Essay On The Cola War

The cola war occurred in the 1900s, continuously encouraged by the people. In the article by the Onion “Ad Industry War Veterans Honored with Memorial,” the Cola War is discussed in a satirical way that depicts it similar to an actual war. This was done in order to address the problem with society, criticizing how it deals with issues. By illustrating the issue that way, the author hopes to make a change in society by persuading people to reevaluate what should be considered important. The piece was written using anecdotes, irony, and allusion to get the author’s point across, presenting the argument in a way that ridicules the way society acts overall. Allusion can be seen various times throughout the article. In the introductory portion

This allows the inscription to be better understood and gives the reader the opportunity to begin discussing the topic itself. Throughout the article, irony is apparent many times. It is a consistent theme, expressed with a tone that can be described as serious or dramatic. For example, when introducing the Cola War and why the memorial is significant, the author writers “None who experienced the war can forget it, but we need this memorial to help us remember.” The Cola War is also noted to have been “...pitting agency against agency in a bitter struggle between Coke and Pepsi…” This is an example of irony because the words are not literal, considering the author’s purpose in ridiculing the public’s reaction to the Cola War. The situation is blown out of proportion, stressing the concept of the Cola War being like an actual one. This is also seen where a figure is introduced to discuss Pepsi’s campaign and the impact it had, stating that he “...was morally outraged.” This has an ironic effect because the words are not meant to be considered literal and the meaning behind them is the opposite. There is a clear exaggeration of the situation, seen through words like “bitter struggle” and “outraged” that show the author’s intention establish a dramatic tone. In these, the author is depicting the Cola War similar to an actual wars in terms of severity. Illustrating the war in that manner was done in order to establish an ironic effect, showcasing the author’s purpose. By using irony, the main point is emphasized through the contrast irony