More Convincing Commercials

AP Language. Fri, Aug 14th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Themes: , ,

In our continuing quest to better understand the essential elements of any argument, each of you will be writing a more extended analysis of an advertisement. It can be a commercial, a print ad, or even an infomercial. (I’ve never had anyone analyze an infomercial before, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work…)

The format for these analyses is in your syllabus.

Post questions or good commercials you come across (as long as you aren’t using them) below. Your response should be typed, and in this format.

 

Update: It seems that I neglected online advertisements. While we will focus primarily on the form and content of individual arguments, it is always interesting to take a look at the bigger picture. The video below illustrates the scope and possible impact of online media and advertisements. It is aimed at businesses (especially around the 3:00 mark), I thought it worth sharing.

3 Responses to “More Convincing Commercials”

  1. Katy Bruce says:
    August 14, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E4J8lFn5PI

    This commercial appeals to the “pathos” more than anything. A) there is an extremely cute baby, and B) there’s a caring father. State Farm is using it’s own name as credibility, because it knows it is one of the most successful insurance companies around. This commercial is just trying to get you to consider State Farm as insurance. Maybe the message it’s trying to convey is that State Farm can protect your newborn child better than any other insurance company.

  2. Alyssa Sordo says:
    August 14, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    “Flea Market Montgomery” is a viral video that started as a local ad that would never have reached an audience greater than that of its area if it weren’t for its absurd nature. In this case the speaker actually loses credibility by being in the commercial. The ad itself is essentially brilliant. You take someone who is the farthest thing from “hip”, add some generic hip hop music in the background, and make him repeat the business’s name over and over with some simple lyrics. My entire family now knows this song word for word. I think adding the dance was a nice touch. You can really see the intensity in his eyes. Especially about 43 seconds into the video.

  3. Alyssa Sordo says:
    August 14, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3oHpup-pk
    I don’t think I posted a link.