While watching television and movies, I have always been interested in the increasingly prominent brand placement that goes on. With more and more television series set in “real time”, there are ever growing opportunities to place brands in the shows. I find it incredibly business savvy that many shows today are nearly completely funded by the strategic partnerships they make with large brands. Although over-placing brands makes for a gaudy final product, I often seem to enjoy shows with a lot of brand placement.

How do you think current television seeks to locate, understand, and manipulate the emotional underpinnings of viewers? Draw examples from shows and episodes in particular if you can.

How are “brand communities” built? How are this community’s desires molded and commoditized by the network and its sponsors?