Propaganda and the Bandwagon Approach

 Comp. I 12 October 2009 Propaganda and Bandwagon Approach Sell in New Geico Commercial In this bowling commercial they try to make bowling look easy. The new Geico commercial uses propaganda to state its idea through the accuracy of a caveman to make a strike bowling and sells using the bandwagon approach. Propaganda is a systematic effort to influence people’s opinions and win them over. The bandwagon approach signifies in this commercial to the audience that they are not cool unless they bowl with Geico car insurance. As the pin sweeper comes down it says, “Geico-Even a caveman can do it.” The new commercial gets a lot of confused and stunned publicity of viewers who are surprised at the ridiculous perspective. Both men, women, and families are targeted for this commercial. Men are the main audience at the very beginning since it is all males. They set the example of ridiculous air for the rest of the viewers to observe. The female role figure is left out although it still applies to them because they are also users of car insurance. It applies to children because they are likely passengers as well. Yet, it is pinpointed at the beginning towards men because all the cavemen bowling are males. The men are an image of what caveman days would be like without cars and insurance. The group of buddies together creates the bandwagon approach as they slap high fives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_eBmaPmGOo) The whole prop with the “Caveman can do it,” actually leaves out the ideal “perfect image” basis which ‘Killing Us Softly’ is based upon. It leaves an interesting turn of events and emphasizes that in contrast the ideal image is someone living in Caveman days who is simple-minded and who could also carry out getting Geico insurance. In contrast, there are two other competing car insurances. Safe Auto and Progressive car insurance are competing. All of which are alike but different. Safe Auto promotes helpful males. Using Justin Case’s name the commercial goes to represent a “Just in case” incident that could happen to anyone. In contrast, Progressive uses a bouncy image of a cheery, helpful woman who is jumping practically because she can help the consumer choose his own rate. In comparison, Geico makes those who don’t jump on the bandwagon look ridiculous with their out-there batting routine on car insurance. Although Geico’s commercial is made to stand out the way it is advertised so is Progressive and Safe Auto. They are all similar because they are selling insurance and use propaganda The approach with men is stereotypical for Geico. Differences are that the men are seen as hairy funky cavemen. The men are stereotyped to be each having that distinct caveman look. Out of date but present. Women’s differences are somewhat left out of the picture but influenced by the scene of the guys with their buddies. Differences are that women are seen as not important or relevant to the commercial and seen likewise close to the same debut. Although, women are predicted in other commercials as important, this one is left spacey and different towards the woman’s role in life. It is not stereotypical of the way women should be such as in “Killing Us Softly.” For example, in contrast the woman in the “Progressive Insurance” commercial is delightful and ecstatic. She is excited along with the consumer because they both save money using “Progressive Insurance.” Although she is skinny, she’s not advertised like a sex object unlike many commercials including models. Whereas, in previous Geico commercials with the Caveman at first, the women were Cavewomen too, taking us back in ages to a simplistic sense. Disappointedly, the women are mysteriously left out of this commercial though. Similarities include that both men and women are enticed to go with Geico car insurance. Both men and women are influenced to use Geico like the cavemen do. Also, Geico in similarity with the other two insurances also sell insurance in a unique manner. Safe Auto targets the wide group of the male and female audience. The women are portrayed as not cool unless they go with Progressive car insurance. Although women are not seen in the Geico commercial they are still targeted with the wide range of families who watch the commercial. Each insurance and audience plays a role in making a difference in each of the three commercials compared. It’s great that so much time and effort is put into creating these but the initial thought about ‘Killing Us Softly’ is exactly what the title says. Commercials can be deceptive, deceiving and above all explicitly contented when the need for it is not there. Many ads use sex to sell. Pleasure is used likewise to sell that much more. In the end the bandwagon approach with a mix of propaganda is what most of these commercials used.