Fallacies in Advertising Flashcards

Study Notes

Fallacies in Advertising

Fallacies of relevance in advertising include appeals to authority, pity, fear, ignorance, and personal attack.
Example advertisements can utilize these fallacies to influence consumer behavior and perception.

Example 1: Veganism Advertisement

Ad features a baby smoking a cigar to draw attention and elicit emotional responses.
Target audience: parents with children, particularly those concerned about health and wellbeing.
Critique: Ad lacks credibility; parents are unlikely to consider veganism based on this shocking imagery.
Uses fallacies of fear (health risks associated with smoking) and ignorance (misleading associations between smoking and meat consumption).
Potential to alienate rather than persuade the intended audience due to its provocative approach.

Example 2: "No More Abuse" Campaign

This advertisement was initiated by the King Khalid Foundation addressing domestic violence in Saudi Arabia.
Aimed to influence government officials amid legislative changes regarding domestic abuse.
Emotional appeal generates feelings of anger and sadness, resonating with both men and women.
Final slogan fosters unity in fighting abuse, helping to normalize conversations around domestic violence.
Effectiveness apparent as it contributed to the enactment of laws against domestic violence in Saudi Arabia.

Example 3: State Farm Advertisement

Features NFL quarterbacks Aaron Rogers and Patrick Mahomes in a humorous context.
Target audience includes car owners seeking insurance and sports enthusiasts.
The appeal to authority suggests that endorsement by successful athletes signifies reliability for potential customers.
Creates a memorable brand association helping consumers recall State Farm when considering car insurance.
Successfully engages viewers through humor and relatability while reinforcing brand trust.

Example 4: Sprite Cranberry Advertisement

Prominently features basketball star LeBron James promoting Sprite Cranberry during the Christmas season.
Intended audience: families looking for festive drink options.
Utilizes an appeal to authority, suggesting that LeBron's endorsement enhances the product's desirability.
High consumer engagement reflects ad's success, leading to increased sales and brand recognition.
Valuable feedback on this ad may inform future advertising strategies, fostering greater profitability for the company while satisfying consumer needs.

Description

Explore the different fallacies used in advertising through this discussion activity. You will analyze a specific advertisement or commercial that exemplifies fallacies of relevance. Write a detailed post to help your classmates understand the techniques used.