Dietmar Dahmen

Use-vertising, pro-sumer and con-sumer. Unfamiliar terms before our guest speaker introduced these ideas and their correlation to advertising. Normally, I associate guest speakers with a lecture day that I can miss. Dietmar Dahmen gave me an entirely new impression on guest speakers. Not only was he energetic, but also very informative, interactive and entertaining.

I was already familiar with the terms nowism and firstism, but never heard of use-vertising or the differences between a pro-sumer and a con-sumer. I never really thought user responses on youtube or comments could have such a big impact on a product's sale number. After his presentation, I began to reflect and realized that it's true! I like trying new places, but I do check yelp first to see the ratings and ultimately base my decision on their ratings. I also liked how he separated the differences between pro-sumers, who show similarities in their advertising, and con-sumers, who highlight the differences.

Not only did he captivate my attention from the very beginning, but he also finished strong. I really liked how he finished his presentation with the a variety of phrases to remember for advertising. My favorite one was "bring the idea you think we can't sell... the one that seems impossible."

The Paradoxical Significance of Advertising

Whenever advertising is mentioned, the first thought that typically pops up is it is a result of a manufacturer's ambition to sell his product or ideals. We are constantly surrounded by some type of advertisement. Whether on a bus, watching our favorite shows, trying to update our Facebook status or driving in a car, we will see at least one billboard, commercial or poster. The reason I believe advertising is a paradox is because ads are generally created to help people sell their products, but in the process harm their competitors. I find advertising intriguing as it is important to society in a variety of ways. The simple act of buying a particular product can set the standards of an item, effect the economy, raise awareness or even start a cause. Due to this, I find advertising and all its works interesting and am excited to know more about it. The sections I'm particularly excited for this semester are the sections based on the correlation between politics and advertising as well as with broadcasting.