Boy Meets Impala Rhetorical Analysis

Whether we want to or not, we all remember our first cars. Small, slow, clunky, and sometimes a little rusty, they usually lacked a level of sophistication. They got us to work, school, and home again and provided a level of freedom that we had never enjoyed before. For that, we all retain fond memories; however, we all know that, when given the choice, we would have chosen to drive the coolest car on the market, especially when we have people to impress. Chevrolet’s “Boy Meets Impala” commercial of 1958 plays on this scenario, featuring strong pathos, connection to a specific audience, important contextual ties, and persuasive content meant to encourage families to purchase the new Impala convertible. The advertisement heavily relies on

Originally produced in the late 1950s, it exhibited several elements of traditional gender roles. For example, neither the mother nor the sister spoke up about their opinions. In that time period, men’s opinions were considered more valuable than women’s, making it uncommon for a mother to make a decision such as the one necessary to allow the son to borrow the Impala. In addition, cars just became a commodity in recent years. Therefore, many families didn’t have firm loyalties to a certain brand. Advertising allowed Chevrolet to get their name out into the public and encourage the masses to purchase Chevrolet vehicles. Television, a brand new way of spreading news and supporting brands in front of larger crowds, confirmed commercials as the obvious way to go. Social standards and necessity define “Boy Meets

Pathos effectively plays viewers’ emotions to make them feel as if purchasing an Impala will make them “cool” and bring them closer to their families. The audience, families interested in buying new cars, allows the producers to target a very specific group using highly effective techniques. The context in which the commercial appeared greatly influenced its content and the effect that it had on prospective buyers. Although practical, the commercial’s content, upon closer examination, proves to be less than adequate. Though the advertisement may evoke good feelings and appear to be a persuasive masterpiece, it is a good example of why consumers must thoroughly research using outside sources before making a final