Nibbles: Junk food ad ban stirs controversyThe British agency in charge of deciding how to regulate junk food advertising aimed at children has announced its plan: a total ban on ads for foods high in salt, sugar or fat during programs aimed at children 16-years old and younger. No junk food ads will be allowed on children’s networks, during children’s programs on any channels, or during shows that have a reasonable expectation of attracting young viewers. Health advocates say the ban doesn’t go far enough, and that all junk food ads should have been banned on all channels before 9 p.m. Food industry representatives called the proposal “over the top” and “very tough” …

Meanwhile, the government of Spain is calling on Burger King to pull ads for itsXXL Burger. They say promotions for the giant sandwich violate an agreement in the industry not to promote huge portions. Spanish officials say that the XXL burger, pictured above, packs 971 calories…Both diet and exercise are helpful for losing weight, but people in their 50s and 60s should add exercise to their routines to stay strong. A study by researchers in St. Louis found that people who exercised gained muscle mass, increased aerobic capacity and lost weight, while those who only dieted lost muscle mass, strength and aerobic capacity along with their weight. Researchers suggest those who lost weight loss muscle because their muscles did not have to work as hard carrying them around…

Earlier this month, the compound resveratrol was in the news for helping mice live longer, even when they had bad diets. Now it has also been shown to increase endurance inmice. Researchers found mice given the compound, which comes from grape skin, could run twice as far as other mice. Their muscles were supercharged and their heart rates slowed, just like if the mice were endurance athletes. It’s thought that the compound could help humans with diabetes and other ailments, and perhaps even prolong life…Finally, a Brazilian model who had battled anorexia has died. Ana Carolina Reston was 21 years old, five foot eight and 88 pounds at the time of her death, brought on, doctors say, by an infection her body was too weak to fight because of her anorexia. Reston’s mother said she had recently noticed something was wrong with her daughter and urged her to eat more, but that she had also been bulimic.http://calorielab.com/news/2006/11/17/nibbles-junk-food-ad-ban-stirs-controversy/Ring Finger

At first glance this billboard was pretty shocking to drivers on Signal Mountain Boulevard in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But upon closer inspection they got the

joke. While the lady in this local jeweler's ad is indeed giving the finger, it's the ring finger, accompanied by the tagline "She's tired of waiting." Photo courtesy of cwalker71 via Flickr.

http://www.womansday.com/life/a1617/10-controversial-billboards-107570/

design, the message can be completely lost, or even misinterpreted in a negative way.

This is an example of an advertisement that can easily be misinterpreted. When I first saw this ad, I did not understand the message at all. It reminded me of the “Speak no evil” campaign in support of helping people with AIDS. It also made me feel like the employee is trapped, or can’t say what he wants to say. After researching the real meaning of this ad, I found out what the ad was really trying to communicate. The bucket says “Finger Lickin’ Good”, and the tape is there to prevent the employee from eating the customers food, implying that the food is too good to resist. This ad employs the use of the “ethos” form of appeal, since it suggests that the employee wants to eat someone else’s food, but isn’t allowed. Even in the misinterpreted version of the ad, it still plays on “ethos”, because we as the audience might feel that it is unethical to put tape across someone’s mouth, regardless of the reason why.

In conclusion, it is of vital importance to consider the different interpretations that may be taken by the viewer. In visual communications, semiotics are often used, but we must be aware of the negative repercussions that may occur if we misuse these symbols. We must consider demographics, values and lifestyles of the target audience, and we must also take note of other ads to ensure our own can not be wrongly associated with one.

http://cmn448f1241.blog.ryerson.ca/category/uncategorized/