Preview

Rhetorical Analysis Of Coca Cola

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
470 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rhetorical Analysis Of Coca Cola
Coca-Cola Executive Ira Herbert sent out a letter to Richard Seaver urging Grove Press Inc. to immediately end their use of the slogan "It's the real thing," which Coca-cola claimed rightfully belonged to them. Seaver responded to the letter by stating the company recognized Coca-Cola's reasons as to why they should stop the use of the slogan; however, Seaver employs satire/irony, allusions and a condescending tone to assert the fact that Grove Press Inc. will not render their privilege to use the phrase, "It's the real thing." Seaver uses satire at the beginning of his letter when stating "the public might be confused…and mistake a book…for a six pack of Coca-Cola." He speculates whether or not the public has enough common sense to justify the difference between the two. Seaver sarcastically aims to solve the confusion by "notifying bookstores that when a customer comes in…they should request the sales personnel to make sure…the customer wants a book, rather than a Coke." In doing this he hints that the request to stop the use of the slogan because of the confusion it may spark is both ridiculous and meaningless. He then uses …show more content…
has personally been in the same shoes as the Coca-Cola Company in this debate. He alludes to two of their own published books: One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding and Games People Play. He illustrates how their situation was far worse in the sense that it was not only the motto that was being recycled but the name of the product itself with a few minor changes. However unlike the Coca-Cola Company, they did not make a major objection to it and instead embraced the fact that it was became widespread and significant. Seaver also refers to the First Amendment in that it states freedom of speech, refuting Coca-Cola's belief that they "owned the phrase". Both corporations equally have access to use it because there was no evident restriction saying that only Coca-Cola possessed exclusive

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Shamwow

    • 487 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In “The Hard Sell: Advertising in America”, Bill Bryson gives specific insight on the necessity of being more aware of why you buy what you buy. Bryson argues that the product name must be short, simple and unique. He states, “First. It is short. Second. It is not capable of mispronunciation. Third. It does not resemble anything in the art…” (425). Another effective advertising strategy that Bryson observes is the “giveaway”. Bryson states, “Consumers became acquainted with the irresistibly tempting notion that if they bought a particular product they could expect a reward…” (427). Bryson also asserts the importance of creating in the consumer a feeling of anxiety that makes the consumer feel as if they NEED the product and not just merely WANT it (428-429). Another efficient selling tactic is the use of scientific-sounding terms, according to Bryson, “There was never slightest hint of what GL-70 was, but it would, according to the advertising, not only rout odor-causing bacteria but ‘wipe out enzymes!’” (434).…

    • 487 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The use of numerous hyperboles throughout article brings awareness to the fact that advertisements do the same thing, over-exaggerations. The article in its entirety is ironic, it is an advertisement making fun of advertisements, which adds some humor to the criticism.…

    • 356 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin with, Herbert’s wording would be considered as direct diction because of the way he speaks on behalf of the two companies crossing paths due to them both utilizing, “It’s the real thing” for advertising their products (5). As for when Herbert claims that the author of Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher must, “stop using the theme or slogan” since Coca-Cola believes that they own this specific slogan due to utilizing this slogan before the author of the book (7). This may be portrayed as direct diction due to the way they don’t try to beat around the bush, but says specifically that they feel the author must not use this slogan because people may become confused if Coca-Cola and the book are intertwined. Moreover, Coca-Cola includes…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Taylor, what a great company to choose for your topic. I have never been a fan of McDonald’s food, only their sweet tea. My husband, step son, and some of the people I work with eat there. I have asked them why and they say it’s cheap. When they came out with the salads, I researched it and was surprised how many categories were in them. I am sure them offering healthier options has helped the company and especially helped their PR department to paint a better image of the company.…

    • 91 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Furthermore, Ira C. Herbert’s letter establishes a serious mood. For example, he justifies that, “... We are writing to ask you to stop using this theme or slogan in connection with the book” which is informing that the The Grove Press must stop using “their” slogan(6-7). Herbert implants a serious mood in the reader when he decides to not use any positive words and just gets to the main point of his letter. Another example would be him claiming that in 1952, Coca-Cola used “There’s this about Coke-You Can't beat the real thing”...” informing the Grove Press that Coca-Cola created the first idea that originated the slogan. In this situation Herbert serious mood is conveyed when he is straightforward and direct. This straightforward letter directed…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within this report, an advertisement for Lucky Strike cigarettes has been used in order to break down the rhetorical analysis of the ad itself. This essay explains the pathetic, ethical, and logical appeals in which have been used in order to attract consumers. This break down will explain how such a simple advertisement; can attract a variety of consumers in order to buy their product. There are three main appeals in which the rhetorical analysis is composed of, in order to produce and ad, which will actually attract people.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In 1970, Grove Press used the slogan "it 's the real thing" in an advertisement for Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher by Jim Haskins. The Coca-Cola Company had already been using this slogan and similar slogans for approximately 28 years, and as a result a Coca-Cola Company executive, Mr. Ira C. Herbert and Mr. Richard Seaver, who was a representative of Grove Press, have a two letter correspondence in which the use of this slogan is discussed. Although both letters contain similarities in regards to word choice and the use of details and examples, the overall tone and persuasiveness of each letter varies greatly.…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He writes that in order to avoid confusion between the respective products due to the slogan, each "sales personnel [is] to make sure that what the customer wants is the book, rather than a Coke." Thus being quite humorous about the whole situation, Seaver maintains a conscious nativity in response to the authoritative and condescending tone of Herbert's letter. Seaver quite innocently writes that neither him nor anyone in the agency "realized that [the Coca-Cola Company] owned the phrase." It is this sort of underlying sarcasm that allows for a persuasive and entertaining argument. However, though Seaver may use biting humor to drive his point across, he manages to keep the letter on a respectful level, although he fully realizes the almost childlike and absurd nature of the…

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since 1876 Budweiser has been an iconic and innovative alcoholic beverage company in America. (Big Buddy) Their advertisements are no different. How many alcohol companies use puppies in their ads? Matt Freeman says "What they understand is that online marketing is more about a compelling and infectious idea rather than a particular technical format or technique." (Budweiser) Numerous companies use different marketing techniques to intrigue us and enhance their product, but what significance does the use of pathos, ethos, and rhetorical appeals have?…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Working your hardest, trying it your best, and meeting the needs of thirty freshman is more than the work itself. It’s torture. The Beverage Wars is the torture of exalting yourself into a whirlwind of not only your own ideas, but four other perspectives that may or may not be close to freshman thinking. Phew! The freshman class must have “exploded into seniority” by sipping on Volcanic Jungle, because they most certainly do not let age stop them from voicing their opinions. Freshmen that were seen as fearful, tiny, and cute, are now spurious demons that slaughter each and every project in some way. It is utterly important to make note that not one soda received a perfect rating. So, my fellow classmates of AP Composition, we can’t be offended by rejection. After receiving entirely mixed results and feedback, I have concluded that our efforts of rhetoric will always ultimately fail in the eyes of freshmen. Even though we received just one vote, we did not fail in the sense that we captivated the attention of the freshmen. In the long run, to have been able to win this competition, our Soda needed to rank first in multiple categories. From the beginning the feedback on Blank Space was so diverse, that the downward spiral that Blank Space took could be spotted from a mile away. The fans…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Pater Rhetoric

    • 3727 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Since our company has made use of “It's the Real Thing” to advertise Coca-Cola long prior to the publication of the book, we are writing to ask you to stop using this theme or slogan in connection with the book.…

    • 3727 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Visual Rhetoric

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Coca-Cola companies' website portrays a plentiful amount of information and images to its visitors. It seems to have a very calm mood embedded into the site.…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With numerous products being advertised daily, it is qutie easy to get caught up in being interested in them. While some products seem reliable, others seem “too good to be true,” or in other words, a complete lie. In this case “The Onion publishes a mock article that is satirizing how products are marketed to consumers. As ridiculous, and absurd, as this process maybe, it doesn't stray far from typical marketing rituals. This article discusses the magnasoles company/products using the advantages and “powers” of the insoles, the price, and consumer quotes to advertize and sell their product. Each strategy is humorous and pathetic, and that is what The Onion is expressing.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Just Do It

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sharad Haksar’s Just Do It is part of his very moving series of pictures he calls “Brand Irony.” This series portrays ironic juxtapositions of world-renowned brands combined with interesting visuals. In this specific picture, Haskar shows Nike’s famous Swoosh accompanied by its “Just Do It” slogan on a wall acting as an advertisement somewhere in India. On the wall next to the ad, a young boy is urinating as a little dog looks on. At first a feeling of excitement comes over the viewer because of Nike’s large media presence and its ties to athleticism. The boy urinating next to the slogan seems to then invoke a feeling of humor. These emotions soon give way, however, to a much deeper and serious analysis. Soon enjoyment and wittiness turn into anger and sadness as the details of the image slowly come forward.…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    2005 AP English III Essay

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In this mock press release from The Onion, the author satirizes the way products are marketed to consumers. He seems to think that the methods used by advertisers are exaggerated and manipulative. The author shows his contempt for marketing techniques by using irony, diction, and hyperboles.…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays