Subway uses rhetoric to draw customers to eat there with a spokesperson. His name is Jared, and he is well known for losing a substantial amount of weight by eating at Subway. Jared often brings with him a pair of pants he wore when he was obese to use as a visual aid for the audience he is presenting to. By doing this, he is implying that Subway can help you lose weight. This advertisement harnesses the tools of rhetoric to persuade the audience to choose the healthy chain restaurant. It specifically uses ethos, by establishing a credible source in Jared, and could also arguably include logos, appealing to reason with the possibility of losing weight. I am persuaded by this advertisement because I see someone transform their lifestyle by eating at Subway. It conveys the message that eating at Subway will improve your body and your way of life. The pair of pants that Jared shows from his unhealthy past make me want to avoid becoming that way, making Subway more appealing to me. I think this advertisement by Subway is persuasive and logical. Jared probably didn't lose the massive number of pounds from solely eating the food at Subway every day, but it is enough to convince me to choose to eat at Subway instead of a less healthy chain restaurant. I think this is a good incentive to dine at Subway, and if most of the audience feels the same way as I do, then Subway has a very good marketing technique to attract customers to their restaurant.
In Mr. Cline's class a few weeks ago. We took the day off in a way from our normal classes. Instead of continuing to read the books we were assigned and discussing them, he read us the sermon by C.S Lewis "The Weight of Glory." Its a long sermon, but one worth reading. It is about the confusion many people have on the topic of what we desire the most. He explains after much background information, that we all desire true happiness. And through that happiness, we long for heaven, our true home that we were designed for. He explains that glory is not what many people think of as being "famous" in heaven. But more that we are honored by our Lord and Father. For it to be like the scripture passage "Well done, good and faithful servant." C.S Lewis does a fantastic job at being persuasive here, and if read by the right person aloud, can have an excellent effect. He clears up lots of points that people bring up that are not true. Such as the point of glory...
Excellent post. Great use of rhetorical analysis, good description and strong use of language
ReplyDeleteI think the greatest issue with this commercial is found in the fact that Jared probably attributes most of his success of losing weight to Subway's cuisine. If this ad were a bit more honest Jared would probably have to share some lifestyle changes he made along with switching his diet (for example, perhaps he exercised more?). Overall, I think this commercial is one that people could easily argue against, rather than fall into its marketing techniques.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mike, seeing a real life example of someone achieving something great can be really persuasive to other people.
ReplyDeleteThis ad is effective because they are saying you can lose weight and still have a good fulfilling meal.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good post, it is crazy that we see this all the time and don't usually
ReplyDeleterecognize the way they are persuading us, and playing with our emotions to get of to buy things.