Analyzing Texts

When reading through the Analyzing Text chapter I enjoyed reading about the commercials aimed at women. I found these ads to be very sexist and honestly, a load of crap. If someone pitched an ad for Listerine, Lux, or Resinol like that these days I think they would be laughed at. Taking into consideration that these commercials are from the 20's, 30's, and 40's I'm sure they worked well in getting consumers to buy the product because back then people were more gullible. It's not that they were stupid they just didn't know what we, as consumers, know today. I know that using a certain soap won't get me a husband or that using a certain mouthwash will keep me "sweet". Lantry also points out how all of these themes have a weak factor in women's struggle for equality in the world of sex roles. The main theme is that pleasing men causes happiness in women. These ads kind of remind me of the more current "Axe" commercials where girls are falling over each other to get to the boy who sprayed Axe body spray on himself. Only this commercial is aimed at men saying women will be all over them if they use this product. In reading the many texts analyzed by people I enjoyed reading the Lurid Numbers on Glossy Pages! by Katharine Q. Seelye. She is writing about the techniques magazines use to catch a reader's eye as they are walking by the newsstand. The main way magazine publishers get reader's attention is by big numbers on the front covers. We've all seen them before "53 easy workouts", "21 hair and makeup how-tos", and "65 sex positions she/he will love". I'm not gonna lie these types of magazines always catch my eye as I'm standing in line at the grocery store. That is exactly what they are meant to do. David Zinczenko, editor of Men's Health, said that smaller numbers were better for exercise tips, because readers want something manageable. Lesley Semour, the current editor of Marie Claire, says "Research shows numbers sell." Just being a consumer and looking at the magazines my friends pick out I would have to agree that yes numbers do sell.