Icon Analysis – Assignment 2-1
Americans are obsessed about what they eat, how they look, and whom the expert is on when, where and why. Three contemporary icons are, The Biggest Loser, Oprah, and Food Network. These three icons can relate to American eating habits. Restaurants that use to cater to hamburgers and fries for dinner have now added salad and wraps; they want to capture the ever growing industry of weight loss and healthy eating trends.
The Biggest Loser sells determination. Most people, who watch this show which promotes weight loss, are rooting for the heaviest guy/gal to win. Some people, who watch the show, may even see themselves as a contestant on the show who struggles with weight and needs guidance. When an advertisement artifact is displayed during the breaks, they are more likely to be about Cheerios or Special-K type products. Inspired people may go buy the healthier choice even if it only last the first couple of days. Next week the cycle will repeat it’s self. The thought may even be planted as a good ideal by one of the trainers on the show; after all, he is helping contestants on the show actually lose weight.
People also listen to Oprah. Oprah’s weight in the past has gone up-and-down then back up or down again. How many times has Oprah influenced what people should or should not eat? Some people live for her word because she is a famous icon. She has followers who in turn spread her message. In other words, a person does not even have to watch her show to hear what she is saying; others say it for her and people believe. Oprah gives the command to watch Rachael Ray on the Food Network, and people watch.
Once a person is hooked on all the healthy choices the Food Network has to offer, they go and buy more items to complete their well-being. The Food Network offers a variety of good eating, “Special-K” some would say pales before the specially prepared expensive ingredients one may need to complete a proper organic-low fat-banana-smoothie. Food Network in turn sells to people the fascination of wanting to not only be a healthy eating, but also a gourmet cook. People then go out and buy the cooking utensils used, the costly pots and pans, and the lists go on.
Obsessions about eating, looks, and experts are what icons are made of. People buy what sells. Oprah sells. Shows about losers who are really winners sell, consumers want food that may or may not make them gourmet cooks. Without icons, America would not be able to promote market power. If no one is selling, no one is buying; if this happens, then in the long run no one wins.
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