Thursday, September 13, 2012

Walking Journal #4


PROMPT: As you move through your neighborhood, consider the role of advertising. What kinds of ads do you see/encounter? Where are they and what forms do they take? Do the advertisements in your neighborhood reflect neighborhood values? Your values? How do they influence you? Are the ads you encounter inviting you to be a consumer, a practicing citizen, or both? Do you agree with their messages? How easy is it to just pass them by?

As you walk through campus, there are a plethora of advertisements: Greek life, the Joe Crowley Student Union, Wolf Shop, football, and bulletin boards advertising upcoming events. The common theme of all these advertisements? Wolf pack! The majority of advertising that I see on campus has a common theme of supporting some aspect of the University. There are trifold posters and dedicated students advertising Greek life, flags on the way to the Joe advertising restaurants and the Wolf Shop, and bulletin boards. Bulletin boards are everywhere on campus: from the dorms to the Joe, there are bulletin boards on every open wall, advertising everything from upcoming concerts to intramural volleyball tournaments. Then there’s the students: the students themselves are a form of advertisement. Students wearing Blue Crew shirts, wearing shirts dictating students to shop at the Joe, and students wearing shirts depicting Greek life. Advertisement is literally everywhere on campus.

The advertisements on campus reflect aspects of the University. My neighborhood values are reflected by advertisements: the University is my neighborhood, and all aspects of the University are reflected in the advertisements.

I have to say, the advertisements on campus are quite influencing. When you live at the University, spend most of your time on campus, and are surrounded by advertisements promoting more aspects of the University, it’s easy to get caught up in University life. And the ads aren’t directed at a specific facet: whether you’re a consumer wondering where to buy that Nevada sweatshirt or a citizen wondering how to get involved in the campus, the ads around campus tackle it all.

Advertisements on campus are endless. There are advertisements for just about anything University-related, with enough variety that there’s sure to be something for everyone. It’s hard to ignore all of these advertisements – whether you’re walking to class or looking for upcoming events, there are advertisements in every nook and cranny of the University. 

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