Cadillac Commercial

Here is an advertisement for a Cadillac Escalade, a very popular car in America. Like most American commercials, this is very technical and over the top, in order to 'wow' their target audience and make everyone want one. The fact that the car manages to escape missiles and then scares away the robot made out of the missiles gives the impression to its buyers that this car is invinsible and can defeat anything, showing how exaggerating commercials can make a product more appealing to the potential buyers.

The type of car you drive can define can give you a certain appearance. And Americans care how other people see them, and owning a big and expensive car portrays them as successful and powerful. Although this car has the same use value as every other car, to drive to a destination, Americans have always been prepared to spend money in order to buy Cadillac Escalades, a they are percieved as very American. In America, everythng is shown to be bigger and better than anywhere else in the world,and cars are no difference. Escalades are very big 4x4 cars, mainly created to go off road, but the Escalade is used in order to 'show off' and boast about high income rates rather than its original pupose. This shows American want and need to be the best, and how it can be percieved as consuming expensiv items is a competition in their eyes.

These cars are very popular in America, as it is a very large country, and a large car is helpful for long journeys. But big cars like these mean big emission pollution, leading to global warming. But this does not stop American's buying these cars, showing the importance of the way Americans wish to be viewed.

Nike (Just Do It)

Nike is a very popular sportswear or equipment supplier based in the United states, that has traveled all around the world and it is recognised by the simple, unique signature Nike tick. Also Nike is recognised for its famous slogan 'Just do it'. its trade mark are their shoes. However depending where you, these shoes have different values. For example wearing a pair of Nike shoes out in town just for casual wear and not actually playing sports, in the UK, is seen as very common thing to do. And if your in full on Niked out gear, head to toe. Then you'll look very 'Chavy' and properly laughed at. While in America its not looked strangly at all, and most likely more cooler to wear that perticular brand.

Nike is known for their engouragement in sports for the younger generation and getting them more involved and keeping them fit. Below is a infamous commercial involing Nike shoes and their then, newist type of shoe.

Blogs are a bit behind folks - not everyone has done Alger and no posts on consumer items yet

Coca Cola Christmas Advert

Christmas is always a magical time of year, with lots of presents, great food and drink and a good helping of Christmas cheer. But there's one event that signals Christmas every year and that is the Coca Cola Christmas television advert. The Christmas Coca Cola Advert 2010 is usually broadcast from mid-November throughout December.

The advert features the iconic delivery trucks that are associated with America. These ones are red and inscribed with the Coca Cola name and decorated with electric lights, driving through a snowy landscape and causing everything that they pass to light up and people to watch as they pass through.

It is not just the trucks and landscape that make the advert appealing but also the music "Holidays are coming" is a catchy upbeat jingle.

Coke's advertising is very pervasive, and one of the company's goals was to ensure that everyone on Earth drank Coca-Cola as their preferred beverage. This is especially true in southern areas of the United States, such as Atlanta where Coke was born.

Within this advert you see many things representing Christmas and magic but they also they show America within, by helping the man struggling with the lights, helping the children in the woods find their way and the man bonding with his son. I also think that the advert uses the children to represent the innocence of the drink mixing it in with Christmas. It's fun, it's exciting. The drink gets the children excited just as much as Christmas does. And also if Santa drinks it then anyone can!

Horatio Alger

http://www.horatioalger.com/index.cfm

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. Today, through its Members, the Association continues to educate our nation's young people about the economic and personal opportunities afforded them by the promise of the American free enterprise system. Through its scholarship programs, the Association encourages students to pursue their own version of the American Dream. While providing scholarship opportunities, Association Members mentor the Scholars and underscore the importance of service to others. The Members work directly to provide promising young people with the support, education and confidence needed to realize their aspirations.

The link below is one taken from the Horatio Alger Association website which shows how one of their members have worked their way up from humble starts, with no running water and living in a house with three rooms with a large family.

The Horation Alger Association also provides scholarships to help young people who are who in fincancial need, to be eligible for one of these scholarships clearly you have to be in financial dificulty, but the main criteria is that you have to be a United States citizen and that you have to show that you will work hard, and want to work hard.

Horatio Alger

Horatio Alger was a 19th Century author who wrote Juvenile tales about bootblacks, newsboys and buskers who start living on the streets of New York and end up living in a middle class society.

In the early 20th Century Dr Kenneth Beebe and Dr Norman Vincent Peale were inspired by Alger's stories, and they founded the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc.
The company was established in 1947 and their aim was to give people the chance to pursue their own dreams and keep the hope of the American Dream alive. They provided many awards to men and women who extend the Horatio's values of freedom, education and opportunity.

http://www.horatioalger.org/index.cfm
In 2007 the Horatio Alger State Scholarship program extended to 29 states.

This Scholarship is for families in critical financial need. With this they get the opportunity to send their children to college and allow them to get the education they need in able to get a good job.

This would have been perfect for the character of Ragged Dick. He would have been able to get off the streets and get into an education and have some stability in life.
This Scholarship gives people the opportunities and the luck that were given to Dick.

This is a video of one student who was helped by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc.