Question

Your task is to watch some commercials and to guess how they achieve their persuasive effect. Commercials are not the same as an act of rhetorical public speech, but they do have a lot to teach us about psychological manipulation. Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded means. Understanding how this works can then help us to identify it when it is used in public speeches. Take around five commercials and write a paragraph of 50-100 words on each, identifying all of the techniques used to persuade the audience that the product is worth buying. Think carefully about the images and words that are used. What emotional response is provoked by the commercial? Are celebrities or so-called “experts” brought in to provide proof? Is this proof valid?

Answer 1

For my second video, I decided to watch the "taco bells, Nacho Fries" They did a great marketing strategy. During the time Horror movies were a big trend but unfortunately, taco bell was selling food, not a movie. So they decided to make the first few seconds seem like it was a horror movie but while still have the nacho fries on the screen. Then they showed the nacho fries as the villain or horror. That made the viewer intrigued. Even if at that point they decide to skip the video, they won't forget it. Like I said earlier, horror movies were big at that time, so even if they wanted to forget it would be a challenge. Also because they continued watching means that they were interested in the commercial.

When watching Hulu I found this ad and fell in love with it. The song was so catchy that my brother and I sing it for fun. The actors portray amazing emotions that seem so natural. The Commercial I'm talking about is "Tag Team Helps With Dessert - GEICO Insurance" They make the commercial funny with different angles, a unique song, emotions, and even the little dances were entertaining to watch. The producers wanted to make something unique. Even though it could seem random it not tho. It makes it clear with a story and makes it unique with comedy.

2/5

Answer 2

Answer:

I watched a commercial for a shower gel that used literary devices. For example, the line “this product is a bouquet in a bottle” uses metaphor, and the line “you’ll smell as sweet as spring” uses alliteration and simile. The literary devices made the product sound good, but it didn’t persuade me to buy the shower gel.

The second commercial was for a brand of honey. The husband is making breakfast and says to his wife, “It makes that bland breakfast cereal as sweet as you, honey!” The advertisers use the word honey to refer to both the wife and the product. The commercial also uses personification with an animated bee that talks throughout the commercial. Finally the commercial uses onomatopoeia with the ending “Get the right start to a buzzzzzing day!” I liked the personification of the bee and the last line. While the commercial was entertaining, it didn’t make me want to go out and buy the honey.

The third commercial was a radio ad for a sale at a popular department store. The speaker deliberately speaks in a hurried tone to emphasize that the sale is for a limited time. The speaker builds a sense of urgency by suggesting buyers “grab the best deals” before everyone else can get there. The commercial also makes use of hyperbole with phrases such as “once in a lifetime discounts.” The hyperbole in this commercial got my attention. It made we wonder if I could go to the sale and get a good deal on a new pair of shoes.

Explanation: :)