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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the term, semiotics, refer to?

2. What does the essay, "Signs of Shopping" examine?

3. What does the phrase "Commodification of desire" refer to?

4. Which of the following products is cited by the authors as a cultural icon?

5. What is an archetype?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Michael Parenti, the author of "Class and Virtue," how does the movie Pretty Woman represent class and virtue?

2. What is the earliest sign of American consumption of "more?" When did that happen?

3. How do advertisements perpetuate gender stereotyping?

4. What is the Democracy of Goods according to Marchand?

5. What is Schadenfreude? How is it relevant to TV shows? Give two examples.

6. What is an archetype? Give two examples.

7. Taking the example of blue jeans, explain how a product undergoes a transformation as a cultural symbol.

8. Which businesses represent the current day version of American accumulation of land? What is the phenomenon associated with it?

9. What is one addiction that all businesses really like their customers to keep?

10. Describe some of the key elements or processes involved in the semiotic analysis of TV programs.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates profanity and indecency, it allows violence, often the extreme kind, on TV as well as in movies. Should the FCC's role involve regulating violence?

Essay Topic 2

What did you learn about the history of American advertising from the chapter "Brought to You B(u)y: The Signs of Advertising?" How is the history of American advertising linked to the advancement of technology?

Essay Topic 3

Both Camilo Jose´Vergara and Lucy Lippard examine the signs of city and urban landscape. Compare and contrast their views of the cities. How do you agree or disagree with their views?

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