My own Interpretation

Today I am going to try and analyze a subliminal message in an ad by myself. There is this website that shows you a few ads and then asks you to try and analyze it yourself. So today, I am going to try and do that. Below you will find the link to the ad that I am going to analyze.



http://www.goatstar.org/CanadaDrySex.jpg



Now although in that picture of the ad the word, "sex" is blatantly spelled out in the ice cubes, I think that there is more going on in the picture besides just the word, "sex." What I think is that the creator of this ad took into careful consideration the placement of every object in the ad. What confused me at first about the ad was the knife. Now, I know that it is there because it cut the lime, but that almost seems out of place to me. I think the knife is there for a more subliminal reason. After looking at the ad, I think that the knife and the word, "sex" in the ice cubes are meant to mean something when put together. Maybe when you use Canada Dry Tonic Water as a mixer you will have violent sex? I don't really know. All I know is that when you really look at the ad, the knife seems out of place. I also noticed that there is a puddle of water by the knife that could symbolize blood. That puddle of water was also placed there very carefully as to convey a violent message.



So now that I have given my opinion on the ad, let's look at what Bill Chapman, the teacher who created this website, has to say about the ad.



Well Chapman sort of follows along the same lines as me, in that he believes that the ad is meant to convey a violent message. Although he takes his one step further. He says that the knife laying there threatens castration if targeted at men. He goes further to say that this ad if targeted at women, targets the women who get beat up by drunk men. He says that the knife is there to get back at the drunk men.



So overall, Chapman and I realized the same ideas of violence in the ad. Chapman, however, went a bit further to explain himself as to what sort of violence. To me, his interpretation seems a bit far stretched with the whole castration conclusion. I feel like there really is no evidence to support the castration theory. But, overall, the ideas that the ad contained violence were ever present in both of our theories.



Well, this concludes my last blog post. I had a great time learning about subliminal messages in ads, and surprisingly in Disney movies. I had no idea so many companies used subliminal messages in their advertising. Overall, I feel this topic has inspired me to keep a look out for such ads in the media.

Reference: http://subliminaladvertising-caitlin.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

KFC in Taiwan... moderately awesome

As per some sort of unspoken rule, no fast food chain in Taiwan can have a menu without adding some sort of weird twist item. McDonald's ups the ante by featuring a 4 layer Big Mac, a double layered spicy McChicken, as well as a green tea flavored McFlurry. Burger King wasn't as adventurous, but even so... they added a honey mustard chicken burger. Pizza Hut? All they did was stuff hot dogs in their crust (review to come btw). Now, 7-11... that's a whole 'nother level of amazing. Finally, let's not leave out Mos Burger in the discussion of specialty fast food. Where else in the world can you get an octopus burger where there are actually visible chunks of tentacles in the patty? In any case, I don't normally go to KFC, but it was raining, and I was kind of forced into it (which I don't really regret btw). It was there... that I realized how KFC could change something plain into something sort of amazing.





I know that KFC in America has those small snacker sandwiches. They're, well... okay? They tend to be unsatisfying though, and nothing really new. Chicken strip inside of a small dinner roll drenched in BBQ sauce has been done already. What you see above is the Taiwanese variant of the snacker. If you're familiar with Japanese style donuts, that is... airy dough made with the addition of rice flour... which is then fried, then you probably have an idea of what this entails. Plain chicken strip (or hot dog) is stuffed inside a 'bun' made of Japanese donut bread. Then instead of sauce, they use Kewpie mayo. That's pretty much it. Instead of dismissing the idea right away, consider the fact that this is a fried chicken cutlet (or processed stick of meat) stuck inside more fried bread. That's a lot of frying... awesome. They cost 39 NT a piece ($1.10 or so), which was their sale price... down from 45 NT, so they are essentially equivalent to the snackers in the US. They taste as you would expect. Somewhat oily, but incredibly satisfying. The one negative though? They're tiny as hell, roughly the size of an iPhone. That said, I never went back to have it a second time, not because I didn't like it, just because there were so many better things to eat at similar cost. Still, I thought something like this deserved its own post... so yeah.





Yes that picture above is my hand, and no I do possess the hands of a carny (neither oversized nor petite). This is purely for size comparison lol.

Reference: http://myinnerfatty.blogspot.com/2009/09/kfc-in-taiwan-moderately-awesome.html

Guest Review: KFC Guitar Hero World Tour Box

The following review was submitted by William Reinier, a good friend of mine and new correspondent to Rick's Food Critique. William, pictured at left, writes from Stillwater, Okla. where he attends Oklahoma State University.



As a big guy, I know a thing or two about food, and after sitting on the couch watching television I saw a commercial for the new Guitar Hero World Tour Box at KFC. And for just $6.99 this seemed like too good of a deal to pass up.



The only logical thing to do was to get in my minivan and drive to my local KFC, as it was near lunchtime and the box seemed like a good idea. There was only one thing that I forgot to realize: While this seemed like a great deal, it was still food from KFC.



It began harmlessly enough. A very cordial man greeted me as I walked in and I could tell that the boredom was overcoming him -- the only other people in the restaurant were an old couple (we're talking AARP-old) and the other employees.



"I'll have the Guitar Hero Box, please."



This is what ensued:



"Would you like BBQ or Original Recipe strips?"



"Would you like a BBQ or Original Recipe Snacker?"



"Would you like a drumstick or a thigh? Original or extra crispy?"



"What two sides would you like?"



"What would you like to drink?"



"Is this for here or to-go?"



"Do you need any sauce?"



When I finally got my food, I felt mentally exhausted. But I was ready to dig in.



I sat down and looked in my box, eager to begin. I took out the baked beans (one of my sides) and was very pleasantly surprised by the results. In the South, the ability to prepare baked beans is a commodity, and KFC did not disappoint. I picked up one of my strips and began to eat the bulk of the meal.



As I continued through my potato wedges and the KFC Snacker, I could feel myself starting to wear down. There is a special sauce that goes on the sandwich which is only made worse by old lettuce. It should be no surprise that food never looks as good as the television makes it look, so I wasn't very let down there.



The real disappointment came with the chicken leg. There were a few tip-offs that it was going to be bad. First of all, the server gave me two legs in an obvious attempt to get rid of them, because there was, in my mind, no telling how old they were. At first bite, I thought it was especially juicy, until I realized that it was especially greasy. I was forced to blot my half-eaten chicken with a napkin much like one would blot a pizza. I didn't know how I was going to get through this one, let alone the second. Luckily, I was able to muster enough will to get through.



Finally, it was time for the biscuit. This is easily the most underrated part of any KFC meal, and was maybe the best. I attempted to put some of the prepackaged butter on it when I noticed that it was not butter, but in fact a "Buttery Spread," as labeled on the packet, so I ate it dry. Fortunately, the meal also came with a 32 oz. drink with a game piece to win Guitar Hero prizes.



The food was decent, but KFC continues to dumb down chicken and take away what makes it so good. The only way to do chicken right would be to find a way to cook it fresh. It would also decrease the amount that is thrown out at night or recycled to the next day.



Sadly, I will probably go back and get another Guitar Hero Box.



Using Rick's patented system, I'm going to give it three and a half sporks out of five, based mainly on quantity rather than quality.

Reference: http://ricksfoodcritique.blogspot.com/2008/11/guest-review-kfc-guitar-hero-world-tour.html

Local Flavor: Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre Talk Urasawa, Sprinkles and...KFC?

Ludo & Krissy - photo credit: Jo Stougaard

Welcome to "Local Flavor," a new bi-weekly column on Rainy Days and Sundays. Every column will feature a local chef, sommelier or tastemaker talking about his/her local favorite eats. This week: Chef Ludovic Lefebvre and his business partner and wife, Kristine, who are currently working on the next incarnation of their roving restaurant LudoBites (coming to Royal/T Café in Culver City for 13 days in December), sit down and share their favorites (and not-so-favorites) from the SoCal food scene.

1) Favorite neighborhood joint?



Ludo: Kaya Sushi in El Segundo. When we lived in Venice we used to go to the location in Marina del Rey all the time. I love Asian food and they have a great mix of Japanese and Korean.



Krissy: I agree with Ludo on Kaya, it is definitely a favorite. I LOVE the Japchae noodles. Although it is a bit further away (closer to my old neighborhood), Typhoon is still my ultimate favorite neighborhood joint.



2) Favorite high-end restaurant?



Ludo: I have not been to a high-end restaurant since I returned from Las Vegas. I had many great high end meals in Vegas, but now back in LA I mostly focus on exploring new different cuisines. I am always looking for new inspiration. If I had to pick a high-end restaurant it would be Urasawa, and I loved my meals at Hatfield's.



Krissy: Unlike Ludo, I have a really hard time going to high end restaurants. Ludo is simply happy to have someone else cook for him, but I can't help myself and compare every meal to his cooking. I am so spoiled. I have eaten probably 100+ meals at L'Orangerie and Bastide. How do I ever enjoy anything else? My favorite high-end restaurant is definitely my own kitchen when Ludo is cooking. Nothing tops it.



3) Favorite watering hole?



Ludo: We really don't just go out to drink. If we are going to meet friends for a drink and want to stay in Manhattan Beach, it would probably be at Shade, although it is not what I would consider a "watering hole." In France there is always a great pub on the corner, but it is difficult in LA because you have to drive everywhere.



Krissy: Shade is a watering hole for cougars. I do enjoy the entertainment, although you feel the claws the minute you walk in the door.



4) Most overrated food trend?



Ludo: Cupcakes. I don't understand this trend. I did not even know what a cupcake was until Sprinkles came to town; we don't have these in France. I think the idea of a cupcake is great, a small little sweet, but I have not been impressed by any of the cupcake companies and surely not enough to stand in line for hours. They all seem dry. The one time I have been impressed by a "cupcake" type treat was at Kiss My Bundt. Their cakes are so moist and delicious; I would take them over a cupcake any day.



Krissy: Hmmm, bacon??? Did I really say that? I love bacon but it is all about bacon. :)



5) Most underrated restaurant?



Kristine: Neither of us had an answer for this one - sorry.



6) Most embarrassing food indulgence?



Ludo: I am never embarrassed about eating.



Krissy: Where do I start? I am not embarrassed about what I eat, but there are definitely some significant swings in my diet. When Ludo is home it's all about "fresh" and "homemade." The minute he goes out of town I fall back to my comfort zone: frozen pizza, PF Changs and by far my favorite indulgence - salami, whipped cream cheese, wheat thins and apple slices, followed by sea salt caramel - YUMMMMM!



7) Favorite hangover meal?



Ludo: Greasy burger, fries and Coca-Cola.



Krissy: Pretty much same as Ludo, but I usually add in a homemade vanilla malted milk shake.



8) Most memorable meal you've had at an LA restaurant?



Ludo: Urasawa. Every dish was so fresh and creative and the ingredients were the top top. I was wondering how many courses there would be and did not realize that I had to surrender to Urasawa. I could have eaten for days just to experience each creation but I finally gave up after about 3 hours.



Krissy: This one is easy. The first time I ever at L'Orangerie. It all started with an amuse bouche. Good thing I did not know that every table got this little treat from chef. I thought it was all for me and it allowed me to create the perfect romance in my head, despite the fact I was on a date. Love is funny thing.



9) Favorite dive eatery/roach coach/etc?



Ludo: El Tarasco. Great after-surf food and is a close second for favorite hangover food.



Krissy: Does not fall into a "dive" but it is definitely KFC. I LOVE the extra crispy snackers.



10) Anything you won't eat?



Ludo: Nope. It is my job to try everything. I prefer not to, but sometimes I even give in to bad food.



Krissy: Salad. I know it sounds crazy, but it just grosses me out.



Stay tuned for more "Local Flavor," coming to you every two weeks. Interested in being featured? Email me at clare@clareiswriting.com

Reference: http://rainydaysandsundays-c.blogspot.com/2009/11/local-flavor-ludo-and-krissy-lefebvre.html