In the following letters exchanged between the executive vice-president of Coca-Cola and the representative of Grove Press regarding the use of the slogan, “It’s the Real Thing”, each writer states their stance on why they believe they are have the right to use this slogan for their company. Coca-Cola’s executive vice-president, Ira Herbert, writes in a deliberate tone while also incorporating specific dates, and attempting to spark patriotism in his claim. Richard Seaver of Grove Press, justifies his company has done nothing wrong; however, claims that it will do as Coca-Cola ask. By using sarcasm and specific examples, Grove Press achieves their purpose and sequentially demonstrates why they have a more persuasive case over Coca-Cola.
Mrs. Seaver of Grove Press creates a much more convincing and persuasive argument through his compelling rebuttal of Mr. Herbert’s original letter. Although Mr. Herbert’s argument may seem logical in itself, Mr. Seaver mocks the argument and ultimately demonstrates the absurdity and triviality of the initial complaint. At the time the Coca-Cola representative wrote the initial letter, the company did not possess a patent declaring it had any legal rights to the slogan “It’s the Real Thing,” making the slogan fair game for Grove Press to exploit in its advertising. Mr. Seaver’s sarcastic tone, although much less professional than Mr. Herbert’s, also leaves a more lasting sway in the minds of readers. By exactly repeating certain convincing phrases and statements from the Coca-Cola letter, such as “dilute the distinctiveness” and “diminish the effectiveness,” and subsequently integrating them into his own argument, Mr. Seaver undermines their validity in the first
When it comes to disputes on executive sales, companies prefer to keep the war on paper, but regardless, the battle can get quite intense. Ira C. Herbert is a representative for Coca-Cola while R.W. Seaver represents the Grove Press Company. Both employees send letters in order to dispute over the usage of the catch phrase “It’s the Real Thing.” Each representative addresses his reasoning behind why each respective company has the right to the use of the phrase. To persuade one another, the use of rhetorical strategies is apparent throughout each letter. Whereas, Mr. Seaver’s letter is straightforward and sarcastic, Ira C. Herbert’s response is more persuasive due to its use of evidence in justifying Coca Cola’s priority in the use of the slogan.
Within society power struggles are inevitable and in the business world it is no different. The letters of correspondence between an executive of the Coca-Cola Company, Ira C. Herbert and a representative of Grove Press, Richard Seaver express their different viewpoints on the use of Coca-Cola’s slogan “It’s the Real Thing”, in an advertisement promoting Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher by Jim Haskins. Both Herbert and Seaver attempt to out smart each other through their use of rhetorical techniques and strategies.
Specifically, Rubins’ use of clear, precise language helps her readers understand her analysis. For example, in every instance that Rubin uses historical context, she skillfully crafts her explanations and descriptions of the information presented in a way which is easily comprehended by an audience who may or may not have any background information on the subject. Furthermore, the structure and organization of Rubin’s essay, such as the way she meticulously walks her readers through each element of Coca-Cola’s ad, also lends itself to it’s ease of comprehension. Consequently, both of these elements work together in Rubin’s writing to bring together an analysis which is easily understood by the average
1. How would you classify Forest Hill Paper Company in terms of size and ownership?
Historical illusions are also being employed in this letter as a form of a rhetorical strategy; it is used in the fourth paragraph just like in the first letter but the only difference is that this time Seaver is telling Mr. Ira Herbert about other cases his company has had in past that were just like this one but posed more of a threat to his company, rather than the history of the slogan “it’s the real thing”. Reduction which means the degradation of a victim is being brought into play by Mr. Seaver in the third paragraph of the letter where Seaver states, “we have discussed this problem in an executive committee meeting, and by a vote of seven to six decided that, even if this were the case , we would be happy to give coke the residual benefit of our advertising”, here Seaver is actually demeaning the stature and dignity of the Coca-Cola company because he is practically saying that if it’s the money coke wants, they would be glad to offer coke the money. A hyperbole is displayed in the concluding part of the letter that says “we will defend to the death your right to use “it’s the real thing” in any advertising you care to”, at this point Mr. Seaver is saying that he and his company are ready to defend to death
Herbert, a coca cola executive uses appeal to logic and historical context to convince Seaver, the author of the book “Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher” to change their slogan “It's the real thing” used by both companies to advertise their products.Seaver replies with references, hyperbole, and sarcasm to state that they aren't changing the books slogan. They both were trying to appeal to their audience, the people who buy Coca-Cola and the book. Whereas Herbert’s letter addressing the issue of both companies using the same slogan. Seavers response is more persuasive due to its use of rhetorical strategies such as references and sarcasm.The letters were made to persuade the audience the who has the right over the slogan that coca-cola used
Ira C. Herbert, an executive of the Coca-Cola company, and Richard Seavers, a representative of Grove Press, are the speakers of their own respective letters and they both focus on the motto “It’s the real thing”. Herbert’s purpose is to convince Seavers to stop using the motto “It’s the real thing” and to use a different one and Seavers purpose is to address Herbert’s concerns about the motto and defends his company’s right to keep using the motto. Herbert adopts a friendly tone in order to point out what Seaver was doing, using the same slogan Coca-Cola uses. Seaver adopts a serious tone to guide Herbert what had happened to Herbert and the company of Coca-Cola. Herbert and Seaver use different rhetorical strategies in order to persuade
In both letters, one written by Ira C. Herbert, and the other by Richard Seaver, they use their letters to persuade the other to see their point of view. They do, however, use different methods to achieve this. Herbert supports her claim by offering a sympathetic tone in order to make Seaver change his theme or slogan. Herbert connects the slogan used by Seaver and the slogan used by the Coca-Cola Company in order to build up reasons why they
The Onion’s satirical press release of the new, exciting “MagnaSoles” revealed the ploys and tactics of how products are advertised to a consumer population. Exposing the fallacy and manipulative power of ads, it uses a satirical tone throughout the article through inflated diction, absurd reasoning, coupled with false testimonies and counterfeit professions to discredit
Advertisements are an extremely prominent part of American society. Very few places exist that an individual can go without being exposed to some form of ad. From product placement to billboards, advertisements exist in nearly every facet of life. Marion Nestle discusses what she considers to be one of the more heinous forms of advertisement in her essay, “The Supermarket: Prime Real Estate.” Nestle uses several persuasive techniques to convince her audience of the evils of supermarkets. Her use of emotionally charged phrases paired with her more logical assertions help to drive her point home while her clear bias and lack of supportive source detract from her overall argument
During Cola Wars, a critic from the Onion, which is a satirical website. The Onion makes a reference to the Cold War, but it is about the Cola Wars, this is a written article,” Ad Industry Veterans Honored With Cola War Memorial,” discusses. The purpose of this article is to criticize those who make simple, unimportant things become an over exaggerated situation when there are bigger problems out there. The intended audience is for those who make irrelevant things bigger so he uses emotions and client testimonials. The attitude towards the audience is mocking the audience and burlesque which these both things are satirical. Therefore, the Onion uses the rhetorical devices of client testimonials, distortion and hyperbole.
Introducing his letter, Ira Herbert merely states that as a representative of the Coca-Cola company he feels entitled to express that the use of their slogan by another product does not make them content. Therefore, Herbert suggests the other party to take down the slogan. For instance, Herbert specifically implies that it is okay to ask the advertising team of Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher to take down their slogan because they have “made use of ‘It’s the Real Thing’ long prior” (lines 5-6). From this, readers can feel Herbert giving off a stern atmosphere from the commencement of the letter. As a result, Herbert’s introduction is not argumentative nor convincing but direct. Whereas, Seaver attempts to apply an understanding tone at the
The commercial also incorporated a presentation of the country's varying sprawling landscapes and metropolitan areas, along with Americans of different ethnicities, races, and families partaking in real life activities. With these elements: a patriotic song, playing on emotion, and an invocation of profound imagery, we see several of the tactics mentioned in both articles tackled in Coke's commercial. So why did Coca Cola receive such monumental uproar, if it made use of some of the fifteen basic appeals that make ads effective?
Throughout the course of this essay a rhetorical analysis will be performed over the subject of the popular soft drink, Coca Cola. Here we will take a look at two documents, both advertisement images, both from Coca Cola, separated by over 40 years. This sweet drink took the world by storm starting in the 1890’s and has been a household name since. With hundreds of thousands of soft drinks all over the world, Coca Cola is just another in a bucket, except with a different set of tactics toward drawing in their consumers.