Firstly, my social network, which is made up of my family and friends, are Macdonalds fanatics. They love to eat burgers such as McSpicy as well as the Fillet O' Fish burger. Therefore, you can imagine what it was like when the double fillet promotion came about; my friends would drag me to Mcdonalds and persuade me to eat with them (which I did) because they were my friends. Secondly, during the double filet promotion, I was made to choose between buying a single or double filet meal; I preferred to eat something more filling because I knew (knowledge) that the single meal would not be able to fill even a quarter of my stomach, therefore, I chose to get the double Filet O' Fish meal instead. This selection (choice) of my was due to individual characteristics.
Thirdly, mass media played a part in influencing my choice. The media had been constantly promoting Mcdonalds' new products and promotions. For instance, the commercial that Mcdonalds would have a lunch value from 12 noon to 3pm, was constantly aired on television as well as the radio. Therefore, if I wanted to save a buck or two, I would choose to get my fastfood lunch then.However, we should always be cautious about the media, because it could persuade us to get something that we do not really need. For example, the media announced that Mcdonalds would be giving out free glasses for every meal purchased to encourage consumers to buy the meals; many would fall prey to this.
Finally, our environment plays an important part in influencing our selection (choices); the American society lives and breathes Mcdonalds.
Whatever the case, I still think that if you enjoy your food, it does not matter what influenced you to choose it in the first place.
Hey there!
ReplyDeleteIm not a very mac fan and actually the ads make me kinda sick (maybe Im the abnormal?) But, with the bombarding of ads by different forms of media do persuade people to think twice about rejecting Mac. With its promotion and freebies, people who wants to get the most out of their money will be attracted to eating it. Thus, Mac is considered a very successful company in terms of advertising their products as up to 80% of Americans actually Mac as their main source of food and SG is catching up on this fastfood trend.
Food represents our most basic rights for making our own decisions. So, I do agree that it doesn't matter if the media protrays it as "food from heaven" or not. As long as we get to fill up our tummies with the food we love, it'll be the world's greatest blessings!
I agree that society has come to accept McDonalds as more than just fast food but choice food due to McDonald's consistent promotion of itself. They advertise regularly and constantly come up with gimmicks to draw consumers in to buy their food; the latest gimmick being the monopoly game in Singapore. However there have been counters, such as the movie 'Super Sized Me' which is a documentary film. It is hard though, for one such movie to go against the many media means McDonalds already has in place.
ReplyDeleteRachel Lim
I AGREE GIRL!!!
ReplyDeletehmmm during the double fillet o fish promotion, i dint once touched the double fillet o fish burger, cos i was on a huge massive diet and me being me, chose NOT to touch anything's tt's oily or high in cholestrol or causing me to sleep after lunch.
yes, mass media certainly had a part to play in whatever we select. My dad once told me, an advert only stays on screen for abt 3 secs, but the image lasts forever. i agree with him, because, i once saw a pair of shoes i wanted on the ad, and i wanted to get it asap when it flashed on screen :)
Next, the mass media hid alot of facts from us in their pursuit of profits. did you noe that a single fillet o fish burger has abt 350 cals, while a mcspicy burger has abt 538 cals. (if i'm not wrong) Furthermore, eating too much oily food is not good for ur heart as all the fatty acids accumulate... (i'll stop my preaching here, but you get my pt)
However, the last point i want to recommend mcdonalds for is their brand recognititon. As long as there's a promotion, people will want to try it or even buy it. Recently there's this monopoly game for consumers to play... you mite want to try it out! =)
Mac's presentation of itself as a choice food is indeed incorporated deeply into our minds through mass media, especially through advertisements. however it is also the availability and constant practice of the members in society to go to mac for the convenience that has helped establish their power in the market
ReplyDeleteIt's very true. I actualy like Mac more than KFC or other fastfood. It's simply because I see it on the TV so many times that I thought eating Mac will make me happy haha. But on the contrary, following what your peers eat may create disastrous effects on your own health.
ReplyDeleteTake for example, during my 2 whole years in JC, my classmates and I were frequent customers of Mac. This is because there's place to talk cock and more budget food for us to eat. But we've never taken into account the number of burgers we eat are actually not giving us enough nutrition as compared to other food like vegetables and fruits. And this in turn results in people growing fatter and fatter, deteriorating their precious health.
What we eat are what we are. If you want to eat, choose wisely.
i like the idea of this post.
ReplyDeleteits very hard to deny the effect of the mass media and influences. i find my choices inclined to those items i see on advertisements and McValue lunch is one of them. it is such that it is kept at the back of my mind and when i am made to make decisions during lunch, Mac always has a part to play because i was informed in advance of the promotion.
however, i dont really go there often because of my "individual characteristic" such that i prefer staple food than bread as lunch!
hey!
ReplyDeleteI guessed im not one of your friends who loved fastfood but i do have friends like yours!
The impact of Mcdonaldlization is prominent where you can find mcdonalds easily in every part of Singapore.This shows the influence on Singapore food industry.
The advertisements on the various products they have showing the succulent meat and tasty veggies definitely attract more customers to purchase their food. Not to forget the mclunch deal.
Media is one good medium to disseminate information hence that's why mediacorp came up with the MAE (media advertising enquires) hotline for companies to advertise their products.Both benefit in some way or another.
=)
To Rachel Lim SY
ReplyDeleteMacdonald has indeed come up with advertisements to promote their new monopoly gimmick. Have you checked out the latest ad where two women found out that they had gotten sentosa cove and were thrilled that they earned a prize?
To commtalks
ReplyDeleteI caught the Mediacorp advertising advertisement and thought it was a brilliant idea from the latter. The advertisement was entertaining and funny; a guy in the background was waving a huge cardboard and advertising for his food store. This move use logos, the appeal to reason, because I believe that no one wants to waste their precious time and effort on waiting for a news crew to arrive and advertising then...it sure made me laugh.
To anorexia>.<
ReplyDeleteThe media can be very misleading because at the end of the day it is the profit reaped from these advertisements that counts.