Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Critical Mind- The Pepsi Monk

I have chosen a Pepsi commercial using Shaolin Monks to demonstrate the great taste and energy it can give you. Here is a link to the commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DykbPa4Lc

An easy first glance tells the viewer that the company behind this commercial is obviously Pepsi. However there were a handful of Shaoilin monks who gave their time for the shooting of this humerous Pepsi commercial. The funding of the money was supplied from the Pepsi company as they had all control over the content. The reasoning behind this assessment is that the whole focus is around training to be able to smash the Pepsi can with his head after indulging in a drink.
The target audience ranges from from children as young as 12 to adults in there 40's. I believe the use of Monks, who can be easily mistaken for Ninjas appeal to the younger era as they also intertwine some action into the minute commercial. By using a bit of action it draws the viewers in and gets the "blood pumping" as some like to say. The other side of it for an older audience is, it has a comedic tone to it and adults can find the humour enough to go out and purchase said product.
The text behind this commercial is the desire to be like the other Monks, and by doing so through the art of training body and mind for its final test. In this situation the final test is to smash the Pepsi can with the usage of a head and have and imprint left on the forehead.
The subtext is not, to become a Shaoilin Monk that is certain. But the absolute most underlying subtext of this commercial is strictly just purchasing Pepsi. Monks could be dancing around on the moon for 54 seconds and at the very end they pull out a can of Pepsi and drink it. The subtext in scenarios like these will always be the product, and in this case that is the Pepsi Company.
The message is effective to some and to others maybe not so much. It all depends on the person and how they are feeling at that moment of viewing, if they are thirsty but cannot think of something to drink and then see this commercial the action blended with the humour touched up with the Pepsi can might be enough to sell someone who is in dire need of a drink. Overall is the commercial effective, sure why not? It certainly is a goofy commercial.
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ADDED NOTES:

The symbol on the Shaoilin Monk's heads throughout the commercial is infact something similiar to what they do today. It is known as “香疤 (xiāng bā) which is a series of dots, not tattooed but imprinted with hot incense.
Another added note is that throughout the commercial the monks demonstrated a series of martial art moves that are labeled some of the 72 Shaoilin Monk Secrets. They are, “铁砂掌" (tiěshā zhǎng) which means iron palm, and “铁头功" (tiě tóu gōng) which means iron head.

RESOURCES:

http://resources.echineselearning.com/funstuff/funstuff-chinese-6.html

http://www.youtube.com/

Thursday, May 13, 2010

A world inside of ourselves.

The title pretty much is a 5 word summary of what I am going to rant about.

I have had numerous thoughts about what makes an actor famous, a writer renown, an athlete popular, and everything else in between. What is it about that level of fame that makes everyone else stop and wish, why couldn't I be like them. Well my thoughts come into play and ask that person, why can't you.

At birth we are no different then the next baby. I mean, guys what makes you different from Gerard Butler when you were a baby. Women, what makes you different from Scarlett Johansson when you were born? A whole lotta nothing, sure we all weigh in differently but heck what's that even matter in today's society? That then brings us to growing up, well jeepers not every famous person was raised in a high class family. In fact some of the best stories our about a single person or a group of people who came from nothing and ended up with everything. So you can't tell me having nothing your whole life is an excuse to not be something great. Thinking that puts you further behind in line to be the next famous actor, or director, writer, or athlete.

I believe fully that every single human being has within them a best selling novel, an Oscar winning movie, a track breaking record, a technological breakthrough. Every single person on this planet hones the capabilities to be something. It's the fear of not succeeding that seems to break down the hearts of those who try. But I say, what is not trying going to get you? A life worth of regret and wishing, why?

You read this now, and can think a handful of different things but for those who find this hard to believe, why can't you spend a year writing while you keep your day job or career. A year you say, too long? Well hard work takes time, patience and believing in yourself. A year out of your life to be something you dream of is far from a life time away. In fact spending that one year writing is more then the next person spending that year thinking, why can't I be something great? You work at a career(s) your entire life and during that time period you wish you wrote a book, directed a film or followed up on that College sports team. But yet who says anytime in your life is too late, why can't anyone decide to follow there dreams, regardless of their age.

The moment we begin to believe in ourselves and realize that each of us has the potential to be exactly what it is we dream of being, it is then when we find our true selves. Don't let the fear of failure or too much work get in the way of your dreams and true desires because the moment you break free of that you will find its easier to do what you dreamt of then even what you paid money for to learn a career. Bringing us back to Gerard Butler, he didn't know he was going to be an actor when he was born, no one did. But because he believed in his power of beating the odds within himself, he now finds himself dancing on the stars.

We start out this world equal, and with perseverance, motivation, a will to succeed and the belief in yourself can you become what you want. Remember, every single human on this planet has the potential to be the next Shakespeare, J.R.R Tolkien, Donovan Bailey, or Steven Spielberg.

**Stand your ground, or be buried in it.**