Amazon’s advertisement: “We are the People With the Smile on the Box,” brought media ecologist Neil Postman to mind. On page twenty of his book Technopoly, he says: New technologies alter the structure of our interests: the things we think about. They alter the character of our symbols: the things we think with. And they … Continue reading
Category Archives: Commercialization
Advertising / Commercialization / Family / gender / Grandparents / Parents
Gender Identification Begins…
This was originally posted on February 28. I’m updating because I want to add JeongMee Yoon’s work: “Pink is For Girls….” from Slate.com “The consumer embryo begins to develop in the first year of existence…Children begin their consumer journey in infancy…and they certainly deserve consideration as consumers at that time.” James U. McNeal, Pioneering Youth … Continue reading
Video Games: Whence Do they Lead?
This is one of those posts that address pieces that have appeared in the media and I didn’t address at the time. July 2, 2011: Virginia Heffernan’s piece How Games Steer Us Through Life appeared in the Opinionator section of the New York Times. I’d like to bring a few things to light about this … Continue reading
Advertising / Commercialization / Girls / Media / Parents / Teachers
Girls’ Lockers: Moms and Marketers Stay Out!
When I read the October 9, 2011 New York Times Article “Middle School Girls Unlock a World of Their Own, in Miniature” my first reaction was – well, to squelch my first reaction – repulsion. Taking offense at school locker decorations (and companies creating demand for certain kinds of “locker furnishings”) might mean I’m a … Continue reading
Healthy Media Choices 