OMO advert CSP blog tasks

1) What year was the advert produced?

1955

2) How were women represented in most adverts in the 1950s?

They were represented as housewives, mothers and had to be subservient to men. 

3) How does the heading message ('OMO makes whites bright') and the typography promote the product?

The heading message and typography promotes OMO because it mentions the name of the product and the benefits of using it. It also promotes the product as the words bright and white are repeated many times illustrate how desperate they are for people to buy their product.

4) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the advert (CLAMPS): how is costume, make-up and placement of the model used to suggest women's role in society?

Costume : The rolled up sleeves may suggest how women need to be hardworking when doing housework.

Make-up : The excessive amount of make-up used may suggest how women are expected to look perfect even when doing housework.

Placement : The placement of the women suggests how women are always supposed to be doing housework. 

5) Why is a picture of the product added to the bottom right of the advert?

So the audience can recognise the product whenever they go to the store and can buy it. 

6) What are the connotations of the chosen colours in this advert - red, white and blue?

The British flag. Most adverts at the time had a colour scheme of red, blue, white. 

7) How does the anchorage text use persuasive language to encourage the audience to buy the product? Give examples.

They use their slogan ' Omo makes whites Bright! ' many times in the anchorage text. Omo do this to make this their unique selling point. They also do this to show how clean and bright Omo makes your clothes.

8) What representation of women can be found in this OMO advert? Make specific reference to the advert and discuss stereotypes.

The representations of women that can be found in the OMO advert are that they have to look perfect when they are doing housework. This can be found where the women in the advert is wearing an excessive amount of make-up to show how women are meant to look perfect when doing housework. Another representation is that they have to be happy when doing housework. This can be found where the women has a massive smile on her face in the advert to show how women are meant to be happy when doing housework.   

9) What is the preferred reading for this advert - what did the producers of the advert want the audience to think in 1955?

The preferred reading of this advert might have been to promote OMO washing powder and show how it turns your clothes more brighter and whiter. The preferred reading may also been how it is the perfect item for women because the advert shows a women smiling after using the product. 

10) What is the oppositional reading for this advert - how might a modern audience respond to this text and the representation of women here?

The oppositional reading of this advert might have been that women have to stay at home and do all the housework and have to be perfect at all times. The oppositional reading may also be that women have to be happy and excited to do housework.