Practice: Analyzing Symbolism in Ads

Last updated almost 8 years ago

12 questions

Note from the author:

This Formative asks students to think through the symbolism in popular advertisements. I used it as practice during our symbolism lesson; it was one step towards writing a paper on rhetoric in advertising.

Practice: Analyzing Symbolism in Ads

Last updated almost 8 years ago

12 questions

Note from the author:

This Formative asks students to think through the symbolism in popular advertisements. I used it as practice during our symbolism lesson; it was one step towards writing a paper on rhetoric in advertising.

  
Analyze the symbolism of each of the following ads. Ask yourself: What symbols do you see? What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol for?

Here’s an example:

  
What’s the tone? Wry, funny, affectionate
What are we supposed to believe about this product? McDonald’s chicken nuggets give us a shortcut to a home-cooked meal. Eating them is like eating food grandma slaved over.
What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of? The ad is trying to turn chicken nuggets into a symbol of two ideas: 1) Family togetherness or old-fashioned values 2) modern convenience and freedom

Practice: Analyzing Symbolism in Ads

Practice: Analyzing Symbolism in Ads

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?

What's the tone?

What is the ad trying to make us believe about its product?

What is the ad trying to turn its product into a symbol of?