Originally published: 3/3/2014 | 10:05pm
If there is one thing I know about being American, it is our love of food. We are a culture that can easily be defined by food. Though not all Americans are amazing cooks, there is a genuine appreciation for a home-cooked meal in the American culture. For those that do cook, the activity is seen as a hobby and joy at home. For those that do not cook, the idea of a meal cooked at home is fascinating, but they do not mind eating pre-packaged or dine in/out meals. Americans also like TV. So how can both of these audiences come together for entertainment? The Food Network created the answer to this question after observing the success that cooking shows had found over last several decades. The actual shows gain the attention of avid cooks, and the commercials attract the non-cooks while the show serves as "background music" to whatever they may be doing. The advertisements on this network tend to promote items that are basically ready to eat when purchased at the store, along with previews for any upcoming shows throughout the week. In my English class, we were assigned to watch the Food Network for an hour and pay close attention to the ads we saw as we watched. I was able to come up with the following:
1) All of the commercials could relate to a trip to the supermarket when they weren't previews for upcoming shows. Though there was an ad for vacation related stuff, I figured it was due to spring break drawing near.
2) Though there were several car commercials (Buick, Mazda, Hyundai, and Carmax), I still thought they fit in with the supermarket theme. For many, personal vehicles are their best source for getting to and from the store. Plus, if you are driving a car to the store, you will need car insurance. Yes, this was advertised as well (Geico). You will also need health coverage if you just so happen to have any issues arise (Physicians Mutual Insurance). If you happen to be getting too many groceries to fit both your children and purchased items, you can hire a babysitter as advertised by Care.com. Once you are at the store, you will likely have trouble seeing the small print on everything. Lens Crafters had an advertisement on glasses specials. There seems to be commercials for every little part of a shopping experience.
3) The actual items for sale in a supermarket are advertised, too. This includes products ranging from Folgers coffee to Ore-Ida Fries, Planter's Peanuts to Mucinex, and Dial soap to Febreze. After finding all the items you need, you go to check out. You then pay with a credit card, which according to the Bank of America ad should be with their bank for the best shopping experience. After a long day of shopping at the supermarket, you should stop at Subway to get something to eat. They advertised a lovely deal for a sandwich and drink combo.
These are typical commercials that you can easily find on other stations, but in the American culture there is a science to advertising. I even saw a Sears Appliances commercial (I believe that was for those who enjoy cooking)! Companies try to reach out to the audiences without getting in the way of the program too much. The ads appear to correlate with the television station. They all aim to make getting food easily, which is very important to Americans. We don't typically enjoy having that "climbed a mountain" feeling just to get some food in our stomachs. Americans like to see, smell, taste, and hear about food. For those that cook, they gain fulfillment by watching programs about food while others just watch commercials and run to the store. It is all about convenience. I'll end this post by saying, "Enjoy your next meal, whether it be homemade or from a fast food restaurant, or even a supermarket!" Happy eating and culture appreciation!
