rehortical strategies in the Wal-Mart commercial...

There are several rhetorical strategies used in the Jesse McCartney Wal-Mart commercial.

For instance, the use of illustration is very apparent in this commercial. The commercial illustrates the Christmas decorations and gifts that one can buy at Wal-Mart. The tree, stockings, lights, wreaths, and garland all can assist to brighten a home for the holidays and help make the holiday extra special. Also illustrated, are the electronics that one can buy from Wal-Mart. The game boy, laptop, IPOD, and digital camera illustrate that Wal-Mart not only has beautiful decorations, but the perfect gift for everyone on a list. Wal-Mart can “hook up your home for the holidays.”

Also used in this commercial is the strategy of cause and effect. The McCartney family is having a wonderful holiday. The commercial wants the viewer to believe that a wonderful holiday comes from Wal-Mart. A wonderful holiday includes magnificent decorations and heart-felt gifts. The commercial shows that the McCartney family, with their tree, lights, wreaths, garland, and electronics, is having a great holiday thanks to Wal-Mart. IT is possible for everyone else to have a great holiday as well, they need only to shop at Wal-Mart.

This commercial also shows the process of how to use the electronics that are in the commercial. Jesse is seen playing the game boy. He demonstrates to the audience how the game boy is supposed to work. When the mom snaps a picture of her daughter, she is showing how to correctly use the digital camera. The daughter, with her ear bud headphones, demonstrates the proper use of an IPOD. Finally, the brother demonstrates one use of a laptop.

Narration is also used to represent these people as a typical ‘American family.” The mom and Jesse converse about the simple favor of “letting the cat in.” This shows the actors as normal people and how everyone can have a great holiday by shopping at Wal-Mart. The s3everal rhetorical strategies in this commercial combine to achieve one main goal. The commercial’s objective is the get the audience to shop for their holiday needs at Wal-Mart.