Got Milk Ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nalIyli4W2w

This Ad sells milk?

Video texts are good to be enjoyed in the right context as can be seen in this “God Milk“ commercial. It plays powerfully on the “harp strings” of the emotions, it pounds the “heart beat of America.” Featuring the all time American sport, baseball, and its classic American team, the Twins. Baseball, for many Americans, is a sweet past time; there are many myths and legendary people in baseball. Babe Ruth for example; that name will never die; we are reminded of him every time we try to pick out a chocolate bar at the store. It narrated the struggles of a young man trying to find his skill in the major leagues.
This text also had another story to tell. A young lady struggling in school, particularly math in this case. I’m sure that most of us can relate to this lady in one way or another. I don’t doubt we have all had our own seemly impossible problems in school.
It was sad and touching to relate to the young man trying to make it big in baseball. He struggled so much, struck out way to many times, and nearly gave up. He got down right depressed and almost quit. Same with the young lady struggling in math. She was basically told that she was dumb and would never make it. She too nearly quit, and almost believed it her self, that she couldn’t do it.
Then the stories take a turn, “they didn’t give up!” they persevered, because they are Americans and “ Americans don’t give up!” So our culture says. Have we ever lost a war? No! That’s why we want to forget about Vietnam, a little reality check. When watching this “video text” you can’t help but notice the determination in there faces. Now that’s America for you, we are proud, determined, ambitious people. Right? We don’t understand no, and the word “can’t” is not in the American dictionary; so we like to think.
Another important aspect of this text was the music. It was classical music; a beautiful song that had heart. It gave a sense of nostalgia; the good old days. It pounded and illustrated the emotions of the actors beautifully. Music is a whole new text in its self; it plays on the emotion; it says things without speaking. Ever notice how you can anticipate an anxious part coming up in a movie; it’s because the music gives it away. The music in this text adds an irresistible power to it in a way that it completely draws the viewer into the text, making the viewer feel like part of it. In a subtle way the music and the organist narrated the text and gave the anticipation for a awesome outcome; a gratifying outcome indeed.
All three aspects of this text make a beautiful story. Video texts certainly are an art in our culture. This text defiantly sells the American spirit; the belief that we can do any thing if we are determined. America says, as Dodge puts it, that we need to “grab life by the horns,” take control, define our destiny “always grow, grow always, never stop” That’s what our culture says; boy is it motivating and encouraging, if we believe that. The real critics will wonder if it is true. Some may also wonder if this beautiful art of video text is good, or bad. Who knows. It defiantly is powerful and pleasurable as all art is meant to be; but these texts can have to power to enslave us; catching us by our emotions, which is propaganda. Nevertheless it is the way our culture expresses it self and I think we should enjoy it while at he same time being on our toes, critical of new ideas, what people say most importantly be honest with ourselves. How this Ad sells milk, bets me.