Minds On
Perspectives in media
We can find different perspectives in media created for entertainment and commercials.
Let’s explore an episode of TVOK News. Daniel, who explores different new stories, hosts this show. In this episode, Daniel interviews Astronomer Heidi White. Astronomer Heidi White discusses what it is like to be an astronomer. While you explore the episode, consider whose perspective is being expressed.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Do you share some of the perspectives expressed in the episode? What new insights have been expressed? What is one important fact you learned? If possible, share your thinking with a partner.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Action
Purpose of a commercial
Just like a television show, commercials and advertisements often have a perspective.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Do you know why commercials and advertisements exist? Try to think of some reasons why companies use commericals and advertisements. If possible, share your thinking with a partner.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
The primary purpose of a commercial is to convince the audience to buy an item or service. Commercials use different techniques to help sell the products they are advertising. Can you think of some techniques advertisers use in commercials? If possible, work with your class to brainstorm different techniques used in commercials. Think about:
- music
- images
- characters/actors
- words or phrases
- tone of voice and non-verbal communication
Complete the Techniques Used in Commercials in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also record your thoughts using an audio recording or a method of your choice.
| Techniques Used in Commercials |
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Techniques Used in Commercials.
One technique you might have thought of is a “jingle.” A jingle is a short and catchy song or phrase that appears in some commercials or ads. Jingles can help make a product more recognizable. When we notice the jingle, we might find ourselves thinking about the product. Do you know any jingles?
How commercials make us feel
Did any jingles come to mind in the previous section? If you remembered a jingle, did you notice any feeling or emotion that you felt? There is another technique that commercials and advertisements use: making the audience feel a certain way or experience a certain emotion.
Think back to the video we explored in Minds On. Did you experience any emotions or feelings while exploring this television episode? Just like when we explore a television episode, we might experience different feelings and emotions caused by a commercial or advertisement.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Have you ever experienced a commercial for a product or an event where you felt excited? Perhaps the commercial was on the radio or television or a print ad. If possible, work with a partner to answer these questions, and record your ideas on the computer, in an audio clip, or using a method of your choice:
- What were the actors doing in the commercial?
- What feelings or emotions were the people expressing?
- How did you feel when you experience these types of commercial?
You might have noticed that the commercial shared information about the product or event. Does your experience match the representation in the commercial?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Perspectives in commercials
Advertisers and companies create commercials for a purpose. Commercials use the perspective of the audience. For example, in a commercial for a new toy, the actors in the commercial might be the same age as the children who would play with this toy. The commercial might show the children playing with and enjoying the toy. We might identify that the commercial is told from a child's perspective.
Let's review what we have learned. Select a response to the following questions and then press the 'Check Answer' button.
TVO mPower Commercial
Consider this commercial that advertises the content available on TVO mPower:
After exploring the advertisement above, consider the following questions:
- Who is the target audience and how do you know?
- What is the purpose of this commercial?
- Who produced it and what was their reason for making this commercial?
- How do you think a parent/guardian or adult might respond to this commercial?
- How do you think your peers might respond to this commercial?
- How do you think a teacher might respond to this commercial?
You can explain your thinking in writing, an audio recording, or using a method of your choice.
Consolidation
It is your turn to design
It's time to design your own commercial! First, select an eco-friendly product (e.g., phosphate free soap or toothpaste free of microbeads). Then, you will design a commercial or ad. Your design might be from the perspective of the Earth, marine wildlife, or another perspective of your choice. The purpose of the commercial that you will create is to promote the purchase and use of the eco-friendly product you chose.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
Try to answer these questions to help plan your commercial:
- What is the perspective?
- Who is the target audience?
- Is this a radio or television commercial or print ad?
- Will there be any visuals and/or sounds included?
- What emotion do you want the audience to feel while experiencing the commercial?
Outline
Using your brainstorm, you will now outline your commercial. You can use a computer, slides, an audio recording, or another method of your choice. It might help to follow these steps while outlining your commercial:
- Create the script or outline: what words will you use? Are there actors in the commercial/ad, or a narrator?
- Choose a technique: what technique will you use to help sell the product? Will you create a jingle or phrase, or use images?
Describe
Now that you have outlined your commercial, you can describe the commercial in writing, an audio recording, or a method of your choice. In your description, identify the perspective of your commercial. What content and information you will include? Which techniques will you use to make your commercial appealing to the audience?
Reflection
- How does examining a media text help you to use some of the conventions and/or techniques to create one?
- What skills do you use before, during, and after you work with or create media text?
- What strategies did you find most helpful in learning about and creating a media text?
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.