1. Whose message is this? Who created or paid for it? Why?

DiGiorno, a brand owned by Kraft Foods, Inc., paid for this message to advertise their frozen pizzas.

2. Who is the “target audience”? What is their age, ethnicity, class, profession, interests, etc.? What words, images or sounds suggest this?

The target audience is English-speaking, heterosexual, middle-class men, primarily white men, between the ages of 18 and 45 who like baseball or watching sports in general. The four actors in this commercial are two white men, an African American man, and a white woman. It is implied that the man in the middle (Ralph) is married to the woman. They are both wearing wedding rings. The men are watching a baseball game and look to be in their 30s.

3. What is the “text” of the message? (What we actually see and/or hear: written or spoken words, photos, drawings, logos, design, music, sounds, etc.)

Three men are watching baseball outside on a lawn. A woman comes home, expresses a disappointed look and unloads groceries from an SUV. We see the DiGiorno pizza box in her grocery bag. The men decide to order a pizza, so Ralph dials a number on his cell phone. The woman inside the kitchen answers the phone and they have a conversation. Ralph orders a pizza, and the woman says “You know I hate when you do this.” Ralph then says “Another thing, make it snappy because we’re starvin’. Right boys?” The two friends either don’t realize Ralph has ordered a pizza from his wife inside the house or they have ignored the joke.

Next, we hear a male voice actor advertising DiGiorno and a close up of the pizza being cut. In the final scene, the three men are eating their pizza. The woman turns the sprinkler on them and the men remain seated eating and watching the game.

4. What is the “subtext” of the message? (What do you think is the hidden or unstated meaning?)

Men like pizza. Frozen store-bought pizza is more convenient than pizza delivery. Men like baseball and watching TV outside. Men like to play jokes, relax, and have fun, while women are uptight, don’t like to have fun or watch sports on TV. Women cook and do the grocery shopping. Husbands can order their wives to bring them food. Wives impose rules, can be ignored, and are less important. Additionally, there is a different standard regarding the “average” or “plain folks” look for men and women.  Male actors can be overweight and losing hair, while their female counterpart should be thin, blonde, and “attractive.”  Turning on a sprinkler and getting your spouse wet is an acceptable way to respond to his rudeness.

5. What kind of lifestyle is presented? Is it glamorized? How?

A heterosexual middle-class lifestyle of leisure and indulgence for men is presented. A heterosexual middle-class lifestyle that is busier with domestic chores and disappointment for women is presented.

6. What values are expressed?

The values of leisure, work, heterosexual relationships, marriage, friendship, and sports are expressed.

7. What tools of persuasion are used?   See "The language of persuasion"

The persuasion techniques of association, humor, plain folks, symbols, and timing are used.

8. What positive messages are presented? What negative messages are presented?

Positive messages include men having fun with their friends and watching sports without the consumption of alcohol. Negative messages show that it is okay for husbands to order their wives around and for husbands to ignore their wives’ needs and feelings.

9. What groups of people does this message empower? What groups does it disempower? How does this serve the media maker's interests?

This message empowers men who can relate to the actors in this commercial. This message disempowers women because we see the wife being ordered around, used and ignored. This commercial is made to make the male audience feel powerful, comfortable, deserving, and valued. If the male audience relates to this ad and feels good about the message, they will feel good about the product, in this case DiGiorno pizza.