Advertising CSP 1: OMO print advert

Advertising CSP 1: OMO print advert

1) What year was the advert produced?

The OMO was produced in 1955

2) How were women represented in most adverts in the 1950s? Add as much detail to this answer as you can as these are the social, cultural and historical contexts we will need to write about in the exam.

Socially woman were represented as housewives who slaved away cooking, cleaning and taking care of children all day. They weren't allowed to vote or have power over the male in their relationships. They also have been pictured to advertise the most for cleaning, cooking and or children products since they took care of everything at home. 

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

The style of the text is comic like and it makes it seem like the product is really good to use but also trying to make it seem like for woman that doing the laundry is fun because of the type of text design is almost kidlike.

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?

The costume is old school like some rags and a striped picnic blanket was sewn together to make it, the makeup is bright and flashy with layers of red lipstick to fit the 1950's beauty standards. It lets us know that women didn't really have a say in what they should do back then. 

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

There is a picture of a product so people know what it is when they go and buy it and if so to promote it more.

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

The colours red white and blue are all bright colours used to symbolise the women's happiness with doing the laundry and to make it seem more desirable.

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

It's as if the poster speaks to you saying what's good for you but using the language of words of affirmation to make doing laundry seem fun.

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

Women can be represented as cleaners, housewives and caretakers of the house and children. They are also represented as being the face of all ads to do with kids, cleaning and more.

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

The producers want the audience to believe that the adverts in 1955 are normal in their time and should be normalised.

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

In modern time and audience the representation of women would be frowned upon as women are more independent and have the option to do what they please now.