Website layout
This blog entry is part of a Fall 2008 blogging exchange between American University in Cairo and Stanford University's Online Activism class. To read all the entries, follow this thread; be sure read the earliest entries first.
We’re posting to evaluate each candidates websites.
Obama’s website directly directs you to his homepage while McCain’s website first starts with a video that gives us the reasons why we should elect him as voters and how he would improve the economy. Proceeding with another video of his experience and injury in the military, he is trying to prove to us that he is a patriotic and faithful man who can lead the country. He also emphasizes why the united states needs such a man like him having courage and especially faith which is well stressed on.
There is a clickable button that then leads to the homepage similar to Obama’s homepage. Similar tabs that are available are issues, blogs, media, news, etc. The other major similarity that we’d like to stress upon is the color both candidates chose as their background which is blue. When we looked up the blue color psychology we got some interesting results. Blue gives the viewers a sense of calmness, serenity, cleanliness and peacefulness. Moreover, blue is the favorite color of most people according to polls. The American flag also consists mostly of blue because it symbolizes vigilance, perseverance and justice. Assumingly both want to show that they are patriotic and loyal to the American people.
When comparing the ads we found out that McCain has more negative ads than Obama. In McCain’s homepage we found an ad that attacked Obama’s background. Usually when people feel that they’re week they start attacking. This is actually the case because Obama is winning in the polls so far.
We covered and analyzed at least the important aspects of the page layout.
Ahmed Mostafa, Christianne Chackal and Sandra Ahmed
Comments
You brought up some interesting points.
The psychology of colors is a fascinating subject. Often the color of choice for product advertising is red because it is associated with hunger and desire. I can see how the blue is calming and peaceful.
As to the negative adds on mccain's campaign, I wonder if the strategy of negative advertising is waning in effectiveness. At least, it appeared to me that this election had far less mud racking going on. (Then again, I'm not located in a swing state so I guess I wouldn't know).
I'm curious to see how the use of video technology is going to increase in politics from here on out. Youtube really came in big time this election. I guess the average American doesn't bother to read very much any more.Oh the things we take for granted!
Sometimes I wonder if the advancement of our technology is more of a curse than it is a blessing. On some levels it does supply unprecedented exposure to information, yet on other levels it facilitates an extraordinarily complacent arena of discourse marred by sensationalism and mediocrity.
Peace, Clarity, and Compassionate Curiosity
Posted by: Xavier | December 2, 2008 02:23 PM
Xavier wrote: "Sometimes I wonder if the advancement of our technology is more of a curse than it is a blessing."
Actually, turns out that technology acted as the most powerful resistor to negative "attack" ads. Even before the day's of black and white television, negative ads have been utilized as an essential part of an effective presidential campaign. From Lyndon Johnson's "Daisy" Ad against Barry Goldwater to more recently the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth attacks against Kerry's Vietnam record in 2004, negative ads have significantly swayed chunks of the electorate.
However, the advancement of information technology now has an important place in setting the record straight. Through checks from FactCheck.org or Fact Check sections on many media sites and blogs, along with our new ability to Google check any fact in a matter of seconds, distortions or exaggerations of fact in the political realm as less effective than they have ever been.
Thus, even when running against a black candidate with a relatively short political record named Barack Hussein Obama - in other words, the ideal candidate to mudsling in political advertisements - McCains attacks still fell short of their intended - even expected - influence.
As an information source, the advancement of the internet is indispensable. In my opinion, the benefits of easily accessible truth and, thus, the Internet's standing as a source to counteract bias, exaggeration, and distortion, significantly outweighs its potential faults.
Posted by: David E | December 2, 2008 04:31 PM
In fact Barrack Obama's website is more appealing and attracts a wider audience this strategy is very visible when we look at the website layout. I like this idea of analysis because it shows that Obama is willing to change the image of the US. The colors of his website are bright and are matching with the american flag. This could be interpreted as a bright future but preserving the american culture.
Posted by: bourhan Rateb | December 6, 2008 05:37 AM
In fact Barrack Obama's website is more appealing and attracts a wider audience this strategy is very visible when we look at the website layout. I like this idea of analysis because it shows that Obama is willing to change the image of the US. The colors of his website are bright and are matching with the american flag. This could be interpreted as a bright future but preserving the american culture. Showing his family does reflect his intentions and the way he was brought up. Another aspect i realized was the word: "change" frequently used in this website probably because it is his main intention. That is the message he would like to give through his webpage. Overall i think that Obama's website layout overcame as being a well established and very successful media page and i think that it was a major tool to become the next US president.
Posted by: bourhan Rateb | December 6, 2008 05:42 AM
I'm not surprised to hear from all of you that Obama's website is more appealing and that it attracts a wider range of audience. Actually Obama's victory was propelled by his intelligent use of the internet. It's not just the layout of his website but also the exploitation of social utilities like "Facebook" and "My Space".
Ironically, it was McCain who first saw the internet's potential in a presidential race, running an experimental set of targeted banner ads during his doomed 1999 primary battle against George W. Bush. But eight years later, Obama finally utilized the net's full potential as an election tool.
Posted by: Ahmed Mostafa | December 7, 2008 04:40 AM