Mall post

My recent visit to the mall was a real eye opener. When I started looking for different things like advertisements and looking at what people did when they were at the mall and how it was set up, I was blown away. I had never actually realized how every mall has the same general structure to it, or how every bit of usable space has an advertisement for something on it. It was amazing how the film and the reading were dead on about what happened in the malls. The workers at the mall are all using similar advertising techniques as to how they approach you and try and sell you something, you know a good sales person when they come at you in a different way though. The way the malls are always in pristine condition, clean floors, ceiling, walls, and even the fake trees are clean and look as good as the day they were bought.

mall post

We sometimes never realize things until we actually look for them. I realized this when I went to the mall this weekend after watching 'The Persuaders' and reading an article. Advertising has almost got to the point where sometimes we find ourselves buying something simply because the man or the woman in the shop said 'Oh that looks great!' or the famous 'You won't regret buying this'. These men and women use certain phrases and lines that appeal to the average buyer. They make it seem as they know what you're looking for and they appeal to you in a way that makes you want to buy anything and everything. They are sometimes almost arrogant in the way they do this and will pretty much say anything in order to try and sell you their product. 

One of the things that really stood out to me all of a sudden was shop posters, advertisements and shopping bags. Many of them have images that some would consider inappropriate. The mall is pretty much a big trap that draws its 'prey' in. We are simply pulled in by images, smells and sounds. Our malls today know how to appeal to us perfectly. 

Mall Post

Today, me and a couple of friends went over to Woodland Mall to check it out with the knowledge we gained from the article and video we watched in class. This time, when we went to the mall we tried to be more conscious and aware of the people and the way the store advertised and lured us in to the stores. One of the traps I personally fell into today and a couple of weeks ago was the “buy one get one” deal in most of the stores. The deals lured us into their stores and convinced us to buy unnecessary stuff just because of the deal. To think of it, yes, it is a pretty good deal but sometimes we tend to end up making stupid decisions while trying to be smart shoppers. These deals trick us by letting us be unaware of the fact that not all the items are the same price. And in these deals you pay for the highest priced ones. So if you happened to not be aware of the price of both of the heels because of the word “SALE” on it, don’t check the proper prices on it and don’t check the receipt you might end up with two useless pairs of heels for more than 70 bucks instead of the price you thought of which was way lesser than 70 bucks and the bigger problem is that you don’t always get a chance to get a refund because it was on a special clearance sale. But thank God! Today, I was a smart shopper thanks to the awareness of the persuasions of the brands. So I guess the persuasions of the stores aren’t always a rip-off. And I was also able to truely understand why some people think malls are like churches. As soon as you step in the store people come up to you to share the products and events and sales from that products which is like how churches try to reach out to other people and evangelize to everyone about Gods love.

Shopping: Not just for the Parents - a look at the Lakes Mall

This weekend, I went to the Lakes mall in Muskegon with my boyfriend and his three younger sisters (Leah - 13, Abby - 10, Justina - 6). During this trip, my eyes were opened to some new tricks of the advertising trade.

Being the youngest child, this was one of the first times I had gone shopping with “little sisters,” and it make a very big difference. First, we went to Old Navy. Right when we came in the door there was a table with crayons and coloring pages - at which Justina yelled “CAN I COLOR?!” She was instantly drawn to things she found familiar...and somewhere she would sit and stay in one spot. This would be very helpful for a busy mother who wants to shop. Rather than having a child at her side wanting to leave, they would be distracted, leaving more time to browse - and buy.

Another interesting thing to draw children in were the amount of fake dogs in the mall. Old Navy had a dog, which Justina just HAD to check out. Victoria’s Secret also had a plush dog right inside the door. When she saw the dog in Victoria’s Secret, she ran ahead to check out the plush dog, calling me to come check it out. How handy for the stores - draw the children in with the fun plush animals so that the parents will also come in and start browsing - hopefully leading to more sales.

Businesses are using children to bring the parents into stores, and once inside, keeping children busy so that parents can shop. So now the question is - who is taking who shopping? The parents might be looking for something, but are willing to go almost anywhere to make their children happy - especially on a long shopping day. Just one more way the stores get more people to see more products and buy more stuff. Now, a fluffy plush dog can lead to the purchase of a $40 dollar push up bra.

Rivertown Mall

Full of stores and pretty decorations, the mall has been a place of beauty to me. Going to the mall has always been a big part of my life. It's the spot where I've gotten all my clothing and all my gifts for my relatives. It has been an innocent way to spend my time. After reading the article by Jon Pahl and watching The Persuaders I went to the mall this past weekend with a different outlook.

I noticed more how the mall is set up to subtly draw you in. The mall is truly a captivating piece of architecture. In Rivertown Mall there is a giant window that replaces the ceiling in the main "intersection" of stores. The mall takes advantage of natural light. Not only is the natural light gorgeous, it also makes you feel like you are in a place that cannot be compared to any other location. The natural light makes you feel as though the mall deserves all of your time and attention. Another noticeable feature within the mall is the plant life. It may seem subtle but everywhere you look you can spot an exotic looking plant located near you. These plants send you a message. They symbolize life and peace. These plants send a message that tells one not to "count the cost", as Jon Pahl puts it. Before reading the article by Jon Pahl I would have never caught on to these things and I believe that is the mission of the mall.

The mall doesn't want you to think about what you are doing while you are there. After this weekend trip I decided to truly think about the mall and what it does to my heart and mind. I have not changed my opinion that the mall is a place of beauty. Although, after thinking more about what the mall can do to manipulate someone I have changed my mind on it's innocence. The mall always seemed like an innocent way to spend my time but buying all my clothes and gifts for relatives didn't seem so innocent after this past visit. Now I know that the feeling of, "I want to buy something" isn't coming from within, it's coming from the surroundings.

Mall Post

As I went to the Woodland Mall this weekend, I was amazed at how what the movie and reading pointed out, was true in this small shopping center as well. The obvious signs were those of the people selling the products, especially those with the kiosks in the center of the halls. These sellers, as would approach you forcefully as they attempted to get you interested in their product, at times reducing to insulting you to say that you needed it. They used words that appealed to the senses, often sight and scent, as did fragrance or colorful products. This word usage caused you to picture what they were trying to describe and, in doing so, cause you to associate that positive image with their product. Another thing was the bags of popular stores among teenagers, such as Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch, which displayed scantily clad models posing in ridiculous ways.  If they are posing with the opposite sex, they are usually kissing, staring deeply into each other’s eyes, and always touching. Another surprising aspect of the mall was its layout. It seemed just like the other malls that I have gone to. Woodland, though, has a Starbucks right in the center of all the stores. It is as if the layout is saying that tension, exhaustion, and agitation could all be forgotten and eased as you come to the center and have a relaxing cup of coffee. Especially for the parents of the kids in the play area. 

Woodland Mall

I've lived in Grand Rapids for almost two years now, and Woodland Mall is basically the only mall I've ever known during my time here. There's nothing special about it. It's basically like every other mall I've been to. There's an Abercrombie store, a Footlocker, a Victoria's Secret, and a Sbarro's, just like any mall in the United States. But after reading John Pahl's article and watching The Persuaders, I found myself with an eerie vibe as I strolled through the mall which I had become so accustomed to. Everywhere you look, there's an example of advertisement and consumerism's effect on people. The Barnes & Noble store shovels out self help books for the unfulfilled masses. The Apple Store shows off it's overpriced technology for those who just "absolutely need" the newest iPhone, iPad, or Macbook. Every clothing store has an unrealistic image of how the typical male and female "should" look. And to top it off, everyone is sedated by the warm goodness of a Wetzel's Pretzel. After taking all this in, it dawned on me; I'm walking in the Empire's church. The mall is the house of worship, every advertisement is scripture, prayer is reduced to spending, and the people are the broken followers who look to be redeemed by their almighty savior: image.

From Figgy Puddy to Fitness- The New Year's effect on Malls

Tis' the season to get fit. This at least according to the Lakes Mall in Muskegon. Every store seemed have a deal to hook up buyers with a new pair of yoga pants or a sweat licking t shirt. Images of fit individuals plastered the walls of both the mall interior and stores themselves. Thus indirectly sending the message that if in fact if one bought these clothes they could become fit or at least look good doing so. Words like active and fit seemed to jump off the posters screaming at the buyer. It seemed the only place the theme of fitness was not being observed was in the food court. Although I have a hard time picturing Auntie Anne's Pretzels putting together a campaign for healthy living.
It wasn't merely words and images that contributed to the message of fitness. The colors used painted a picture healthy living and fitness. Colors like green and pastel blues gave a relaxing feel to the customer. The clothes themselves were colored with bright neon colors making all the other clothing items seem dull or boring. All that was missing was a gym which shoppers could use to start their fitness journey.
However, Old Navy must have heard my sarcastic comments because when I entered the store it was a fitness zone. Multiple fitness gyms had booths set up at the front of the store pitching their business. One in particular had hula hoops that shoppers could try out in the store. The demonstration came complete with the store manager hula hooping smiling decked out in Old Navy Active apparel. This was by far the far the most over the top "advertisement" I saw all day. My question was how effective could that be? After thinking about it I thought well someone could go into the store seeking to buy let's say a jacket and after trying the fitness thing be convinced both that getting in shape would be a good idea and they need new fitness wear to do so.
I couldn't help but laugh as I left the mall. These people buying the fitness gear would walk out of the mall feeling good. They were in some cases going to turn everything around and get fit. This would work for some and not for others, but likely in both cases both these folks would end up at the same mall at a later date either to buy more clothes because they lost weight and could not fit into their old ones and others would be depressed and need a shopping trip to brighten their spirits.

Mall Trip

I guess I am one of those guys who, as John Pahl puts it, was taught to "disdain the mall." But, the mall isn't so bad if you don't spend too much time there. It’s because the mall has something for all everyone, and it can apparently satisfy our every want or need. I could go play video games, get a massage, get a haircut, and eat lunch all in the same place. Parents can watch their kids in a designated play area. Readers can go to Barnes & Noble. Coffee addicts can go to Starbucks, the center of the whole mall, to get their fix. (Our entire society is literally built around coffee). And, besides the skylights, there are rarely windows to the outside. It's as if to convince us that there is no reason to leave. The mall has its own plants, water, and light. It's basically the same as outside except with climate control.

After watching The Persuaders and reading John Pahl's writing on the mall, I have become more aware of the religious lifestyle the mall presents to us. Instead of stained glass windows or images of the cross, this church has images of stylish, happy people with their fashionable clothes. Looking at these pictures, we are made to believe that the clothes caused them to be happy, and that maybe somehow inanimate objects are the main source of happiness. We unknowingly put our faith into these objects. But, the happiness we get from them doesn't last as long as we would like, so we have to make return trips.

Reel Injun

Reel Injun, directed by Neil Diamond, is a movie about the portrayal of Native Americans. It shows how in different time periods Native Americans were portrayed in different ways. In the movie it shows what was portrayed incorrectly about the Native Americans for example it showed how they all wore headbands, while only one tribe of Native Americans actually did that. In a review written by James Adams he says that the film is informative on how Native Americans have been shown on screen and how these films have shaped peoples thoughts about them. This is very true again for the example of the headbands only one tribe wore them but then all the Native Americans in the movies started to wear them. I have always known that everything in the movies is not true but watching this confirmed that. This makes me think that I should not just rely on the movies to tell me about things but rather do some research to find out what is actually true. It is important also not just to go off stereotypes, but rather figure out how somebody really is. It also makes me wonder what other things are stereotyped about other groups of people. It makes me wonder if I am thinking something to be true that in reality is completely not. One thing that I thought was funny was when the Native Americans were filming for a movie they would have to speak their native languages and would make up their own lines. Then in response the American would say their lines and the whole conversation would not really make sense, but it was a way for the Native Americans to get back at the Americans.

Woodland Mall

The entire time I was reading the article by John Paul, I could picture in my mind taking a walk through Woodland Mall, and I could very quickly connect many of his descriptions to the things that I would stroll by frequently but never fully notice. Actually going to the mall after reading the article helped confirm what I had been picturing, and the parallels between what Paul was writing and what I was seeing were slightly unnerving. For instance, I noticed that the vast majority of the floor within the mall is a gleaming white tile, which never seems to wear or dirty. Also, the ceiling is white and arched, with gentle white lighting floating down, along with the large amounts of skylight that let in natural light. The highlight of the mall for me was the very center of the building. Four large pillars reached toward the ceiling, and in the center of them sat the cornucopia of a caffeine addicted nation: Starbucks. Standing in line almost felt like standing in a plastic forest, due to the large amount of fake trees spread throughout every corner of the building. All of this pleasantry does it's part to make the loud advertisements surrounding you slightly less intrusive. The amount of effort that the mall puts into making the building feel inviting and soothing is quite astounding. Despite the words 'SALE' and 'THE SEASON'S HOTTEST TREND' coming from just about every other store front, the mall does indeed feel like a place in which you would not mind spending time in. Which to me, at least, is alarming.

Reel Injun: Native American Stereotypes

A couple nights ago I watched the movie Reel Injun. In this movie, filmmaker Neil Diamond takes a look at the Hollywood Indian and explores how these Native Americans have been portrayed and stereotyped throughout the history of cinema. The movie explains how these inaccurate portrayals have influenced our misunderstanding of Native Americans by showing interviews with non-Native American and Native American film directors, actors, and activists. The movie also displays many clips from different films, both old and new, involving Native Americans. From silent films to present day films, we see that the depiction of the average Native American has shifted immensely and affected how our culture views these Natives Americans. In the 30’s and 40’s, Hollywood films portrayed Native Americans as peaceful, emphasizing the unity of family. However, the stereotype of Indians dramatically changed in the 50’s when Native Americans became viewed as ruthless savages. In addition, according to these films, all Native Americans were supreme horsemen who wore headdresses. Finally, in the 70’s, Indians were viewed as “cool” and thought of as hippies, and today Native Americans are portrayed in the media as poor and drunken. As statistics show, many Native Americans are in fact poor or suffer from alcoholism. But is it ethical for a filmmaker to portray them that way? Do filmmakers need to show a positive view or just the truth? My film group discussed these questions, and how the media highly influences our culture and shapes the way we view others. We often accept the reality with which we are presented without even questioning it. For example, a clip from Reel Injun shows a Native American camp for boys. During the camp, the boys get face painted, scream Indian war cries, and violently pound on the tables. Overall, from the noble savage to the drunken Indian, the movie Reel Injun shows us that the cinema highly affects how we stereotype groups of people. It is indeed a ““entertaining and informative documentary” as critic James Adams explains in his review. This movie made me realize how poorly Americans have portrayed Native Americans in films, and how we easily buy into everything we see on the media. Reel Injun has prompted me to think differently about Native Americans, and to not so easily give into the so-called “truths” the media constructs as reality.

Observing Woodland Mall

Yesterday I took a trip to Woodland Mall. However, instead of getting sucked into the shopping and sales like I usually do, this time I simply observed. Doing this helped me notice a lot of things that I normally do not see on my visits to the mall. As soon as I entered the mall, I was filled with warmth, and a bright red sign with the word SALE in big bold letters greeted me--it was impossible to miss. These sale signs were all placed in prime spots such as entrances and at the tops of the elevators. There was also some sort of sale sign in every window of every store we passed by that sought to grab our attention. Bright lights, white tile floors, and white walls gave the mall a very open and clean look. In addition, in the middle of the aisles there were several resting areas with couches and chairs. Trees and plants surrounded these areas, making it a refreshing atmosphere. I had never noticed the foliage, but the article by John Pahl opened my eyes to see the large amounts of plants that seek to refresh the mall’s consumers and make their trip more enjoyable. Furthermore, I noticed a Starbucks conveniently placed where four isles come together—in order to get anywhere, you had to walk by the coffee shop that was surrounded by pillars and trees. Manikins were dressed to perfection, which tempted onlookers like myself to stop in the store and try on the clothes. Some stores we walked into, such as Macy’s, smelled of colognes and perfumes and had popular music playing, such as Rihanna. Claire’s, a fashion and accessory store, was decorated with a purple carpet, and bright purple and pink lights shown on the entrance to draw in young girls. We also found that when we entered a store or hesitated by a kiosk, there was always a salesperson quick to tell us what the sales were and ask if we needed any help. Overall, observing rather than shopping at the mall opened my eyes to many of the advertising techniques that I have been blind to before.

Three Random Songs

I listen to music every day, all day and I love hip-hop and rap. I have had several run-ins with my mother about my taste in music. Is what I put in to my ears on a daily basis affecting how I live my life? Am I straying away from the path to the kingdom as I listen to music that is of the empire and certainly not of the Lord? I decided to randomly shuffle the music on my iPod and do a little test. The three songs that randomly came up were. “Love on Top” by Beyoncé, “Drop the World” By Lil Wayne, and “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. At any point during my workout, car rides, or leisure listening these songs could some on and I would sing along. I used to tell my mom that I listened to hardcore rap just for the beat and that I was able to filter out all the crap about sex, drugs, and violence. It has recently dawned on me that this is not possible. I googled the lyrics to these three random songs and to my astonishment the f-word was repeated 26 times in one of them. In these songs there were references to unhealthy idols (men), violence, sexual promiscuity, and a great supply of offensive derogatory terms. One of these songs however, was fine. No swear words, decent message, and nothing offensive about it. Yet 2 out of 3…not so good? The two bad songs gave in to empire life and gave the listeners no hope for life in the kingdom. Based on these artifacts I honestly could not tell you how Christians should act in the world because there was absolutely no mention or resemblance of Christian behavior in any of them. These artifacts also don’t encourage us to desire, hope for, or believe in anything but evil or worldly behaviors.

Is it acceptable to listen to such music, as long as I filter out and am able to recognize the bad in these songs?

How to I know if I am properly filtering what I hear and not letting it affect my actions?

A Different Outlook on the Mall

Yesterday, a few classmates and I entered Woodland Mall with a new set of eyes. Prior to this visit, we had read about John Pahl's journey to the Mall of America and watched The Persuaders which showed the many ways stores advetise to get our attention. With what we learned from these two sources, we were sent out to look for the many ways the mall and its stores vie for our attention. It did not take long to spot out these interesting tactics as we entered the mall through the store Kohl's. Immediately, we were bombarded with a huge "For Sale" sign at the entrance of Kohl's and many beautiful, bright lights sprinkled all around the store. Also, they tried to make the store more appealing by playing the music of the ever-popular singer Rihanna which could potentially lure even more people in the store. Strangely enough, these tactics were even working on the eyes and ears of our group, as members of the group were taken aback by the "For Sale" sign and the clothes around it. Fortunately, we were able to fight through Kohl's tempations and continue our trek through the mall.

As we continued to walk through the mall, we noticed trees, a kid's play area, and many comfortable couches. It was crazy to see how much the mall was trying to make us feel at ease and at home. However, we had no time to sit as we discovered more and more techniques that stores and restaraunts were using to grab our attention. Starbucks had laid down its foundation in the middle of the store where it was impossible not to see or smell its many varieties of coffee. Foot Locker had a poster of NBA stars Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Blake Griffin to bring sports enthusiasists into their shoe store. Finally, Hollister had a dark, mysterious storefront that had music blaring from inside. With this technique, all the curious teenagers in the mall were sure to walk in to discover what this store was all about. After looking around for a while, we were reasonably overwhelmed. We were so used to this advertising around us, that we had never bothered to realize the effects it had had on us. I am very grateful that we were able to do this exercise, because it taught us that we can be so accustomed to things in this world that we never bother to take a look at what is around us.

Trip to Woodland Mall

We had planned on staying at the mall long enough to observe and analyze the material we’ve discussed in class, 30 minutes tops right? Well… the mall played its evil little tricks on me once again and I was lured to what turned out to be a four hour shopping spree. The malls unique architecture makes it hard for shoppers to locate and exit without walking past another strip of stores. When we first arrived we tried to locate our friends from class and that took several minutes. There are so many entrances; we could seem to meet at the same one. We noticed that on the doors of each entrance was some sort of sale pulling you in. I took most of my time in Macy's to observe and see similarities and truths as presented in “The Persuaders”. There were bright colors, big posters, and racks you simply can’t pass up saying “clearance.”

Following is a list of other observations made while at the mall.

1. The bathrooms are conveniently located near the food court so in order to get through to the bathroom you must endure the bombardment of yummy smells and the appeal of all the foods just waiting to be chosen.

2. After coming in from the snowy blizzard outside the mall was warm, clean, cheerful music played, it smelled good, and was well lite. Why would I want to go back out to my cold car?

3. There were signs located above the escalator so as your riding you have something to read. Outside the stores were signs reading, “OMG”, “WOW”, “get lucky”, and “everything must go”.

4. There was an area in the mall with comfy couches, trees, and carpeting to allow shoppers to rest and feel comfortable in the mall setting. This spot was conveniently located next to the Starbucks and kids play area, directly in the center of the mall.

5. Workers at the kiosks in the middle just wait for you to walk by then lure you in with a sample, and hopefully send you away with a purchase.