As I walked
through my neighborhood at the University of Nevada I observed the ads all
about. Two different types of ads were noticeable. One being the kind that
invite me to be a consumer and spend my money on things that really aren't necessary
and one that tries to get me to be a better citizen by student participation. We
are engulfed in a world of consumerism.
The ads I
see around campus are for the commercial companies that have been brought to
campus. I'll focus on Starbucks in this case. The symbol of the mermaid thing
on the cup is so embedded in our brains. We immediately know what it stands for
and what it means. Is this good or bad? While having brand identification is
good in some ways because it create easy ways to identify a product by consumer
desire, it has it down side as well. It is as if the brand and the company have
got us on a leash to pour money into a giant corporation that will most likely
never do anything for us but provide that product.
There are
other signs on compass that encourage citizenship and involvement. There are
banners on how the university is a top tier research university. These are
trying to get us to evoke a feeling of pride for our university. If care for
our school more, do well, and graduate. We will spread good word of the school
and give it a good reputation. From this more students will attend the school
to create a larger learning institution increasing the quality of education and
the quality of citizens that will emerge from that institution.
The thing
is I can pass all these ads by when I am on campus because of who I am on
campus. I am a student who is engulfed in my own work. I don't have time for
the consumer ads to suck me in..
You should really check out the Reno Bike Project they are a great organization made of a lot of cool young dudes that are genuinely motivated to get people biking.
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