Save the Whales Rally

Following Through

Social movements could use social networks as a way of organizing more rallies, marches, protests, and demonstrations as opposed to simply using it as a means of spreading information. Rather than just simply using networks such as Facebook to get your message and word out there, social movement could further and better use these networks as a way to organize actual movements in the public. They could announce when and where to meet and what the plan of the protest will be. By just sending out petitions and occasional reminders to call your senator or something of that sort, social movements are limiting their resources and not utilizing these social networks to their full capacity. The ability to reach people is there through social networks, but they don't set up a foundation for follow-through actions to take place and this is also partly the fault of the social movements as well. To get a full effect of a social movement people can not simply just sign a petition, which movements usually resort to through social networks. These movements could get more follow-through action through the networks by setting up live video chats where people can have discussions and debates. This will help people spread the word while also getting something done beyond just clicking a button.

Social Network Activism

Through Facebook I have experienced several different means of social activism. Many times I have been sent petitions to sign and invitations to join groups for a certain cause. These are the two most common forms of social activism that I have experienced where I have been approached rather than me myself going to join a campaign for an issue I am concerned about. One form of social activism that I participated in that was through the internet was in 10th grade when I helped pass out fliers to help spread the awareness of autism. Other than that I usually ignore most social activist groups or petitions that are sent to me via Facebook. I have signed of few of them online through Facebook such as a petition to legalize marijuana and a petition in November of 2008 to vote no on California's Prop 8. Other than signing these online petitions I didn't follow through on any of them, except for a Save the Whales petition that I signed and then actually attended a rally. The rally was definitely enlightening, but besides listen to people and what they had to say about whale hunting, I didn't feel like I did much for the cause.

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Effectiveness

The advertisement works effectively in selling the product because it is short and to the point. People just see Imperioli for a few seconds and the impression they get is the tequila is great because it pours itself and its for "macho men." Imperioli uses the hard, dark appeal of a mafia member to give the tequila a cool and more masculine appeal. On the surface the advertisement only seems like a harmless ad that is using a "mafioso" to help sell the drink with his hardcore attitude and persuasion. Now because people only see the surface because the ad is so short they buy into it and therefore, Imperioli is effective in selling the tequila. However, because no one takes the time to analyze the ad they never see the negative portrayal of Italian people in it and proceed to buy the drink. If people would delve deeper into it the ad would probably not be as effective.