Week 10: Persuasive Messages

Today we're going to talk about techniques of persuasive media writing, with a focus on TV commercials and "uncommercials" or other PSA-type spots which seek to change viewer behavior in a way that benefits society.

Here's a list of the online videos we'll watch:

• "Who Shot Raymond Burr?" got milk commercial
• "Our Life Began" De Beers commercial
• "Mr. Roboto" and "Ego Emissions" VW commercial
• Tab cola commercials from 1960s, 1979 and 1982
• "1984" famous Apple spot, aired during Super Bowl
• "Double Life" Playstation commercial
• "Cha Cha Slide" and "Ronald McDonald's Daughter" Japanese McDonald's commercial
• "Mr. Giant Taco Salad Inventor" and "Mr. Really Really Really Bad Dancer" Real Men of Genius Bud Light commercials
  
• "Cell Phone Karma" Kyocera commercial
• "Choose", "Splode" and "You Don't Always Die from Tobacco" truth TV spots
• "Manifesto", "Unbrand America", "Buy Nothing Day" adbusters uncommercials
• "Beautykit" short videos
  
• "Yappy Dog" and "Bag of Leaves" videos (TheONE campaign to encourage young people to vote)
  
• "I'm Every Woman" video
• "Push Ups", "What We Don't Mind You Voting For", and "Lip Sealer" videos (Declare Yourself campaign to encourage young people to vote)

We'll also watch "Introducing Diet Coke" and selections from the 2006 Clio Awards (Gold winners); these are available at the SFSU Media Access Center.

Also, congratulations to Caleb, Angela and Victor, whose scripts were selected by Skye Christensen's BECA 240/241 class for production!