THE SHINING
I found this movie an interesting backdrop for advertisements as The Shining is quite psychological, especially being produced by Stanley Kubrick, with many undertones running strong and deeply within the film.
Upon my first viewing of the Shining what immediately stood out was the jack Daniels, Jack Nicholson is drinking during the bar scene. In every scene the Jack Daniels label is always facing the camera. Already it is a strange composition as Jack Nicholson is playing a character named Jack while drinking Jack. While the character Jack Torrence isn’t the ideal man, father, or even husband, the character is exceedingly real up until that scene, making the advertising plug almost negative `drink Jack Daniels and murder your family`, however with the cult following behind this film the Tennessee Whiskey become novelty. I admit it affected me as I would pick Jack Daniels Whiskey over Johnny Walker Whiskey, solely because J.D reminds me of this film. This is overly dangerous to unaware consumers as there is no background story on the product that is being subtly advertised on the screen, and can tie invisible strings from product to product placement in films.
Another area that is chock full of products are the kitchen dry-store room scenes. At all times there is at least one object (of the rows of objects on the shelf) facing the camera, such products as Oreos, Frosted Flakes, and Tang litter the shot. Not that Oreos now remind me of the shining, however they are in abundance when the character Dick Hallorran is describing how the Torrenance’s have free access to any of the food items during they stare that winter, when they will be essentially deserted in the snow covered mountains. Then the kitchen dry-store room is used again (complete with all the commercial products) when Jack gets locked in the room. When jack is locked in the room he begins to munch on the random food items and packaging litters the floor. The second instance references again being locked up, or shut in and I believe subconsciously shows the viewer that these foods last long, are eatable (demonstrated by Jack), therefore make excellent food to be stored and kept. Again this is dangerous to consumers as it helps makes up their minds for them, without providing any consumer knowledge.
I believe the largest advertising plug in this film is when Shelly Duvall’s Character Wendy is wielding a baseball bat at Jack while he furthers his dissent into madness. Duvall is protecting herself from her abusive gone mad husband. He tells her that he is going to bash her head in and Wendy swings the bat and hits him in the head, he falls down the stairs and is knocked out cold. This shot is peculiar as the bat is a Louisville Slugger and the label is constantly facing the camera. The overtones I believe are that if you use a Louisville Slugger bat as a women, you can protect yourself effectively (as Wendy succeeds in knocking Jack out).
Looking for the advertisements in this movie was almost shocking as things were placed so well and at times not as subtle (as labels always being turned towards the camera). It makes me think how many people have watched the shining and have gone out and bought a Louisville Slugger for self protection; consciously or subconsciously. How many people have been blindly lead to stores and made purchases via subtle advertisements in movies.
Upon my first viewing of the Shining what immediately stood out was the jack Daniels, Jack Nicholson is drinking during the bar scene. In every scene the Jack Daniels label is always facing the camera. Already it is a strange composition as Jack Nicholson is playing a character named Jack while drinking Jack. While the character Jack Torrence isn’t the ideal man, father, or even husband, the character is exceedingly real up until that scene, making the advertising plug almost negative `drink Jack Daniels and murder your family`, however with the cult following behind this film the Tennessee Whiskey become novelty. I admit it affected me as I would pick Jack Daniels Whiskey over Johnny Walker Whiskey, solely because J.D reminds me of this film. This is overly dangerous to unaware consumers as there is no background story on the product that is being subtly advertised on the screen, and can tie invisible strings from product to product placement in films.
Another area that is chock full of products are the kitchen dry-store room scenes. At all times there is at least one object (of the rows of objects on the shelf) facing the camera, such products as Oreos, Frosted Flakes, and Tang litter the shot. Not that Oreos now remind me of the shining, however they are in abundance when the character Dick Hallorran is describing how the Torrenance’s have free access to any of the food items during they stare that winter, when they will be essentially deserted in the snow covered mountains. Then the kitchen dry-store room is used again (complete with all the commercial products) when Jack gets locked in the room. When jack is locked in the room he begins to munch on the random food items and packaging litters the floor. The second instance references again being locked up, or shut in and I believe subconsciously shows the viewer that these foods last long, are eatable (demonstrated by Jack), therefore make excellent food to be stored and kept. Again this is dangerous to consumers as it helps makes up their minds for them, without providing any consumer knowledge.
I believe the largest advertising plug in this film is when Shelly Duvall’s Character Wendy is wielding a baseball bat at Jack while he furthers his dissent into madness. Duvall is protecting herself from her abusive gone mad husband. He tells her that he is going to bash her head in and Wendy swings the bat and hits him in the head, he falls down the stairs and is knocked out cold. This shot is peculiar as the bat is a Louisville Slugger and the label is constantly facing the camera. The overtones I believe are that if you use a Louisville Slugger bat as a women, you can protect yourself effectively (as Wendy succeeds in knocking Jack out).
Looking for the advertisements in this movie was almost shocking as things were placed so well and at times not as subtle (as labels always being turned towards the camera). It makes me think how many people have watched the shining and have gone out and bought a Louisville Slugger for self protection; consciously or subconsciously. How many people have been blindly lead to stores and made purchases via subtle advertisements in movies.