Visual Analysis-Advertising Evaluation

1920's ad for weight loss (www.corbis.com)

This activity contains 3 questions.

	The ad above from the 1920s presents a solution to a problem still current in the 21st century: weight loss. While it seems laughable now to believe that soap could take off fat, this ad has much to teach us about proposing solutions. Analyze the ad as an example of a visual proposal, rather than a written one. How effective is it? What does it assume about its audience and what that audience will find persuasive? What values and beliefs does this solution appeal to?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Now, find products currently on the market that offer solutions to this problem, solutions that seem to appeal to the same values and beliefs as this one from the 1920s. Use a search engine like Google, and cut and paste the http addresses in the space below.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

	Compare the current ads you found to this one. How are they similar and different in the ways that they appeal to their audience, define the problems, and offer solutions? What can you learn about writing a proposal from analyzing these ads from different time periods?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

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