Product placement, the insertion of branded goods and services into things like movies, music, etc., is very prominent today. When done poorly it looks like a bad infomercial. When done well it can be very effective at increasing sales. When discussing this topic, we watch both the previous clip and this Seinfeld clip which highlights overt yet humorous product placement. We then enter into a discussion concerning what makes good product placement more effective than a commercial, as demonstrated by the Seinfeld clip. Eventually, we come to the conclusion that:
- Unlike a commercial, you can’t fast-forward through product placement, so you know that consumers are observing your product, and
- The placed product can become a key element in the plot, such that to remember the program is to remember the product