The ad: This ad is for Comcast internet. A turtle is seen pushing a computer away from the house. He explains that with DSL, the farther you get away from the main office the slower the the internet connection is. By pushing the computer away from the house, he is showing how he likes his computer to run as slow as possible. The commercial ends with writing across the screen that says “Fast. It’s not for everyone.”
One of the readings that we had this week was about the Aristotelian causal analysis. Within this reading, it discusses the four causes that are seen in advertising. One of the first causes is the formal one. Formal cause is also just a way of giving a definition of a product. It shows what goes into the product or service that is being offered. In this commercial the formal cause is internet. By showing how slow DSL is compared to Comcast, the audience sees the importance of having Comcast.
Another one of the Aristotelian causes is the efficient cause. In other words, it is the effect the product or service has. In the Comcast commercials, the effect is how Comcast offers a faster and more reliable internet connection than DSL service providers. By showing the turtles who are slow, and prefer a slower connection, we see how Comcast is better.
The Aristotelian cause is important to keep in mind when looking at an advertisement. By looking at all four different causes, it is easier to see what exactly the commecial is trying to offer. I feel that knowing these causes will help me become a more aware consumer.
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