Glee Coach (Jane Lynch) does a PSA Commercial

The following is a public service announcement that uses the popularity of the "Glee" show characters to emphasize the body of the message:



Like most public service announcements (PSA) this ad has no focus on a product or service, but rather it searches to bring a powerful message to the viewers. The comparison technique is bold and somewhat repulsive in its vivid imagery. It shows the viewer that the r-word “retard” is no different from past popular racial slurs by having people of those racial backgrounds actually say the racial term. Additionally they say it’s not ok to be called by these various terms. The aim of this PSA is to bring awareness that this often-used word is hurtful and derogative; like every other racial slur, and should never be used.

The idea of awareness is shown through a progression of celebrities via a plain-folks method where the viewer sees associated characters (the final character being the coach from Glee) and reverting them to common people dealing with this issue. The viewer sees the characters played by the celebrities, but also sees them as a regular person like themselves and this brings the message to a personal level. It’s this leveling of the playing field that makes this form of advertisement so potent.

The placement of the various characters (a restaurant, a school setting, a grocery store) are all vital in creating this idea without being the focus. It’s a crucial development to the overall image being created for the viewer. The ad itself is not long (about 30 second in duration), but the succession and repetition of the message gives the viewer a very powerful message easily understood on a very intimate level through familiarity.

The message becomes clear at the very end when a girl with learning disorders delivers the final message. Her careful explanation paired with her obvious impairments reinforced with Jane Lynch’s final words plant the idea in the viewer’s mind. The image is a very powerful one with careful influence that feels very persuasive.

The idea of understanding through hearing the racial slurs paired with the girl created a cringing feeling each time I heard the words said. However the sheer simplicity of the message in tangent with the very short span of the ad made me believe that the advertisement is actually being targeted at a younger generation. Somewhere within the teenage years to early twenties when ideas passed from previous generations is battled out with awareness brought from current circumstances.

This generation tends to try to push the limits by using words and phrases even though they don’t entirely understand the full impact of them. Additionally this span is a generation with a shorter attention span that has to be catered to with carefully tailored ads that deliver full impact with a very progressive and very blunt message. This ad meets this entire criterion and would leave a lasting impression even though the ad was borderline offensive. I found it be engaging and filled with a truth that couldn’t make the same impact by using a softer technique.

South Albany High School Glee Give-a-Note Update.

Thank you for all the votes for South Albany High School's Glee Give-a-Note video. South Albany High School received 6442 votes and placed in the top 30 vote-getters for our region. The professional judging round is now in session and winners will be announced on December 15th. I'll keep you updated and let all of you gleeks know the results as soon as we are notified. In the mean time you can still support our High School Band, If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the band, contact the South Albany HS main office at 541-967-4555. Thank you!

To read more on the Glee Give-A-Note program click here.

Glee's Pot Of Gold.

I watched this episode on November 1, 2011 and I was very excited to spot some of the Glee Project winners appearing, my favorite character new to Glee is Rory Flanagan. Rory is played by an amazing Irish vocalist; Damian McGinty. His character is new to McKinley High School is suffering from harassment because he is the new student who also talks "funny". Brittany one of the ditsy cheerleaders believes him to be a leprechaun and required three wishes in order for her to help him make friends. This episode appears to be hinting that these two will be developing a relationship in the near future, which could only mean heart break for poor Santana another cheerleader who is currently hiding out in the closet. Along with this love triangle we are brought back to the adoption of Beth and her parents Puck and Quinn, both of whom want the baby back. How ever just to add more drama into this show, Puck's lips seem to find his teachers at the very end of the episode, who just so happens to be Beth's adoptive mother Shelby. I feel this show falls into the Drama field, as it certainly has it's fill of it! While watching this episode I found two commercials that seemed to run each break those were from Lowes and Nissan. Axe deodorant ran about three times, while the other two ran about five times. There were a few other commercials all seeming to be geared toward the young adult, or family audiences. These commercials were, Disney Parks, Lexus, Sprint, Kraft, and Tresemme. I feel that the advertisers have done a good job at reaching the correct audience by placing commercials that would relate to their lives.

Glee is filmed on a set, that was created to become a High School. The cast are high school students, and faculty. This show mixes drama with music so you have a musical feel as well as the drama produced by an ongoing storyline. Because Glee has such a huge variety of drama it does seem to be a typical young adult drama show, however Glee has mixed it up with music giving them a little edge and difference.

I feel Glee is full of stereo typing, you have the typical Joke, The ditsy cheerleaders, the flamboyant gay boys, and that female pe teacher who looks more like a male than female.

Wow, if I was a visitor from another country viewing Glee, I think I would feel much like Rory, I'd be very confused. We have such a huge diversity in our culture It may bring on a shock or two. I enjoy watching Glee, I love the actors and the music. The storyline with the student falling for his teacher is a bit much, but it is an issue we do deal with in today's society. I Can't wait for the next episode to see what happens and hear that amazing Irish ascent again.

South Albany High Glee Give a Note

 As a proud Rebel parent I do what I can to help our school. Lately I have been involved in many of the fund raisers at South Albany High School. As many of you know I am a single mother of four amazing boys, one of which is a high school football, wrestling, track, and rugby participant. My involvement in this high school has become very important to our family. Many of our Oregon schools are faced with harsh budget cuts, and many of the school programs would be dropped if it was not for the hard working parents at South Albany High School. I love Glee and boy was I excited when our band entered the Glee Give A Note Contest. Something as simple as voting every day can give our students the much needed money to replace broken instruments, new uniforms, storage for instruments and travel funds. Our youth is the future and what we teach them today will impact many to follow. Please take the time and help out a local school who could really use your support. All It takes is a simple click of your mouse, please remember to vote daily! If you happen to have a Facebook account and according to my amazing teacher 800 billion of you do, please share this link; could you imagine how many votes we could get if just half of us took the time to help a school in need? 

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