Discourse: Relateability & Reflection

               This brings up the issue of what is seen as "normal" within the realm of the discourse. Throughout the advertisements, many elements have to be kept the same. One of these elements is race. Why is it that the race of the hands rarely alters, but the people on the screens are so diverse? The hands of the product holder are often implied to be the hands of a Caucasian person. The races of the people that are featured within the screen of the product often vary across a wide range of diverse races. What is claimed to be "normal" throughout the discourse of the Apple advertisements is the idea that a Caucasian person is the most relatable race amongst Apple's target market. The screen of the product acts as a reflection of what the viewer's world could be like, therefore the diversity of the viewer's actual world is reflected within the screen so that they can relate to that aspect as well.

               If we look at the screenshots of iPhone4 advertisements below, we see the wide range of races that are presented on the screens, and we see the consistent use of implied Caucasian hands. It is possible that these races represent power. The Apple products, especially the iPhone4, are expected to give one access to the world. The people on the screen serve as the people of the future, the future that the viewer will have if they own an iPhone. In these screenshots, the people on the screen all appear to be from young generations. This is not the case for all Apple iPhone advertisements. Regardless if they are young or old, they are in the hands of the user, the Caucasian hands. These hands all appear to be of mid age, not too old, not too young, possibly the hands of a "stable" human being who could possibly purchase the expensive products. The lack of diverse races implied by the hands holding the product hinders the idea that anyone can have power with the product. It limits the possibility of anyone benefitting from being an owner, and it places the Caucasian race in a more powerful position compared to other races. By placing the races within the screen, a vulnerable position to the Caucasian hands, the people of diverse races lose their potential to be powerful. They are placed on display, just as porcelain dolls in a glass case, they are in a perfect and pristine world, but have no power, they are at the hands of the owner. The use of the younger generation in the four screenshots below heightens this concept. They are young, and often naivety is associated with being young, leaving the hands to guide and shape them.

               

               

               With all of these normalized, yet relatable, aspects of the advertisements a viewer has the ability to feel as though they are knowledgeable. The invisibility and absence of an actual human being in their entirety within the advertisements is very important to this world. It gives the viewer a sense of power. From a psychoanalytical standpoint, the viewer has the ability to peer into Apple's world, and be an outside observer while also stepping into the hands of the product user. This element is the primary source of relation for the viewer and it is important that it remains consistent through each and every advertisement. The topic of the advertisements change, but if the viewer still has the ability to observe and step in, they can learn about the different parts of the Apple world and do so with ease. Even more importantly, with the invisibility of an actual user, the viewer can mesh with the hands that are there. They then are allowed to become one with the product and not only learn about the world Apple has formed but fully step into it. The world that Apple, Inc. has created through these advertisements is one that allows its viewers to experience it in the moment and want it quickly after.

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