Practice: Analyzing Symbolism in Ads

Last updated over 7 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

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?