Lesson 10 — Activity 2:

Multimedia Advertisements: Purpose and Content



How do you see advertising? How does it affect how you view others? How does it affect you and your self-esteem?

Many of the advertisements you see are multimedia ads. They are a combination of images, words, video sounds, or sound effects. If you watch TV, go to the movies, surf the Internet, or go online with a cellphone or other device, you will come across thousands of multimedia ads. There are even multimedia bulletin boards that look like supersized television screens lining large city streets. People watch these fast-paced ads while they wait for the traffic lights to change!

Advertising in Times Square in New York City.


Courtesy of Pixabay

If you have done any surfing on the Internet, you've encountered advertisement banners — the small rectangular ads that appear on all sorts of web pages. In addition, many websites have links to advertiser's websites.



Courtesy of Pixabay

Multimedia advertising is everywhere, and you will continue to see more multimedia communication between companies and the public as time goes on. Keep in mind that all this advertising is aimed at trying to get you to buy a service or product!

One company that is trying to educate youth about the influence and effect of advertising is Unilever Canada, the creator of Dove body products. You may already be familiar with the television, print, and multimedia ads, and you may use Dove products. This company has spent time and money creating a website with activities and short films to help young people understand the impact the media environment has on their lives and self-esteem.

Click here to view the activities on the Dove Canada website.


For this activity, you will watch a short film created by Dove called Onslaught. You will then move to the assignment where you will reflect on what you learned about multimedia advertising. You will be asked to create a montage — a type of collage created from photographs, drawings, magazine clippings, and other objects.

Click on the Play button below to watch the short film Onslaught.



The film asks you to question how advertising affects you and your self-esteem. The document in the box below will help you to reflect on what you learned about multimedia advertising.

Self-check!