Monday, April 27, 2009

OK, analyze this.......

This is a bit of a free-form post about an ad that I've seen here and there, most recently in Newsweek magazine. Your job is to figure out what issues are being discussed here and to post your comments. This is a 10 point assignment with a due date of Wednesday, May 6.

14 comments:

mads said...

ok...this advertisement shows the ways that people can travel and it puts an emphasis on being technology savoy to keep up in the 21st century. these travelers cards would make it much simpler to get in and out of the US, and i can say from personal experience CUSTOMS TAKES FOREVER! it would also make better relations with surrounding countries, and help with tourism in said countries

Kiley said...

I do agree with what Maddie said, but I also think that the ad is putting emphasis on the role of the government. They want people to travel more, and ya, that would help relations with other countries. It's also true that America is moving to a more technological time, and having traveler cards would make it easier. The effort seems much more concentrated on coming back to the U.S. rather than going to another place though.

Melina said...

I agree with Kiley that the ad seems more concentrated on coming back to the US rather than traveling to another place. That might be because getting into the US is a lot harder than going to other countries. I think that they would be so much easier to use instead of passports and probably a lot easire to renew, which takes forever. I also agree with maddie that they will make better relations with bordering countries.

HistoryGus said...

Does anyone notice that this might be construed as being an enlargement of the federal government's role....?

Tovia said...

My first impression of the ad was that it was implying that other countries were uncivilized because it refers to the returning to the US as "getting back to civilization". Honestly Gs, I don't really know what you're looking for or how to respond to your question.

Hannah Banana said...

Ok, so... Not going to lie Gus, this posting is a bit difficult to interpret. But I definitely agree with Tovia that this ad kind of puts down other countries by saying "return to civilization" instead of "return home" or "return to america". That's actually kind of a huge insult. AS for the "enlargement of the federal government's role" Gus, I'm not really sure what you are looking for.Yeah, it would make it easier for Americans to travel, would create more opportunities for Americans to spend overseas, and in turn better relations with other countries. but that seems too obvious. I feel like you wanted us to read more between the lines, but i honestly don't understand what you are looking for here.

simba said...

This ad is showing off a new card that would make traveling to and from other countries simpler and more efficient. I think that with the economy in rough shape, and overseas travel decreasing, the federal government felt it had to step in to promote airlines, and get people excited about this new way of traveling. Instead of just sitting back and watching the industry suffer, the government enlarged its role to help business.

jacqui said...

To me, not only would this card be more efficient to travelers, but also to customs officials and the government itself. With this card people would likely be more prepared to travel then they would with a regular passport, causing less problems with expired passports, etc. I think it's vaguely hinting at maybe an attempt by the government to improve border security. With all of the problems with illegal immigrants, there have been calls for tighter border security. With something as clear and right to the point as a card, it's easier to keep track of who's coming (and going) from the country. The only way I can really see it as an enlargement of the government's role is through the way that the ad states "getting you home..." Just the way that is worded makes it sound as though they're protecting you and safely returning you to your own country. I really don't know Gus!

The blogfather said...

I agree with simone and Jacqui about how it seems as though the federal government is trying to increase travel with the economy doing so poorly. The federal government needed to enlarge it's role because they had to get citizens interested in traveling to other parts of the western hemisphere again. It also seems like the ad is saying that the U.S. is more civilized than other countries and that with this new thechnology they can make it easier for travelers.

ariana said...

okay so the ad is about traveling easier back into the US and it lists a specific list of countries you would be coming back from. so maybe the travel initiative has some sort of deal with those countries? these cards are definitely encouraging tourism in the countries.
Also, the top of the ad says "when its time to get back to civilization" and the ads for getting back into the US. is that implying US is more civilized? or am i reading way too into this? anyway just thought that was interesting.

Mane said...

maybe this is an enlargement of the federal governments role over keeping track of people in a bigger distance and at the same time advertising travel and trying to make people more active. maybe the cards are a way to attract people to spend money so we can "spend our way into prosperity" in times like this when the economys down.

i also did not know. dont kill me.

Grace said...

oooooookk.. everyone kind of already said everything.. so here goess..
I think it is a very effective ad and is a very good idea for traveling overseas. I agree with Kiley in saying that it maybe would improve realations with other countries but it is an insult, "returning back to civilization" Also with the economy people are not traveling as much so the government is stepping in making new ideas to promote travel.

Imp said...

Like other posters, I think that the government is stepping into overseas travel because of the deteriorating condition of the US economy. To help the economy recover, the government is attempting to get money through travel. And, as other posters mentioned, the US is rerurning to it's expansionist ways by saying that the US is more civilized and superior.

HistoryGus said...

OK, perhaps this was a bit esoteric for everyone. Praise for trying and some good observations.