On the cover of this month's GQ is a picture of Mila Kunis sipping from a cup with a green straw. Should not be a big deal, right? Read this article, and tell me what you think.
First off,let me tell you the can of soda was not the first thing my eyes went to when i first saw this pic(but i guess that's the point right?)im not quite sure why this picture shocks me but it does... as far as the drink is concerned i didn't see this is product placement because when i think of starbucks coffee i think about that domed shaped top the drinks have... the green straw sorta made me think starbucks... i guess it is... i like the quote from the article about photoshoping the logo out (= i guess if people can see the silhouette of a product without it's logo and be able to recognize it then it is a form of product placement~ lovas. anna*
I didn't mean to be provocative with this post--I found this on brandchannel.com and wondered what you all thought about this as product placement, especially after we did that product placement exercise in class.
My first thought was that I didn't really notice that it looked like a Starbuck's cup, so I'm sure there are others that did not either. Therefore, how can it be an issue.
However, then I realized, why would they even have her sipping on a coffee drink (from a soda type cup with straw) unless they wanted to draw attention to the product itself. It looks more like an ad, rather than an artistic photo shoot of a famous movie star. Therefore, it does seem more like product placement, especially since they chose to stick to a green straw rather than any other color available to them. And, the fact that there is coffee in the cup, seals the deal. GQ is fooling noone....
Unlike these two ladies, I did think Starbucks when i first saw this! I've never had a green straw anywhere but Starbucks, so that's what caught my eye first. Then, I noticed there was coffee in the cup so my assumptions were confirmed. I think this is product placement because normally on magazine covers the celebrity is the main focus, but I didn't feel like this was the case here.
Actually, the starbucks cup was the first thing my eyes went to! probably because I love startbucks so much....therefore, if I am thinking that it's a starbucks cup I'm sure other starbucks lovers are have the same opinion. I would have to agree with Amber that the cover does look more like an ad than a magazine cover. I instantly looked at Mila Kunis as relatable because most people love starbucks! I think it was an excellent idea to put a known product on the cover to draw attnention towards starbucks (even if this wasn't there intention). Makes the cover fun and relatable to other people. I like it
Yeah that cup definitely wasn't the first thing I noticed in the picture, and I love some Starbucks. Once I did notice the cup, it's pretty obvious that she is drinking Starbucks. It is a little odd to see a celebrity promoting something so random on the cover of a magazine, but it's genius. First off, who doesn't love Mila Kunis. Second, with her flat tummy and the whole purpose of the magazine being "look sharp, live smart" it's the perfect place to get Starbucks in the heads of the readers. If drinking Starbucks could make me look like her, I'd drink a whole lot more. She is definitely still the main focus, but I think it was very smart product placement.
When I first looked at this picture my eyes went directly to the cup with the green straw and the first thing that came to my mind was Starbucks. I thought it was very clever for them to put a well known product on the front cover of a magazine with a well known celebrity. This is great advertising and like Amy said it makes it more relatable to other people. It is also more obvious that it was a Starbucks cup because there is coffee in it. If advertising for Starbucks was not their intention, and they still wanted to use the cup, then they should photo-shop the liquid so it did not look so much like coffee. In my opinion, I think this was very smart and I like it.
@Dr.Mishra the cover didn't offend me... its just that i was shocked by it... and then i was shocked at how i was shocked by it because we live in a world that's fueled by sex and violence(we it comes to advertising).... so it's all good.... lovas anna*
At a glance I also didn't notice the cup/green straw; however, when I did notice she was holding something in her hand I immediately thought Starbucks coffee. I've never received a green straw from anywhere other than Starbucks and the coffee colored liquid definitely helps drive home the idea of Starbucks. So I do think it is product place meant. The label isn't necessary for most products to be identified anyway, apple products are easily identified without even seeing the actual apple. The magazine cover doesn't look like a typical cover photo but rather a sleazy version of a Starbucks ad.
I did not associate the clear cup with a green straw as a Starbucks placement. My initial gut reaction was that these guys had too much time on their hands. But then I remembered, they get paid to do that. How do I get that job?
As for the Sarah Palin cover, I feel many men and some women are afraid of her and as such have to attack everything she does. As for the fitness club, it's in Wasilla Alaska. Am I really going to go to Alaska to use the same gym Palin does? Really? If this were a man, would it be such an issue? I know, a man wouldn't wear such labeling. But a man would have no problem wearing an Armani suit. Isn't that the same thing? The only difference is that Armani isn't advertised all over it.
When I saw the ad I did think Starbucks. After doing a quick google search on Mila Kunis and Starbucks there are several photos of her spotted out and about with Starbucks cups that look very similar to the one on the GQ cover. To me it seems very much like product placement & I bet Starbucks will be selling a lot more iced coffees after this.
The cup was not the first thing I noticed in the picture. After noticing the cup I would not have known it was intended to be a Starbucks cup. I have only been in a Starbucks once as I am not a coffee drinker.
So do I think this is a product placement? Yes. The first I noticed in this picture was the cup with the green straw. As so as I saw it I immediately thought it was a Starbucks cup. Then I started wondering what a Starbucks drink had to do with a girl in barely any clothes. Personally, I think it is a little odd because if I think of a person drink Starbucks coffee I think of someone in a nice, comfortable, casual outfit, not a skimpy shirt and underwear.
At the same time though, I do think this will have more people buy Starbucks because it is illustrating a flashy, attractive woman, and some girls will do anything to look like her.
This is definitely product placement. It took me one quick glance and instantly I thought, "I wonder what she gets from starbucks that makes her have that bod??..." Those guidelines might be so but any true magazine reader will tell you that whatever outfit a super model or actress is captured in on a cover is noted inside. If the picture is capturing enough to get one's attention then you must assume that a % of the particular products on the cover will be bought at some rate due to that specific advertisement.
I did think that cup was a Starbucks cup at first! So, I do think this is product placement. Even without the logo, if you have been to Starbucks you'd recognize that cup anywhere.
Before I even read the article I notice the straw was green and it immediately reminded me of Starbucks. I go to Starbucks occasionally but I am not fanatic and I immediately recognized the green straw and compared it with Starbucks. Who else has green straws? In my opinion it was a huge product placement.
First off,let me tell you the can of soda was not the first thing my eyes went to when i first saw this pic(but i guess that's the point right?)im not quite sure why this picture shocks me but it does...
ReplyDeleteas far as the drink is concerned i didn't see this is product placement because when i think of starbucks coffee i think about that domed shaped top the drinks have... the green straw sorta made me think starbucks...
i guess it is... i like the quote from the article about photoshoping the logo out (=
i guess if people can see the silhouette of a product without it's logo and be able to recognize it then it is a form of product placement~
lovas.
anna*
I didn't mean to be provocative with this post--I found this on brandchannel.com and wondered what you all thought about this as product placement, especially after we did that product placement exercise in class.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was that I didn't really notice that it looked like a Starbuck's cup, so I'm sure there are others that did not either. Therefore, how can it be an issue.
ReplyDeleteHowever, then I realized, why would they even have her sipping on a coffee drink (from a soda type cup with straw) unless they wanted to draw attention to the product itself. It looks more like an ad, rather than an artistic photo shoot of a famous movie star. Therefore, it does seem more like product placement, especially since they chose to stick to a green straw rather than any other color available to them. And, the fact that there is coffee in the cup, seals the deal. GQ is fooling noone....
Unlike these two ladies, I did think Starbucks when i first saw this! I've never had a green straw anywhere but Starbucks, so that's what caught my eye first. Then, I noticed there was coffee in the cup so my assumptions were confirmed. I think this is product placement because normally on magazine covers the celebrity is the main focus, but I didn't feel like this was the case here.
ReplyDeleteActually, the starbucks cup was the first thing my eyes went to! probably because I love startbucks so much....therefore, if I am thinking that it's a starbucks cup I'm sure other starbucks lovers are have the same opinion. I would have to agree with Amber that the cover does look more like an ad than a magazine cover. I instantly looked at Mila Kunis as relatable because most people love starbucks! I think it was an excellent idea to put a known product on the cover to draw attnention towards starbucks (even if this wasn't there intention). Makes the cover fun and relatable to other people. I like it
ReplyDeleteYeah that cup definitely wasn't the first thing I noticed in the picture, and I love some Starbucks. Once I did notice the cup, it's pretty obvious that she is drinking Starbucks. It is a little odd to see a celebrity promoting something so random on the cover of a magazine, but it's genius. First off, who doesn't love Mila Kunis. Second, with her flat tummy and the whole purpose of the magazine being "look sharp, live smart" it's the perfect place to get Starbucks in the heads of the readers. If drinking Starbucks could make me look like her, I'd drink a whole lot more. She is definitely still the main focus, but I think it was very smart product placement.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first looked at this picture my eyes went directly to the cup with the green straw and the first thing that came to my mind was Starbucks. I thought it was very clever for them to put a well known product on the front cover of a magazine with a well known celebrity. This is great advertising and like Amy said it makes it more relatable to other people. It is also more obvious that it was a Starbucks cup because there is coffee in it. If advertising for Starbucks was not their intention, and they still wanted to use the cup, then they should photo-shop the liquid so it did not look so much like coffee. In my opinion, I think this was very smart and I like it.
ReplyDelete@Dr.Mishra the cover didn't offend me... its just that i was shocked by it... and then i was shocked at how i was shocked by it because we live in a world that's fueled by sex and violence(we it comes to advertising).... so it's all good....
ReplyDeletelovas
anna*
At a glance I also didn't notice the cup/green straw; however, when I did notice she was holding something in her hand I immediately thought Starbucks coffee. I've never received a green straw from anywhere other than Starbucks and the coffee colored liquid definitely helps drive home the idea of Starbucks. So I do think it is product place meant. The label isn't necessary for most products to be identified anyway, apple products are easily identified without even seeing the actual apple. The magazine cover doesn't look like a typical cover photo but rather a sleazy version of a Starbucks ad.
ReplyDeleteI did not associate the clear cup with a green straw as a Starbucks placement. My initial gut reaction was that these guys had too much time on their hands. But then I remembered, they get paid to do that. How do I get that job?
ReplyDeleteAs for the Sarah Palin cover, I feel many men and some women are afraid of her and as such have to attack everything she does. As for the fitness club, it's in Wasilla Alaska. Am I really going to go to Alaska to use the same gym Palin does? Really? If this were a man, would it be such an issue? I know, a man wouldn't wear such labeling. But a man would have no problem wearing an Armani suit. Isn't that the same thing? The only difference is that Armani isn't advertised all over it.
When I saw the ad I did think Starbucks. After doing a quick google search on Mila Kunis and Starbucks there are several photos of her spotted out and about with Starbucks cups that look very similar to the one on the GQ cover. To me it seems very much like product placement & I bet Starbucks will be selling a lot more iced coffees after this.
ReplyDeleteHere are the pics to see the cups comparison:
http://www.superphotospace.com/images/thumb/mila-kunis-starbucks-studio-city03_4df35c4703831-t.jpg
http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jj1/2011/02/kunis-sweats/mila-kunis-sweats-starbucks-09.jpg
http://www.thehollywoodstory.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/4a2aa_mila-kunis-starbucks-friends-house.jpg
http://milakunisweb.org/gallery/albums/CANDIDS/2011/June%2011%20-%20Mila%20spotted%20leaving%20%20Starbucks%20Coffee%20in%20Hollywood/normal_010.jpg
The cup was not the first thing I noticed in the picture. After noticing the cup I would not have known it was intended to be a Starbucks cup. I have only been in a Starbucks once as I am not a coffee drinker.
ReplyDeleteSo do I think this is a product placement? Yes. The first I noticed in this picture was the cup with the green straw. As so as I saw it I immediately thought it was a Starbucks cup. Then I started wondering what a Starbucks drink had to do with a girl in barely any clothes. Personally, I think it is a little odd because if I think of a person drink Starbucks coffee I think of someone in a nice, comfortable, casual outfit, not a skimpy shirt and underwear.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time though, I do think this will have more people buy Starbucks because it is illustrating a flashy, attractive woman, and some girls will do anything to look like her.
This is definitely product placement. It took me one quick glance and instantly I thought, "I wonder what she gets from starbucks that makes her have that bod??..." Those guidelines might be so but any true magazine reader will tell you that whatever outfit a super model or actress is captured in on a cover is noted inside. If the picture is capturing enough to get one's attention then you must assume that a % of the particular products on the cover will be bought at some rate due to that specific advertisement.
ReplyDeleteI did think that cup was a Starbucks cup at first! So, I do think this is product placement. Even without the logo, if you have been to Starbucks you'd recognize that cup anywhere.
ReplyDeleteBefore I even read the article I notice the straw was green and it immediately reminded me of Starbucks. I go to Starbucks occasionally but I am not fanatic and I immediately recognized the green straw and compared it with Starbucks. Who else has green straws? In my opinion it was a huge product placement.
ReplyDelete