Audi vs BMW Billboard War

It all started from Audi featuring a billboard with the tag line "Your move, BMW." That's how Audi decided to promote its new A4 sedan in Santa Monica, California. A BMW dealership in Santa Monica decided to respond with buying a billboard close to it and showing their M3 car with the tag line "Checkmate"

After BMW response, it seems that Audi wasn't to happy about it. Audi decided to continue this billboard war by posting another billboard right nest to the "checkmate" featuring its luxury car R8 with the line, "Your pawn is no match for our king." 

The Bavarian company decided to respond to Audi's second billboard by bringing a zeppelin and flew it over the Audi tethered it to the R8 board and with an F1 car procalimed, "Game Over." And that was the end. The billboard war was over. Both manufacturers had a fair go at it and they both said that they succeeded, and not only in sales. It was on the internet entertainment for months, and they successfully achieved earned media.     

The Self and Body Image Distortions

Some people exaggerate between their self-esteem and their appearance in such a way that they sacrifice their health and distort their bodies to achieve what they consider is a desirable body image.

The media and advertising have a big role in sending messages to the society of the ideal of beauty for men and women. Women in particular tend more to pick up the messages from the media that their body reflects their self-worth.

The most common distorted body image is cause from eating disorders, which prevalent among young woman. Anorexia and bulimia are the two most common eating disorders.

Also like woman, media images and ads encourage men to attain a certain physique. That's the reason a lot of guys tend to use steroids. The media tries to set an image of men being physical strong. Recently, theres been several scandals in the athlete media of athletes using steroids. Certainly athletes are not immune to this pressure.

Gender Differences in Socialization

I feel like many commercials provide gender socialization for male and female. They try to show the way that how men and women should look or act. That is the reason they are different marketing strategies for different countries. Advertising is constantly showing how you should act, how you should look, and who you can be if you posses that product. You constantly see ads about luxury cars like Mercedes showing how your life could change or who you can become if you buy that car. These types of car ads are usually target to men.

There is also a lot of sex-typed products out there. This means there are products that consumers associate them with one gender or another.

I want to share this ad from Heineken that shows the differences or priorities between what men and women supposedly want.

1984 Apple Ad

After reading Steve Jobs biography written by Walter Isaacson this summer, in one of the chapters they talk about this ad and how it need it to be perfect to grab the consumers attention presenting the Apple Macintosh personal computer. 

This ad is consider one of the most memorable, and successful ad in American television commercials. 
The interesting part of this ad was that Apple was trying to show a meaning of saving humanity from conformity. They were trying to show the fight for computer technology. 

Big brother in the screen is intended to represent IBM, which in that time, they pretty much had industry control. This is what Steve said before the commercial: "It is now 1984. It appears IBM wants it all. Apple is perceived to be the only hope to offer IBM a run for its money. Dealers initially welcoming IBM with open arms now fear an IBM dominated and controlled future. They are increasingly turning back to Apple as the only force that can ensure their future freedom. IBM wants it all and is aiming its guns on its last obstacle to industry control"

He was right about how 1984 won't be like 1984.