Rhetoric is a useful strategy of using language to persuade and convince readers. It’s a way to manipulate words in a specific manner that appeals to its intended audience. You will see it almost anywhere with writing or dialogue; articles, commercials, speeches, etcetera. Specifically, I want to analyze the way Playstation has been trying to sell its most recent version of its game console with rhetoric.
In this commercial, it’s very clear that there is a strong lean towards Logos or appeals of reason. There is little text in the overall video, but when there is text, it’s mostly turning our attention to the newest additions to the Playstation 5. No one is going to buy a newer version of their game console unless it has functions that would make their gaming experience more enhanced. The overall claim that this commercial is trying to make is that the Playstation 5 gives its users ways to feel more immersed in their game. What does it mean to feel ‘more immersed’? Well, we have 5 senses that make us experience life: smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste. This commercial appeals to the fact that their controller, headset, and console trigger 3 out of our 5 senses. This is apparent by the visuals of the controller triggers that supposedly make it feel like you’re actually pulling a trigger or the headset that makes it feel like someone is breathing down your neck. The fact that you can see this in motion also appeals to the viewer’s Ethos or appeal of credibility. Their claim alone isn’t enough to prove to us that this game console will, in fact, be a genuinely incredible device for video games. Generally, those viewing this commercial will have an idea of Playstations’s previous products; they believe that what this video says is true to life.
In conclusion, Playstation made excellent use of rhetoric in encouraging their viewers to buy their product.
You show that you understand logos and ethos in advertising and especially in this one in how these new features can cause people to want a new playstation after probably already having one.
You clearly explained how the advertisement appeals to the audience’s sense of reason by showing off the new features of the console. Advertising these new features are good ways to get people to buy this new console over keeping their old one.
Playstation has a credible reputation in itself so people tend to buy the newer version of the console just because of something new. Pathos could be shown because of people’s desire to actually buy a new console is present.
Playstation makes fantastic use of rhetoric to get viewers to buy their product, to the point where I almost bought one despite the fact that I don’t even play games. Everyone will buy a Playstation console as a result of the advertisement !