A Common Sense Fallacy

Scott's Towels advertisement leads us to believe that the only way we can have common sense is to sue their product. This is a definite case of the Black or White fallacy. There are many other ways to have common sense, other than using Scott's towels. However, they would like consumers to think that there are only two choices: either they use this product, or they have no common sense. This ad is directed towards mothers or parental figures. Notice how the ad shows a child using their product. To parents, this creates a link between their home life with kids and Scott's towels. The child looks as though he is having fun, therefore the consumers will think that their kids will enjoy cleaning up their messes with Scott's towels. As well, the colours and pattern used in the Scott's logo is also used to border the advertisement, which also matches the boy's shirt. Together, these colours make the ad much more appealing to look at and will likely catch your attention.

Reebok's Fallacy Sale

This Reebok advertisement uses the Thin Entering Wedge fallacy. It implies that if you use their running shoes, your body will look like the one in the ad. However, their logic is missing quit a large step. To look like the model in their ad, you must do more than buy a pair of shoes, you need to use them to work out and run often. Even then, its likely that any brand of running shoe will do the same for your body shape. Reebok knows that people will try to find the simplest ways to look healthy, and uses that to their advantage. They want their customers to believe that looking fantastic is as easy as buying a pair of 'Reebok Easytones'. As well, their slogan "buy this pair, get this pair free" is mimicking the sale signs used in stores. People feel familiar with this saying and unconsciously think positively when reading it because they know it means paying less money.

Notice that the only colours in this ad are the pink on the shoes, and the matching "buy this pair." This helps your brain link together the fact that buying these shoes will give you a free work out. Its likely that the first thing you looked at were the shoes, because of their colour. Then your eyes turned to the shape of the body behind the shoes. The way the light hits the legs flatters the curves and creates a very attractive line for the eyes. The black and white tones make the ad seem very sophisticated and mature. Even the soft reflection below the image gives the consumers a radiant, beautiful feel.

Evian water or Plastic Surgery Ad?

This ad for Evian water uses a Figures Prove fallacy by stating that 79% of people who drink a half a litre of Evian every day notice that they are visibly younger. However, the ad does not mention the soucr of their statistics. We don't know whether or not this statistic is legitimate, and if it is, then we must take into consideration whom was involved in the statistics. Where do these people live? How old are they and what gender? If only young, healthy women were surveyed then Evian's statistic is biased.

This advertisement is eye catching for many reasons. First, they used a beautiful, young and healthy woman as the foreground. As well she is also naked and holding her chest to cover herself while grinning widely. She appears to be very comfortable with her body, which is usually a consumer-attention-grabber, but then again, this is a water advertisment. With the "Be Happy Naked" slogan, it could be an ad for plastic surgery or a weight loss clinic. When people see this slogan, they automatically are drawn to the ad, because everyone would like to feel more comfortable in their body. Like many other ads, the setting seems to be on a warm beach area. This is likely because the warmth and relaxation of the beach attracts people and convinces them that using this product will cause them feel the warmth of a beach. Even the colours used along the top of the advertisement are a warm, tropical tone. Also, the way the light is hitting her upper arm and face hints that drinking Evian water will make your skin look like hers. Also, the tall grass is pointing towards the woman's body, drawing your attention even more to her skin. Overall, Evian is using elements that humans are naturally attracted to to sell us their water.

Appealing to Britney

In Pepsi's commercial, they use Britney Spears to convince their audience that if Britney drinks Pepsi, then Pepsi must be cool. This is definitely an intentional use of the "Appeal to Authority" fallacy. Throughout the commercial, there is noticeably a lot more "Britney" then "Pepsi". In fact, eliminate the few Pepsi bottle shots and the large Hollywood-style Pepsi sign and you would have a typical Britney Spears music video. As well, her classic head swings and hip thrusts create a sexy link to drinking Pepsi, creating the overall idea: drinking Pepsi will make you as sexy and popular as Britney. In the full length version of this commercial, there is a shot shown of Coca Cola workers watching Britney's Pepsi performance on a small TV screen. The Pepsi company intentionally added this "Appealing to the Crowd" fallacy to hint that even other cola companies prefer Pepsi. By using Britney Spears to advertise, Pepsi will have won many Britney fans onto their side of the cola war.

Britney's Pepsi Ad