom appropriate web) is at your disposal. Be creative,
because the more variety we as a class have, the more you will have to choose from for your final Visual
Analysis Essay.
1. Locate a website for a product that is targeted specifically to pre-teen girls, paste the link here
and explain what stereotypes the website uses to appeal to their audience.
WEBSITE NAME:
LINK:
EXPLANATION:
2. Locate a television commercial for a product meant to appeal to wide variety of genders, ages,
social identities etc., paste the video link and explain how it accomplishes wide demographic
appeal.
PRODUCT:
LINK:
EXPLANATION:
3. Locate a television commercial that upholds a gender stereotype (ex: “men are tough”, or
“women are homemakers”) paste the video link and explain how enforcing that stereotype is
effective in selling that particular product.
PRODUCT:
LINK:
STEREOTYPE:
EXPLANATION:
4. Locate a television commercial that subverts (challenges) a gender stereotype (ex: “women
being tough/physically intimidating” or “men enjoying traditionally feminine things) paste the
video link, identify the stereotype being subverted and explain how it is being used (ex: comedic
effect) and how that translates to selling the product.
PRODUCT:
LINK:
STEREOTYPE:
EXPLANATION:
5. Go to www.google.com , enter the search phrase “What advertising agency does Geico use"
Once you find the answer follow the link to the agency’s homepage. At the top of the screen
look for the link “Work”, choose one of the sub-topics, and describe the perceived rhetorical
strategy.
6. Use the search engine of your choice to find out when Coca-Cola began using Santa Claus in
their holiday advertisements. Paste the Image into this document and answer the following
questions:
What year did it first appear?
What magazine printed it?
What was the artist’s name?
Where did you find your information?
7. Locate a Skittles commercial (from “sheep boys” to “tube sock”). Paste the video link,
hypothesize what is the target audience for the commercial and explain how it goes about
appealing to that demographic.
LINK:
HYPOTHESIS:
EXPLANATION:
8. Go to the Mattel Toy Company official website (www.mattel.com ). Describe the welcome page,
is it aimed at any certain audience? Spend a few minutes exploring the sections. Describe the
appearance of the sections (think colors, graphics, fonts) and what they say to their targeted
audience (Barbie, Hot Wheels etc.).
HOMEPAGE:
BARBIE:
HOTWHEELS:
FAMILIES:
PRODUCT:
9. Go to the following two Images and answer the question below
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/caribu_bitter_poison?size=_original
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/caribu_bitter_canari?size=_original
What is the product?
Who do you think the audience for the ad is?
What stereotype is it subverting?
Why do you think they went this direction?
10. Go to the following website:
WARNING: THE IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
VIEW THEM AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO IF YOU ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MILDLY EXPLICIT IMAGES.
http://www.onextrapixel.com/2010/02/25/80-extreme-advertisements-that-will-challengeyour-mind/
Once there take time to carefully look through the 80 or so images.
Most of them are PSAs (Public Service Announcements), Many- if not all- use shocking imagery
to either sell something or make a very startling point about an issue.
Choose 3 images you find either particularly effective or ineffective in getting their message
across. Paste them here.
Under each image
+ identify both the Primary Message and the Secondary Message.
+whether or not you find it effective
+describe what makes them so (in)effective
+do they use any stereotypes/demographic clichés? If so which ones?
+what strategy the ads use to get the point across?
+Would you change it? If so, how?
Post your completed results as a post on your personal blogs (Do not “copy and paste” use the “attach
document” function) as well as printing out a hardcopy for me.