Theses for Pictures

1.  Converse connects to it's audience in the sense of the shoe being their own creation; that to be like everyone else he or she needs to buy and to create a unique shoe.

2.  The ad connects directly to the audience with the ethos being Converses own reputation, the pathos giving the audience the idea that her or she could make this into "their shoe," and the logos that says "if you buy this shoe, and then make it how you want, your Converse will be different than all the others."

3.  Using the words "design yourself" it makes the audience want to buy the shoe in order to express who he or she is, it pulls their attention to the idea that "your Converse" is what establishes them as a person in a diverse yet similar society.

Ad-dicting

Apple.  When we were little it used to be the most popular word for the letter "A" and a delicious snack.  But now-a-day just the mention of “Apple” and most people think you're speaking of the multibillion-dollar company that produces some new technological advancement every year.  Even here, in this picture they show the superiority to the rest of the computer companies (specifically Windows).

Simply the words "Think Different" is a form of pathos that causes the reader to possibly feel guilty if they don't take part in the Apple franchise or to feel special because they do.  The author also uses pathos with Kermit the Frog, a children's character.  They use him to have the reader create feelings of when they were younger, when their imagination blossomed and "thinking differently" wasn't as difficult as it is when they grow up.  They want to convince you that buying Apple will bring you back to that state of bliss.

Ethos is obviously used with the presence of the man in the picture, Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets.  He gives this ad more of a sense of importance.  Not only is Kermit the Frog in it, but also his creator took the time to join him.  That his creator is highly successful because he "thought differently" therefore if you "think differently" and buy Apple maybe you too can become as famous as Jim Henson.

The ad then makes use of the picture being grey while the Apple slogan remains it's bright rainbow color.  This allows the reader to see the innocence and amazement of seeing a picture of Kermit the Frog and Jim Henson and then to connect it to the Apple company, in which helps them to form some connection to their innocence, one that they believe only Apple products can fill.

Visually Attractive

On an average day I would say I see several dozens of ads.  The majority of them are a simplistic "spend you money here" in which I can ignore and sometimes don't even know are there.  But every so often my eyes draw to a specific billboard or Internet ad that causes a "maybe I'll check it out" thought.  The majority of these have some splash of color, like bright yellow or a dark purple that attracts my attention - because those colors appeal to me - while some have witty slogans, which make me laugh.  My favorite would probably be a highway sign that in large letters reads "YOUR WIFE IS HOT" and then a line below in smaller font adds, "So, buy her a better air conditioner."

Video trailers and commercials are laid out about the same way.  Some have a catchy tune, which makes me want to see where it goes, or even when there isn't any music/sound and so I want to know why.  Most show or movie trailers use cliff hangers to attract peoples attention, and although it drives me mad, the trailer makes me want to see whatever it's advertising.  In one it was about 15 seconds of the camera simply panning down the skeleton of a forearm - no sound or music - until it paused at a bony hand that held an object to symbolize the main character of the show.  Almost instantly it jumped to at new screen with the words "COMING THIS FALL!"  These 15 seconds sends my head reeling.  Why is there a skeleton?  When is "this fall?"  Why would they do this to me?!  Of course at that point the media company has won over my complete devotion to seeing the premier of the show in the fall from just a well-planned 15 seconds of my time.

Advertisements and media in general are all about that split second when you glance at a billboard or the television.  They have to plan ahead to make sure that in that moment you see it you wonder "what's that about?  Let me look closer" rather than "oh not that again.”