Web Assignment #2

The purpose of this assignment is focus student attention on a particular class of advertisements as they exist on both the internet and on television. In order to complete this assignment, students will need to view a minimum of at least three commercials for Sports Utility Vehicles. These commercials should be dedicated solely to advertising a specific SUV model, not an entire line of vehicles (ie. the Expedition, not all Fords or the Escalade, not all Cadillacs). SUV commercials are broadcast in association with sporting events and news programming, but might come up at any time. It shouldn't take you long to find the appropriate commercials. After isolating and viewing three commercials, go to the websites for the companies that produce these vehicles and see how they are marketed and advertised. After viewing both the TV commercials and the websites, write a three to four page essay that explores the following questions:

1. What are the dominant themes and signs of the SUV commercials? What mood do they try to create or what values do they privilege? To which needs do they speak?

2. What are the differences between the SUV television commercials and the websites in terms of the elements from question number 1?

3. Read the following essay and explain whether or not you feel Huffington is off base in her analysis.

This assignment is due on March 13th in class.