ETHICAL DILEMMA
Let's get our Ethics brain working this morning by reading the following article on Spirit Airlines' controversial advertising campaign. When you have finished the article, return to the blog and answer the following question.
QUESTION
If consumers hadn't complained regarding the ad campaign, but employees were, which group is more important to the company? And what should Spirit Airlines do to make its employees, its biggest brand ambassadors, satisfied?
the focus was on the consumers and not the employees. the airline does business with the consumers while the employees represent the company in what they want to promote and their services. the airline is known for its "colorful ads" so its obvious they are risk takers and attention getter's.
ReplyDeleteas for their employees, they should communicate with them and find a common ground in the risky ads they are promoting with and on them as well as having enough respect for them in general.
Frankie - Are you online?
ReplyDeleteWere the Spirit Airlines ad campaigns harmful to society or simply too controversial for some people's taste?
ReplyDeleteit was too controversial for some peoples tastes because it was very suggestive and they put a twist on what we know as to be bad, but it's a smart move on their part using a play on words
ReplyDeleteSo does a play-on-words = controversial advertising?
ReplyDeleteA great example cited both in your textbook and in the article handouts given to you in class last week talks about French Connection UK's (FCUK) play-on-words.
technically that wasn't a play on words since it wasn't exactly spelled the same. their DD and MILF was a play on words. the FCUK is just a misinterpretation at first glance.
ReplyDeleteGood point. But you didn't answer the question. Does a play-on-words = controversy?
ReplyDeletereevaluating, a play on words doesn't always equal controversy, however it can cause controversies depending on how it is used. its a fine line that can easily be crossed over.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
ReplyDeleteToday we are going to continue our discussion regarding shocking advertising tactics and get into other controversial topics that are commonly advertised including tobacco, gambling and sex.
As a consumer, or as a connoisseur of advertising campaigns, what shocks you in advertising and why?
graphic images that just makes my stomach turn. for example an accident or the after effects of the accident.
ReplyDeleteads that I read that has a disturbing ending.
death
As we discussed last week, the audience reaction to an ad is the defining benchmark for something being "controversial", “offensive” or “shocking”. Typically, anything "too sexy," or "too religious," or "too gruesome" is considered controversial, offensive or shocking.
ReplyDeleteWhat role does the audience’s age, gender or social background have on what constitutes shocking advertising?
ReplyDeleteit depends on what the shocking advertising being portrayed. like the calvin klein ads involving an very young teenage models being portrayed in a sexual photo shoot manner with the theme of being pornographic.
ReplyDeletethe types of advertising can be controversial if it is considered "to much" of one thing or another. we can't please everybody but the majority does count. even after everything is said and done and the ads are pulled the effect was still made.
as for social background, it might fall under stereotypicaling.
I agree it depends on what is being shown. However, do you feel that older people are more apt to be offended than younger people are? Are females more apt to be offended than men? Are more highly educated people more apt to be offended than less educated people?
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts??
Frankie - you still with me?
ReplyDeleteyes, when the comparison comes to age, gender, and social status will determine what is consider offensive.
ReplyDeletemen will not object to sexual displays of women in magazines while women would.
the elderly might consider certain language or style used in advertising designed for a younger target market to be offensive because it is not what they grew to like and agree with.
the social class of fitting into a stereotypical image of what is "poor" and what is "rich" and who shops where and who lives what life style can also be offensive.
like i said before. our target audience is who are are trying to attract. if it is done correctly we will get positive feedback from our target market and them only. outside sources might have conflicts with these types of advertising but they are outside our target market so their opinions are not high on the list for the most concern issues with what is being displayed.
we can't win them all. we never will
Good points.
ReplyDeleteIn the articles given to you in class last Thursday, there is a term used within one of the articles called “shockvertising”. What is “shockvertising”?
Shockvertising is the use of shocking images and scenes to advertise something.
ReplyDeletea good example would be this ad I saw of a person with their mouth wide open but instead of it being their mouth it was replaced with an open toilet seat. the message depicted on their was "potty mouth"
"Shockvertising" = Combination of using fear, gore and offensive advertising to sell a product/service.
ReplyDeleteHere's an example of "shockvertising"... With a slogan of “Get Unhooked”, these print ads from UK’s Department of Health show young guys and girls literally hooked. And by hooked I mean a painful hook up their lips.
Check it out: http://www.trendhunter.com/photos/17109/1
hrm... i don't see the relation between smoking and getting hooked. they took something to the extremes and made it unrelatable.
ReplyDeleteDid you check out the campaign?
ReplyDeleteWhat affect does shock advertising have on consumers?
Because smoking is an addiction; therefore, you are hooked on nicotine.
ReplyDeleteWhat affect does shock advertising have on consumers?
ReplyDeletethat is true. you do get hooked, but like i said its taking things to the extremes and using a metaphors for display purposes. i see the relation and it was graphic. its very disturbing
ReplyDeleteit makes the consumer think, and depending on the effect it has on them will determine if they flip the page or read the article
ReplyDeleteWhat affect does shock advertising have on consumers?
ReplyDeleteThe affect shockvertising has on consumers... Different studies have suggested that shocking content in advertising increases attention and positively influences behavior; other studies show that consumers are more likely to remember shocking advertising content over content that is dull.
ReplyDeleteThere is little information of whether shock advertising leads to an increase in sales revenues or changes consumers behavior from one brand to another.
Any questions on shockvertising?
ReplyDeleteETHICS HOMEWORK REMINDER
- Mid-term exam questions to be handed in with a hard copy (including cover page) on Thursday, April 2nd
- Read article handouts given to you in class last Thursday
- Frankie: I'll review your blog article + questions, and get back to you today