I always knew that product placement within TV shows was undeniable. You unconsciously see it everywhere, in every show. When I was brainstorming for Madison and Vine examples, I immediately went to this for some reason:
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| Has anyone thought why on every single season of American Idol they drink out of Coca-Cola cans?? For all we know, they could be drinking Pepsi! |
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| ?????? |
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| I mean, honestly. |
But I'm not going to talk about the outrageous product placement in American Idol. I am, however, going to talk about another beloved family TV show... Modern Family!!
Modern Family is probably one of my favorite TV shows (mainly because I wish my dad was as cool as Phil Dunphy :/). I used to watch it all the time, but I have to admit I've been slacking. When I was looking up examples of Madison and Vine, I saw one of Modern Family. I then looked up only Modern Family product placement, and I could not believe what I found! It seems as if every single scene has product placement, whether it's Oreos in the kitchen, or the kids on their iPhones. The show has managed to put a product in every single scene, and I didn't notice! How sneaky!
What went first through my head was, "No, this isn't actual product placement. This is just to enhance the effect that they are 'real-life people': they're a working class family with kids and a mini van..." and then I realized, well duh, that's exactly why the products are in there: to advertise with the "plain folks" technique. If Claire Dunphy can get through her hectic day with her Toyota, well by-golly I better look into a Toyota mini van! This is exactly the reason why the products are placed within the show, to make you unconsciously realize "I need this product because it will make my life easier. I need this product because it will make me look cool." Or even, "I need this product strictly because I saw it on a show."
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| An example of Phil trying to brainwash you. |
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| An example of EVERYONE trying to brainwash you. |
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| An example of Claire trying to brainwash you. |
Wake up, America!! The Dunphy's are trying to brainwash you!
I agree that in a way we are desensitized to product placement because we feel they are just trying to make the set more realistic to the "plain folk." But I guess I would have to ask if there is any way of knowing whether or not it is because they are advertising or if it is just to make the show seem realistic to our lives? Honestly, were the Dunphys using apple products because us "plain folk" are or are we using those products because the Dunphys are? The world may never know because the clutter of advertisement is far to large to escape, in my opinion.
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