Crua Stone Promotional Video - PREMIERE

Crua Stone LOGO

Here is the image of final logo.

Also, available to download at:
http://webspace.ringling.edu/~ltan/crua_stone_Final.pdf

Disney Homework-For partial credit

Disney has created such a strong brand image by reaching out to kids through the use of cartoons, movies, parks, rides, playing dress up...ect. By growing up to this life style of wanting to go to the next Disney movie or Disney World, we are blinded by what some critics are projecting that there is racism and sexism flowing through out the story line of the films. I am pro Disney because back in the day (1950's)- we as a society thought about things in a different way and it was of "the times" to express these issues in a subtle way because we could. Racism was wide spread and woman where staying home and raising a family. My point it is, is that those things were going on at that time and Disney followed (in a subtle way) those story lines because they were real!
Also, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And if they can find something to criticize they can do it, and will find a way.
As a consumer of Disney products, it is natural for me to expect that Disney would reflect our today's society- I believe that Disney knows that they have these critics and are realizing that they could be ruining their reputation. But in all reality...it is Disney and Disney will stay strong by coming out with the latest movie,new ride, doll, costumes...ect. Every girl wants to be a fairy-tale princess.

Extra Credit Homework Assignment-Facebook

In the U.S. there are about 100 million visitors that check out Facebook almost every month. Facebook was once only accessible to valid college students and now the majority of Facebook users are business owners. Many businesses and entreprenuers use Facebook as a social network to promote their companies and create relationships with customer communities. For Cura Stone, advertising Mikes work on Facebook ( currently in the processes of doing so)- here are the benefits of what is going to come with Cura Stone advertised on Facebook:
Facebook allows the visitor to pick and choose groups and ads that companies can target customers based on a user's profile information. With Cura Stone it is important that it targets the right people. "Zeroing in a specific audience lets you get the most bang for your advertising buck!"
It is important that Cura Stone reaches out to college students and people of the Florida area. Since Mike's necklaces are made out of stone and natural hemp it is afordable and fashionable for beach wear. But i also agree that we should advertise Cura Stone and test various target demographics. Advertising on Facebook will bring more people to check out Mike's jewlery because Facebook reaches out to everyone!
When advertising Cura Stone we need to make the ads POP on Facebook. Things need to be carefully considered: color, Line, Text. Cura Stone cannot be a traditional ad on Facebook because it will be pushed to the side ( i don't think it would be a traditional sign since we are a very create bunch!)
This will be very exciting for the weeks to come with Cura Stone. I am glad that i am apart of the advertising team!
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100201/how-to-advertise-on-facebook.html

Disney Discussion

1) How, in your opinion, has Disney created such a strong brand image that we are having hard time associating negative intentions with the company's brand?
2) Do you as a consumer of Disney products expect from the Disney corporation to better reflect today's society and to be socially responsible. Why or why not?

In class we watched a documentary about the stereotypes Disney portrays in its movies and the potential negative influence it could possibly have on children growing up. This is something that isn't new to me because of my previous studies of the book "Fast Food Nation" and how large corporations like McDonald have a specific niche to target children to create lifetime customers. If you tell someone that something is good, and that's the way it's suppose to be done, and repeat it hundreds of times over years, then someone would believe what ever you said and hold it to be true because you've managed to established it over and over again.

The same is true for Disney. If Disney decides to keep reestablishing the same character archetypes in their films time and time again, children expose to this material would tend to behavior in the same manner. Disney has a distinctive charm that the film talks about that creates life time consumers who are willing to turn a blind eye over because they believe whole heatedly that Disney is good and that's it.

Human beings learn through imitation, and children even more so soak up everything around them in order to elevate right from wrong and how to live their life. Disney films are not produced for for kids, by kids. These people who create these films are grown adults who understand the world and try to make their films as universal as possible, whether or not they want to incorporate sexual or racial themes to lure in a universal audience that not specific to children anymore because life time customers do inevitably grow up.

The Disney Documentary

I agree with the statement that everything you have ever seen in a Disney movie is completely intentionally put there. So when Jasmine uses her body to distract Javar and gets what she wants, Disney is intentionally putting that in kids faces for a reason. I believe that through their movies and with their more exploiting scenes, Disney is trying to reflect a certain reality. There are women out there that use their bodies to get what they want, but there are also many women who know where the line is. This is why I say Disney is somewhat reflecting reality, but in very exaggerated and generalized way. I think that cartoons to most people are suppose to reflect on some kind of reality, like a boy learning a lesson or the good guy winning. But I think we can also agree that because essentially Disney is producing entertainment, these cartoons and stories are exaggerated for our joy in watching them! If Disney wholly reflected reality in there movies they wouldn't be so successfully known for their innovative and magical, unrealistic ways.

disney

the movie was interesting, but i personally think that man was just looking for attention. No one is about to mess with my childhood. Disney may be some corporation whore, but at some point, they aren't everything that those people claimed it to be. Sure, every corporation out there has something to hide, but there is a time where you exaggerate a little. First of all, who putting a race on an animal is absolutely ridiculous. Animals don't have a race, its a freaking' animal! It is what it is. And sure I understand how a Mexican would get mad for them portraying a chihuahua like that, but its not like they were wrong. Besides, a child doesn't know that. All they see is a dog that has a funny accent or whatever. Kids at that particular age, probably don't even know what really is going on. I know my nieces and nephews, when they watch Disney movies, they don't even know the storyline. They just love the talking animals. But they can differentiate reality with fantasy. ... i had a lot more to say. But I'd get to the point where i would insult that poor, sorry man.

Disney

The movie was quite insightful when you stop and think about it. I mean at times they went overboard but a lot of it did make scenes. And when you really stop and think about it those sort things are out there and you can't just ignore them. Parents need to step up and let kids know the difference right and wrong, good or bad. . . . . but also not deprive them of their childhood. Let them be kids Its not just disney though tons of companies are doing this.  But also the same can go with over analyzing them as well. I think the class was defending not just defending Disney, but most of all our childhoods. . . . its what we grew up knowing and people do not like change.

Disney

When we were watching the Disney video I was shocked that they were even attacking them like that because I had always imagined them as wholesome and well put together. I mean when I was younger I did hear rumors that they were sending out subliminal messages of sex or of racial comments. But, I never knew that they were making a huge deal. I never knew that they had made movies, or books or even had people talking about it as much as they did. All in all even if they are corrupt I still love disney for becoming what they are and how they have gotten there. I feel that they are a good example of a great business strategy.

Influences of Media

When we were watching the documentary, i was a little offensive about the whole Disney manipulating or having bad influences to the children. It is because i have been grown up with Disney animation like everyone else. And all the animation and characters are dreams land to me. It is a place where i can escape the reality and believe on happy endings. When the people in the documentary tearing apart each characters, especially Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan, I was a little angry and upset.

However, after i sit down and start thinking about it. Maybe it is true that Disney is not putting too much concern on the social messages that they created either intentionally or unintentionally to the children. Disney animators and designers need to think about their responsibilities before creating their pieces. Though, they might be sending the wrong messengers or being little racist on some of the animations; not all of the points made by the people in the documentary make sense. It is also has to due with how diversity and culture influences to each country. We all can't really know each different culture or country tradition or practice unless we live there long enough. Our resources to this kind of information is limited. The stereotype for each country and culture will be there no matter what. We sometimes have to accept that there are too much to cover.

Besides Disney to blame on, our media in general has played a huge role. Music, TV, Magazine, social Media and many other media that children today surrounded with. Many kids are all about following what's the hippest or updated styles and might not even know what they are actually mean. It is the parents job to educate and guide the children on what they seen and hear. Letting them know the reality and not spoil them by accepting what media is do to us.

As a designer, i do feel that i am part of the responsibility to change the problem we have with media. We have to know what we are creating and publishing and do it with morals and values. We should also bring more awareness to the people that media can be manipulating but it is about how much the kids and the parents willing to take action to break away from the controls.

Most of us grew up with Disney and we all still turn up fine. I believe at some point of life, we will learn that what media provides us might not be 100% real. It is about not being ignorance but open-minded to accept every culture and be wise.

Facebook as an adveritsement tool

Facebook has been around a while now and has over 100 million visitors. This social networking site can become a powerful tool to advertise. Big companies to self proclaimed entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the benefits a facebook profile can do for your product or service. First, it can help you look for a target audience since a lot of people list their interest and other personal information which can be used to help you collect potential customers. AD PRICE can be used to track and record how many people click on your ad and what happens after they do. Facebook has something similar but it does not track what actions are taken after they have clicked on your ad. The ads that you create for your product or service must be carefully crafted in order for them to pop out to your audience. Being different is key when advertising. Some companies have several ads run back to back or next to each other. This can guarantee to grab different types of people not just a certain group. All these techniques can be applied to Crua Stone and the marketing that Mike is doing for his product. Especially being for the demographic that his product is primarily for.

You have been Yelped (extra credit)

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100201/youve-been-yelped.html#

The article was talking about website Yelp.com . It is the customer review website for business owner. I didn't know about this site until I read the article. I think the website can be a very powerful thing that can make or break the business. It gives the customer a voice to talk about their experience with a business PUBLICLY. The advantage that have the your business on Yelped that if you get good previews, then bingo, it's a way to market your business. It's another form of WOM, it spreads online instead. Vice versa, bad reviews will for sure affect the business. Even though it give a customer an idea of what they are getting into there are also trust and honest issues. There is no way that the website nor business owner can control what is being posted on the website, nor confirm that the info is truth or just a lie. That can lead to a dilemma like Diane Goodman from the article. But I don't think her first reaction by emailing and cursing at the customer was appropriate. That is the reason things got worse from there.

I can see how Crua Stone be on one of those website to receive feedback, I think it is a way to market Mike's jewelry and his business and spread the world out there. As long as we are good with customer service, I think we will get good feedback. It is also a way to improve by taking in customer's suggestion.

Mickey Mouse Monopoly

This movie really left me thinking... how important and influential a company can be, not only on peoples childhood for on the culture of the country.

i remember Wanda Chavez told us about an article she read that said that Disney world had become the Mecca of America,  a place to which every family wants to take their kids at least once. I thought this was interesting, I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE, but i have heard of it my entire life. However in Uruguay ( all the way to the south of the south american continent) Disney is not so present in our daily life. We do get the movies and they are indeed classics, i bet 90% of the population has seen the lion king, but i don't think anyone knows the songs to it for example.

One of the things that surprised me the most wen i came to the USA was to see how submerged everyone was under the world of entertainment and it did not take long till I realize who was the most important; specially here where many people have grown up in Disney.

It was while we were having the class discussion when i  notices how most of the people felt part of their movies, how everyone defended their concept and did not even want to consider the idea that maybe their productions where not so innocent and magic like they seem.

This makes me think of the power they have and how not only they might have shape the culture of its country but by showing other cultures  in their movie, they create an image for them.

It is hard to get people to get interested in other countries issues and cultures. i honestly think that if you show a movie set in Africa ( a huge continent) in which everything looks yellow and there are many wild animals running around, that will be the image the audience will have of africa, which is not necessarily true. I understand that most of the movies are not based on  the present 2010, but do we really think of that when we watch them? do 8 year old kids think about that? How many times do we back up our toughs and opinions based on movies?, how many people became vegetarian after watching Food inc.

In any case i think it is up to the parents to decide what to expose their kids to. But they also need to be aware of the power of this media.

I think a great example of this "power" was when we watched the vide, a documentary that made us all think and want to say something about it.  Some people did not even want to watch it anymore, some were mad at it, some might have agreed etc.  Some think that TVs are not harmful at all others think it is a good education source ... 

I do like their movies, i think they have a very talented creative group of people that are passionate and work hard on the movies. I think that they just need to be seen as art and entertainment being open minded enough to know that is nothing but a fictitious story been  able to pass that thought to our kids.

Mickey Mouse Monopoly

It is not letting me post this as a comment, so here you go:

1.)
Disney has created a strong brand image by listening to their consumers with each movie, toy, or theme park that they produce. They have molded their products around a stereotype of American culture, shifted slightly by feedback - and the nature of needing 'new' material, which might very well be the same story made fresh with different characters, settings, etc. In most cases, they are simply pulling from classic folktales adjusted for modern society. We are clearly attached to strong female lead characters who exemplify Barry P. Powel's description of the Foltake in his book "Classical Myth"

"Often the main characters in folktale have low social status, at least in the beginning of the story, and are persecuted or victimized in some way by other characters. The folktale hero may be an outcast whose intelligence and virtue are not recognized by those in power. The hero is often the youngest child, the third of three brothers and sisters, abused by siblings or by a wicked stepmother. Very often, the end of the story brings a reversal of fortunes, the "happy ending" for which folktales are well-known. Initially taken to be stupid and ineffectual, the folktale hero triumphs over all obstacles and receives an appropriate reward." (p9-10)

We grew up with these stories and had parents smart enough to pull us away from the television long enough to grow up with an understanding of reality and the true hardships we would face as we got older. The perception of negative intentions on Disney's part grows out of a parents lack of proper guidance of their children. They are handing their children over to Disney, putting them in front of the TV for hours and thus feeding the company's ability to grow and produce more and more each year. Parents are the ones purchasing the Snow White sheet-sets, the 101 Dalmatian wallpaper, the 7 dwarfs stuffed toys, the Lion King play sets, etc. They are funding Disney's development and then blaming them for growing as a company.

2.)
A point that I touched on previously states that we, as consumers, are the ones putting money into Disney's pockets. I think that there are countless consumers who have spoken out against Disney, asking for them to change their ways toward a more socially-responsible company. We can "expect" them to be more socially responsible, but if they do not change their ways, it is most certainly up to us as consumers to purchase from other companies that we might trust and believe in.

For example: If Publix produces a pasta product which is not organic, they might provide us with an organic option (or we might purchase from a different organic food store), but that original product will remain on the shelves just as it is. People are willing to forgo their option to purchase organic products in favor of cheaper and, in their opinion, tastier pasta.

Although Disney is not dividing their company into socially-responsible and consciously reformed divisions, the "organic option" in this case is to watch movies, purchase toys, and go to theme parks that are produced by a company that IS more socially responsible in the first place.

***

I love Disney and I find this conversation (and the movie) hard to swallow because I grew up watching their movies and collecting their toys - and I turned to be a strong, successful woman. One who clearly doesn't think every woman should have a four-inch waistline or give in to abusive men (and yet I watched Beauty and the Beast 1,000 times. Curious). It's difficult to deal with people who have had personal and positive experiences with Disney and ask them to look back on their own childhood and agree to arguments stating that the company they trusted is evil and out to take over the world with their demon ways.

"Mickey Mouse Monopoly" - discussion

We are continuing the class discussion on the documentary Mickey Mouse Monopoly online.
While some of you were able to relate to the ideas expressed in the film, most of you felt very uncomfortable with the suggestion that the Disney conglomerat has a role in shaping kids perceptions of gender and race.

To focus our discussion on marketing and social responsibility, please answer the following Qs:
1) How, in your opinion, has Disney created such a strong brand image that we are having hard time associating negative intentions with the company's brand?
2) Do you as a consumer of Disney products expect from the Disney corporation to better reflect today's society and to be socially responsible. Why or why not?

For my digital rendering class mid term we each had to design a kiosk based on a product of our choice. I chose Mike Decker’s stone jewelry. At the time we had not finalized the name yet so that is why it is Crua Nature.

Also it will be in the Best of Ringling show so keep an eye out for it.