Preview

Analysis Of Kid Kustomers By Eric Schlosser

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
934 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Analysis Of Kid Kustomers By Eric Schlosser
Edwin Joaquin
Professor Koestler
English 102
April 8, 2014
The New Shopping: Kids As old generations have died away new generations have poked their way into the world. As man evolves with new generations so do their lifestyles. A few decades ago children would ask their parents for the necessities they need and be okay with what they had. Now it’s backwards. More and more kids are demanding to have the latest technologies and the latest gadgets rather than being comfortable with the resources and materials their parents provide. Children are taking control rather than their parents taking control. Children are becoming the parents and the parents are becoming the children. The parents are doing what their children want them to do and
…show more content…
He also says that as more children are watching television they don’t realize that they are being brainwashed into believing everything they see and wanting it. He also goes on to talk about the different methods kids (as he refers to them) have to obtain what they want. Eric’s point throughout the essay is that it’s horrible to compensate for the needs kid’s have. Eric’s essay is effective because although the essay is very short, Eric does an outstanding job explaining the methods kids use to persuade parents, an excellent job giving more than one reason why kids are the markets best consumers, and informing the reader why this crisis is …show more content…
The audience, given by the information given in the reading, is not for kids who like shopping, but for adults who are having trouble and are looking for a solution or to be informed that compensating their children is actually harming them. The essay itself is a good informative essay giving the reader an insight into a problem, if not a major problem, that is occurring in our generation. Although the essay is very short, Eric does an outstanding job explaining the methods kids use to persuade parents, an excellent job giving more than one reason why kids are the markets best consumers, and informing the reader why this crisis is occurring. The grade Eric’s essay “Kid Kustomers” is an “-A” because it could have been longer, but the author used evidence and information to back-up his statements and ideas. Eric’s use of information and the interpretation of that information into his worked really made the essay run

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In his report, “Kid Kustomers,” Eric Schlosser discovers the tactics marketers and manufacturers utilize to target children. Schlosser claims that since the 1980s when working parents spent less and less time with their kids, they felt it necessity to spend more money on them. Manufacturers took advantage and began to promote a kid-related appearance. They started by observing children of specific ages to discover their interests and habits, receiving much of their information from the Internet and kids’ clubs. This provided the marketers insights on how to improve their business plan to attract more children and create “cradle-to-grave” customers. Their strategies often resulted in clever mascots…

    • 292 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eric Schlosser wrote a book called Fast Food Nation in 2001. “Kid Kustomers” was a chapter in Schlosser’s book where he aimed to inform the readers about businesses using their advertisements to target children. By citing credible sources, using studies and statistics, applying emotional appeal, and using good word choice Schlosser created a strong essay.…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The author uses a variety of different persuasive techniques to support her arguments, the first of which is inclusive language. Inclusive language is not the most powerful technique, but it draws the reader into the article and makes them feel as though they are directly affected by the issue. In the beginning of the article, the writer states that VCE is doing “harm to our teenagers”. This early use of inclusive language involves the reader in the issue and makes them want to read more, and it also instantly positions the reader to view the VCE system as harmful and dangerous. Hyperbole is also used very well throughout the article, particularly when the writer declares that “VCE is the great lie that destroys adolescence,” in order to exaggerate the scale of the problem and create a sense of alarm in the reader.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Just like the teacher from earlier, being one who was affected by the over-indulgence of T.V., she is not the only one. Winn concludes, that the effects of the television has harmed family relationships by eliminating opportunities for conversation, and other interactions. Whether it be conversing over daily activities, or arguing about internal issues, these opportunities have diminished because of television being the distraction. Winn used a mother as a reference because the mother’s solution to her kids fighting was to turn on the T.V., and ignore the issue. Another thing that was noted when it comes to children and television, is the loss of real life experiences. Children who watch too much television become so attached to the T.V. personality, and lose the ability to respond to real people because of the lack of interest. Winn’s use of logos in parts of her argument are used effectively to put actual reason behind how television is causing a lack of…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kid Kustomers

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Eric Schlosser is indeed correct about the changing trends in marketing and advertising and I agree with him that there is an increased focus on children in advertising. This is clear from the kind of content that one is likely to watch on television nowadays where the content has been to a large scale focused towards things that are of interest to children. The question that one would ask from reading the article is whether the trend is right or whether the marketing companies are losing the right objective of marketing by focusing it towards children.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the short story “The Veldt,” Ray Bradbury illustrates what is to come to a child without the proper guidance from their parental figures. The lack of parental guidance in the story is brought about by the machinery and technology that relieves the parents and children from daily chores and abilities that may seem tiresome, such as making dinner, cleaning the house and even tying their shoes. As they are relying on this technology, the parents are slowly beginning to lose their purpose as a parental figure in the children’s lives and are transferring their responsibilities to the technology to parent the children for them, leaving them to forget about what a parent’s main purpose is--teaching them lessons that will make them understand right…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The perceived audience from the text is thought to be adults and in particular parents. They are the audience because WELL is a parent online community and most of the topics are something most families may face. The purpose of this text may have been to show that even the most isolated and alienated individual can find support in these communities. Rheingold may have written this text for families that have “bad neighbors” or have difficulty socializing with people with this purpose in mind.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Difference in perspective

    • 638 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Every day is a new day with some changes in the world. There is always a difference between yesterday and tomorrow. People thought changes were because of the environment. Due to changes in throughout life there has been an ever-widening gap between the older generation the younger generation. New generations follow a different style of thinking and behavior than the previous generation. Today, the generation from “Grandparents to Grandchildren” has changed significantly. There was a time in the grandparent generation where seeing a pregnant teenager in High School was not a usual scene, but today it is typical. There is a noticeable cultural gap between the grandparents to grandchildren generation.…

    • 638 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As I write this with a very disappointed tone, our 45th President Donald Trump is not capable of being a mature understanding adult on Twitter. That being said, he belongs to the Baby Boomer generation giving us a logical representation of how it’s not all on a single generation, the Millennials. But, all of us as a whole human race making these mistakes together. Though it would only be the intelligent thing to blame the parents of the “problem” right? But who can blame the Gen X parents this because, it’s a new concept of parenting and they don't have much of an idea on how to go about it. Simon Sinek, creator of the Facebook and Youtube popular ‘Millennial Question’ goes into deep detail on how our parents taught us wrong. “The generation that we call the Millennials, too many of them grew up subject to failed parenting strategies. For example they were told they were special and they could have anything they wanted in life just because they want it.” He then goes on to tell us that these children become adults and they struggle because their mothers can’t help them get a promotion and that they’re not really all that special and that these people have lower self esteems than…

    • 1198 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Children are the future and therefore allowing them to be subjected to more adult concepts that are displayed to them in marketing such as decision-making and critical thought can only prepare them better for the future.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Today’s kids feel that they are so entitled to everything, because either their parents have gave them anything and everything that they wanted. There are some people who think that they are entitled by the government. You hear things like the government owes me because of what was done to my ancestors, or I have paid my taxes and “I am entitled to the help”. This generation is so used to everyone doing for them that when they do enter into society as an adult they want be able to stand on their own two…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marriage Essay

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the article, “Attracting the Twentysomething Worker,” Nadira A. Hira states that Gen Y is difficult but beneficial for today’s modern work force. In Hiras’ first main point she argues that there are more younger people, known as Gen Y, able to work (1). She applies that Gen Y is so focused on what’s going on in the technology world that they are still able to get their work done. Even though Gen Y has a certain way of expressing themselves, it doesn’t affect the way they present themselves when working. The parents of Gen Y never got the chance to see what was out there in the world for them. Gen Y has seen all the pain and suffering going on in the world that they want to make a change and live like there’s no tomorrow(1-2). In Nadira A. Hiras second main point, she explains how Gen Y’s parents acted way differently than they do now. Gen Y’s parents, spoiled them. They always got what they wanted. They say college graduates, Gen Y, still ask for money from their parents because they are in severe debt. Students may still live at home, and some may live on their own, but usually they always come back. Knowing that they never did anything on their own, Gen Y is struggling in the real world(2). As Nadira A. Hira is writing this article, she is texting, chatting, and watching television(3). She is Gen Y. She uses herself as a personal example for the ideas she was backing up. Even though Gen Y is difficult, cocky, and a different generation, Gen Y still get everything done with all the distractions they have going on in this new world of ours.…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. Smith, C. (2010, February 23). Ethical issues when marketing to children. Retrieved September 23, 2010, from…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Television and commercials are a part of our everyday lives. They are an entertaining way to learn new things, travel the world, and learn about people and culture. We are infiltrated with non-stop advertising while watching TV. According to the Website, “Love your Body”, the number one after-school activity for children ages 6-17 is to watch TV for. Many ads on TV subliminally tell us or make us want or feel something. Ads are powerful messages and content. They can make the unreal, seem real. Our children can become confused by watching too many ads. Ads target kids, since they are a major buying factor for their parents’ spending. If a kid wants something bad enough, advertisers know the parents will eventually give in and buy it for them. Many researchers from the American Psychological Association agree that ad targeting for children is unethical because it targets impressionable minds. It is also not healthy, mentally and physically, for our kids to be brainwashed by so many ads. There is plenty of research that shows all these effects on our kids do plenty of damage not only to our pocket books but also not good for the health and safety of our youth. I will be discussing these effects of advertising on our youth to bring more exposure to why we should limit our kid’s exposure to them.…

    • 1905 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a world where money is everything, it is important for companies to promote their product as much as possible. A car company might have billboards along the roads with their newest car on, but it has also become important for a car company to promote their products to kids. In an average American family with children, they have 2 cars, and 1.86 children. As said in the text, kids gets more and more influence on the daily shopping, as well on other things and greater decisions, such as what car to buy, or what computer to purchase next. Therefore, car companies have started to promote their products on kids TV channels along with children games and activity on their websites, such as color- and learning games.…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics