Week Five: Activity #1

I have chosen a print advertisement for Proactiv to engage my students in a lesson on using visual information to explore and question a topic (WV CSO#  RLA.O.7.3.2). I would use this in a seventh grade classroom, but this activity would be appropriate for all adolescent students. By deconstructing this image, my students will be able to closely examine an advertisement and engage in critical analysis of the messages that the company is trying to convey to its audience.

Subtext: If you want acne out of your life, be like Katy, be confident, be in control, be Proactiv. My deconstruction of this advertisement: What does the text say? The text is bold and states values that teenagers would identify with (pride in not being polite, but being in control). The smaller text implies that Proactiv will elimate your acne and help you to be confident and in control like Katy Perry. What does the image say? The image is of a celebrity (Katy Perry) with beautiful skin (most likely photoshopped). There is also an image of the Proactiv system at the bottom. The image implies that Katy uses this skincare regimen to obtain her perfect skin and you can be like Katy too, if you use this product. She is almost posing in a seductive manner that would also catch most young adult's attention. Who is the magazines targeted market? This magazine advertisement is targeted toward teens and young adults, probably more to females than males. Proactiv used a celebrity pop star that most teens are familiar with who claims to use a product that most teens would consider using. This advertisement promotes the values that being hip and beautiful is all you need in life; they can lead to confidence and control, which are values that most teens embrace as important, by using a certain product.