Response #3

Response #3

4/20/10

The video ‘Depressant Commercial Parody’ begins with a slow depressing song playing in the background with a black and white gloomy color. An obvious, cheerful, smiling, young, white man is sitting on the couch pleased and laughing at a television show. When his mother appears, she observes him, becoming tremendously worried and begins to cry. The narrator introduces the video by asking “Who does happiness hurt?... One in five young adults is affected by Hyper Active Bliss Syndrome.” It goes on stating there is a way you can fight happiness. Its solution is a depressant pharmaceutical drug. Once the prescription drug, Cerebrum, is introduced in the commercial, the room comes to life with color, and the music adjusts to an upbeat and lively tempo. Yet, the young man, who has just tried the new drug, lies on the couch seemingly sad, and depressed. The narrator goes on saying “Only three pills, four times a day is all it takes to rediscover the joys of depression” Later, the man is apparently distressed and irritated with his parents by dropping an F bomb and flipping his mother off. Their reactions are simply blowing of a kiss and joyful smiles. The video ends with the list of possible side effects, which when taking Cerebrum might occur. The list varied from heart attacks, strokes, seizures, to sexual dysfunctions, gender identity issues, and even death.

I didn’t know whether the video might have been a bit inappropriate or not, but it had a great underlying story in which I could analyze. This 65 second video mocks America’s ongoing dependence on pharmaceutical drugs. The man, who can be interoperated as an average person in the real world, seemed perfectly fine before taking his medication. His Hyper Active Bliss Syndrome had absolutely no impact on him, but his mother, who can be interoperated as society, insisted and emphasized that the young man desperately needed drugs. Americans view these prescriptions as a miracle drug. It seems to me more and more young people are convinced or pressured into new prescription medicines, by mass media and the cultural reinforcement that come along with it. Sometimes the drug itself is not worth taking. Even when having an illness, the possible side effects could be more damaging. Which brings me to the thought; none of the commercials I’ve seen on T.V have not shown an extensive list of possible dangerous side effects. Overall, this video grabbed my eye, and although it might have been an ironic parody, it refutes the idea of depending on pharmaceutical drugs.