This document analyzes characteristics of advertisements in mass media. It notes that ads typically feature expensive brands of jewelry, clothing, and accessories. They also often include famous actresses. The document then analyzes a specific Longines watch advertisement, noting that it uses imagery from the Kentucky Derby to portray an elite, wealthy lifestyle. It discusses how the ad uses sociological concepts like social roles, stereotyping, in-groups, and reference groups to appeal to and help define the desired social class of its consumers.
3. C H A R AC T E R I S T I C S O F
A DV E R T I S E M E N T S
Plain backgrounds
Expensive brand-name jewelry, perfume, handbags, makeup, and
clothing from
Tiffany & Co.
Dior
Burberry
Chanel
Michael Kors
Louis Vuitton
4. Characteristics continued
Exclusive brands only offered in certain places, particularly in cities
that are reputable in high-end fashion
Milan
Beverly Hills
New York
Miami
Paris
London
13. SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Role: the set of behaviors expected of someone because of
his/her status (Ferris and Stein, 114)
People of higher socioeconomic status are expected to dress formally
when attending the Kentucky Derby
Elegance is an attitude
The way one is elegant is wearing Longines accessories
14. Sociological Analysis continued
Stereotyping: judging others based on preconceived generalizations
about groups or categories of people (Ferris and Stein, 114).
Not used negatively, in this case
People will assume someone who is wearing Longines to be rich
15. Sociological Analysis continued
In-group: A group that one identifies with and feels loyalty
towards (Ferris and Stein, 132).
United by elegance , shown through sitting in the Millionaires club
and wearing Longines
Out-group: Any group an individual feels opposition, rivalry, or
hostility toward (Ferris and Stein, 133).
us vs. them mentality
Sense of superiority over out-group
16. Sociological Analysis continued
Reference Group: A group that one aspires to belong but of which
they are not yet members (Ferris and Stein, 133).
Consumers of Longines are elegant, and become apart of upper
crust
Looked at respectively by Elite if one owns Longines
17. ARTICLES
Audrey Hepburn spread by Luca Dotti
The epitome of elegance in American society
A Holiday for the Jet Set by Michael Callahan
Luxurious travelling
Houghton Hall by James Reginato
History
English royalty
18. Articles continued
Steak- Americas Contribution to World Cuisine by A. A. Gill
Emphasis on Western Capitalism as a positive force
People of upper class America typically agree
20. MESSAGES
Vanity Fair aimed at elite, upper crust of society
Classy
Elegance
Exclusivity
Worldly/cultured
People of this social class need the products being advertised
21. REFERENCES
Ferris, K. and Stein, J. The Real World: An Introduction to
Sociology. Norton: New York, 2012.
Callahan, M, Dotti, L,Gill, AA, and Reginato, J. Vanity Fair. May
2013.
Editor's Notes
Hello, my name is Ashlee Amparan
I decided to analyze the May 2013 edition of Vanity Fair magazine
*There are several common characteristics among the advertisements in Vanity Fair *characteristics include a simple background, read pp* among others after reading brands
After reading pp, such as cities (read)
This is a Ralph Lauren advertisement for a hand bag. If you look at the bottom of the slide, it says the names of the cities where the Ralph Lauren Collection is availableNew York, Beverly Hills, Dallas, Chicago, BalHarbour, and Greenwich, which are ritzy American cities
Julia Roberts in the Lancome Paris makeup adKatie Holmes in the Bobbi Brown make-up adBlake Lively in the Gucci perfume ad
Also, Nicole Kidman in theOmega watch ad
The overall tone of the advertisements in Vanity Fair tend to be old fashion or vintage in one way or another
For instance, in this ad for Belstaff, a clothing brand from England, sepia tone is used to convey an older looking picture
In addition, this ad by Rimowa also hints at an older time periodThe name and style of the luggage, called The Original, creates a vintage look for the photo, in addition to the older-looking jet on the opposing page
I decided to analyze Longines Saint-Imier Collection, which is advertising watchesIn the ad, you will see a scene of the Kentucky Derby. Based on how the woman is dressed and located in comparison to the derby, it is obvious that she is sitting in the Millionaires row, which is a very expensive area that only the Elites can afford at the Kentucky Derby. The image is also black and white, adding to the elegance of the photo in this ad
There is the woman that I mentioned earlier. Look at the way she is dressed and where she is located in the stands.Also note the phrase elegance is an attitude. I will go over the signifance of this phrase in the next couple of slides
-Sociological analysis of this ad brings a few interesting points to the surface. -The first concept that applies to this ad is a role, which meansread slide-When having a social role of an elite in society, one must behave as such by dressing the part, and the way to do so is by wearing Longines. This is hinted in the phrase Elegance is an attitude
Another sociological concept that is portrayed is stereotyping, but not in the derogatory manner that it is typically used.Read definitionIf one wears this watch, others will view them as rich and successful
Two more concepts that go hand in hand are known as In group, read definition and out group, read definition In group: The people with money power and prestige that can afford to sit in the Millionaires Row, they are united by this sense of elegance that Longines provides. Out-group: outsiders that do not fit into the in group; people who are lacking the elegance, or not wearing LonginesRead under out group
The last concept that applies to this advertisement is the concept of a reference group, which is read slide
Read slideThe article A holiday for the Jet set talks about the best hotels and dining in the world, all of which are expensive to the common middle class individual The article that speaks about Houghton Hall alludes to English Royalty, which American pop culture looks to as the classiest individuals of our time
Another article that is fascinating is the article about steak in this edition of the magazineRead slide
Bolded and enlarged, Blessing of Western capitalism resonates with the upper class of America because westernized capitalism is clearly working in their favor to keep them rich and content, so it is interesting to see that this is the phrase that editors would emphasize given their target audience.
As alluded to before, Vanity Fair is aimed at the Elite of American society, showing that if one buys these products and behaves in certain manners, than one is. Read slide