This paper will analyze different fallacies and how they are presented in televised commercials. Engleberg and Wynn (2012, p. 235) state a fallacy is an argument grounded in a false or inaccurate reasoning. There are several different types of fallacies individuals and corporations use to convince others of something, however this paper will specifically focus on slippery slope and appeal to authority. In this commercial a man waits on hold with his cable company. This causes him to become frustrated and a series of events unfolds. Things snowball and become out of control. At the end of the commercial the man ends up in a roadside ditch. This is a Direct TV commercial which portrays if one uses Direct TV they will not have to wait on hold and will remain safe. If one chooses to remain with their cable company though many of these unfortunate events may occur.
Direct TV uses the slippery slope fallacy to attempt to convince viewers to switch cable services. The slippery slope fallacy is based on the premise a series of steps will lead to an extreme outcome (Grand Canyon University, 2012). …show more content…
The fallacy of slippery slope was easy to identify and unrealistic. The humor in Direct TV’s commercial catches viewers’ attention and entices them to watch the full commercial. While this is a memorable commercial it is more something to laugh at instead of make people purchase Direct TV’s products. When people think back on this commercial they tend not to remember what company the advertisement was for, but what happened. Under normal circumstances, most people would not be persuaded by this commercial unless they were already considering switching cable services. There is no compelling evidence to convince viewers to switch cable services and the argument is not valid. Sony, a camera company, uses another fallacy to convince viewers to purchase their
Direct TV uses the slippery slope fallacy to attempt to convince viewers to switch cable services. The slippery slope fallacy is based on the premise a series of steps will lead to an extreme outcome (Grand Canyon University, 2012). …show more content…
The fallacy of slippery slope was easy to identify and unrealistic. The humor in Direct TV’s commercial catches viewers’ attention and entices them to watch the full commercial. While this is a memorable commercial it is more something to laugh at instead of make people purchase Direct TV’s products. When people think back on this commercial they tend not to remember what company the advertisement was for, but what happened. Under normal circumstances, most people would not be persuaded by this commercial unless they were already considering switching cable services. There is no compelling evidence to convince viewers to switch cable services and the argument is not valid. Sony, a camera company, uses another fallacy to convince viewers to purchase their