Representation Analysis

Representation Analysis

Advertisement 1 - Tide

In the ad a white mother is shown talking to the camera complaining about her young daughter's tomboyish natures. The mother is represented as well off as shown by the nice house interior and also very feminine which is represented by the pink, white, and flowers in the scene. The mother also seems to be in her 30's. In the ad the mother talks about how she wishes her daughters tomboyish clothes(hoodies and cargo shorts) were ruined but tide saved them. At the end of the commercial the mother makes a snide comment about her daughter building a car garage with blocks. This represents the need for women to conform to a girly standard of clothing and mannerisms and being looked down on by others who decided to follow that social norm. Audiences viewing this may agree with the advertisements stance as many people still believe in the feminine social norms. The slogan "Style is a option. Clean is not." at the end may be used by the audience as fuel for their argument of women having the choice of wanting to be feminine or not.

Advertisement 2 - Axe

In this ad women in bikinis flock to a singular man spraying Axe body spray on himself. The women are all white and run to the man as if they are animals. The women are represented as being mindless and drawn to men. The male in this ad is represented as something valued highly by females that does not have to try to gain their affection. They are simply an object for him to choose out of many. The audience of this advertisement could be led to believe that Axe has a sort of "charming" effect on women that they find irresistible. This is a very toxic way of thinking as men could start to view women as objects that they deserve and have a right to.