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Ad Power!

Love them or hate them, ads are here, there and everywhere. Examine the persuasive power of advertising and propaganda in Australia’s social history. Through deconstructing iconic Australian ads investigate the goals and methods of selling a product or message. Get involved and debate. Are you sold?

Program information

Year Levels Years 5 to 12
Duration 50-minute facilitated Theatrette presentation, allow 30 minutes for teacher-guided gallery experience
Availability Weekdays: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; Evenings: Monday to Thursday 5pm to 8pm; Weekends: 10am and 12pm
Minimum Numbers 5 students (day), 15 students (evening)
Maximum Numbers 120 per group
Cost $5.50 per student (day), $6.50 per student (evenings and weekends), teachers and carers free of charge
Curriculum Links Download Australian Curriculum links

Program objectives

  • Further develop media literacy through identifying and reading persuasive content and analysing how these relate to target markets.
  • Explore changing Australian social and cultural perspectives through interaction with NFSA’s advertising collection.
  • Identify the filmic techniques, performance, and styles used in the production of advertisements.
  • Investigate the evolution of Australian identity through the lens of media and the arts.
  • Discover the importance and roles of the National Film and Sound Archive as a memory institution.

Additional resources

australianscreen logo

australianscreen
The clips in this collection are accompanied by teachers’ notes created by specialist curriculum writers.

School Screen
Provides free screenings of Australian feature films, shorts and documentaries for school students and their teachers in local cinemas around Australia.

Rinso Washing powder: Then Came Happiness
Helen, worn out by the drudge of washing day, is introduced to Rinso by a girlfriend during a bridge night.

Bushells Tea Advertisement: The World of the Future
This cinema advertisement reassures its viewers that no matter what the future holds, you can rely on Bushells tea to remain the same.

Vegemite Cinema Advertisement: Sister Knows Best
As well as being a product that the whole family can enjoy, Vegemite was marketed as having economical benefit.

Aeroplane Pure Fruit Jellies Advertisement: Bertie the Jet
The colourful animation, the anthropomorphising of Bertie, and the jingle ‘I love Aeroplane Jelly’ are designed to appeal to both children and their parents.