Image Attribution: “Bell Let’s Talk : Advertisement Analysis” by Elizabeth is licensed under CC BY-SA. (See interactive map)
The advertisement is from Bell Canada, which is a telecommunications company, and it is for its campaign to normalize and encourage the discussion of mental health (Miller, 2013). The picture features two people who are in the foreground and seem to be participating in a conversation. Neither person is looking at the audience which gives the appearance that they are in their natural environment and were not aware that their photo was being taken. It seems they are taking a break from their hockey game since there is a net in the background and both people are holding hockey sticks. The two people are made the focus of the photo because they are wearing dark clothing and the background is light coloured. By having the two people face each other it allows for the appearance of a human connection between them. The company conveys the idea that it is possible for people to have genuine and uncomfortable conversations in their everyday life. Since the female in the picture has her head angled downwards it gives the appearance of her being vulnerable. The male in the photo is giving her a reassuring smile which allows the viewers to perceive that others will be supportive when having a difficult conversation. In my opinion the image makes it appear that conversations about mental health can happen casually while doing any activity. The advertisement’s lack of bright colouring makes it blend into the scenery on the side of the roadway. Therefore, the attention of drivers passing by is not caught since it matches the dull greys and blacks of the surrounding buildings and sky. Bell Canada is recognizable as one of the biggest telecommunications companies in Canada. Their effort to increase efficiency in manufacturing in order to lower unit costs was investigated in the 1960s (Denny 1981). According to Denny, the most effective way of reducing the unit cost was to increase the amount of customers connected to modern switching equipment, thus reducing the need for labour services. In conclusion, Bell Canada appears to currently have a positive impact on society with its campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental health and funding mental health agencies.
References
A;, Miller. “Mental Health Awareness Campaign Exposes Challenges in Combatting Stigma.” CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Apr. 2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439628/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2021.
Denny, M., et al. “Estimating the Effects of Diffusion of Technological Innovations in Telecommunications: The Production Structure of Bell Canada.” The Canadian Journal of Economics / Revue Canadienne D’Economique, vol. 14, no. 1, 1981, pp. 24–43. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/134838. Accessed 21 Jan. 2021.