Reading Response 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkzVVYJggi4


Visual text is very important and is used in everyone’s daily lives. The media has a huge impact on our cultural reinforcement, or our ideological positions. The commercial I chose to illustrate this is a Progressive Insurance commercial.

The commercial takes place in a store-like setting where people are purchasing automobile insurance from Progressive. In today’s society what is now on everyone’s mind is appropriate and affordable insurance whether it is life, health, or automobile insurance. When the couple starts to check out or pay for their insurance, the buggy is filled with so many types of insurance coverage. The wife questions her husband about what they are purchasing. The husband apparently has a motorcycle, RV, and a boat his wife knew nothing about. The wife confused says, “But we don’t have any of these things.” She is then displeased that she had no knowledge that her husband purchased the motorcycle, RV, and the boat and is now making another purchase on the insurance. Surprise!!

A portion of the American Dream is to acquire wealth in which to posses various effects. There are some Americans who enjoy living high, or wanting to live high. Those who enjoy this style of living usually do not contemplate the fact that spending their money on goods that they may not need is wasting their energy and money. Living high is a sign of prosperity and everyone wants to perceive themselves that they are well off in today’s society. Buying luxury items that you may not be able to afford or even use that often is the reason why many people find themselves in the situation they are in today’s current economy.

Another aspect of this Progressive commercial is the miscommunication within a relationship. The desire to have a well working relationship is another part of the American Dream. However, within this relationship the husband doesn’t bother to tell his wife about the expensive purchases that he has made with their shared money.

Is the ability to obtain the American Dream a false reality, or can people really make it happen?