Referring to the persuasive advertising strategies and the logical fallacies listed in this week's module content, do the following:
- Include a link to an advertisement related to your area of academic or professional interest that you have observed recently.
- Discuss how several of the persuasive techniques and fallacies apply to the ad.
- No words/paragraphs limited.
Example:
Although these aren't the most recent ads, this ad campaign was one that I especially enjoyed as a Colorado resident. When marijuana was legalized, I had just moved to Colorado, so I was experiencing a totally new environment in my new home state. The legalization of marijuana brought on a whole new set of difficulties in enforcing laws that didn't change just because some others did. The big push is these ads was that it is still illegal in Colorado to drive while under the influence of marijuana. The ad slogan was "Drive High, Get a DUI". There were several commercials that showed a wide range of activities that a person could perform while high, but not be able to complete because driving high is illegal. One commercial showed a person trying to light his grill to make a steak for him and his friends, but when he pushes the button, nothing happens. It then shows that he forgot to get propane. The point of the commercial is that you are allowed to grill high, but you can't drive to the store to buy the propane you forgot.
The persuasive techniques that I saw in this ad were pretty obvious. The first was they used humor. The ad didn't say much about the law or it'n enforcement, but it left a lasting impression on the audience with it's simple, humorous scenario. This ad campaign also used the plain folks angle. It showed every day people doing every day things, but stressed that you can and can't do some things high. But, perhaps the most effective thing about this campaign was the simple and catchy slogan, "Drive High, Get a DUI".
I think that these simple commercials show how effective persuasive techniques can be when used in the right context. I liked that legislators and law enforcement officials used a commercial to reach the masses, and used every day situations to show the reality of the changing laws in Colorado.