Rhetorical Analysis: Then. Always

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This slogan “Then. Now. Always” appears in a recent Volkswagen commercial to prove the company’s trust and consistence. In recent years, Volkswagen has given people around the world reasons not to depend on the company. With the recent “emissions-cheating scandal” and this edgy commercial I am about to discuss, the company has given the public reasons to pause their trust. (Rodriguez) This commercial by Volkswagen shows a middle eastern man trying to perpetrate a bombing. With the click of a bottom, the bomb blows up, but the car resists it. The commercial by Volkswagen focuses on the strength of the Polo model car, showing that the car is small, yet strong. In order to show the car’s strength, the commercial shows a bomb not effecting the car, implying that it can withstand anything. The purpose of this message is to prove how safe someone can be in this tough car. The company connects the middle eastern male to different social representations of sexism and racism, implying all middle eastern men are terrorists. It tries to persuade car lovers to buy this Volkswagen using the rhetorical devices of pathos and kairos, as well as narration and use of analogy. The company wanted to reinforce the stereotype that all middle eastern men are terrorists, employing the fear that American had after the September 11th terrorist attacks, …show more content…

A middle aged man, plays the main character in this commercial. With this actor, the company portrays that men in Iraq and Afghanistan are aggressive and want to attack the American people. This commercial was released a few years after the attacks on September 11th, 2001. The company tried to relate the man in the commercial to the men who attacked the World Trade Center during the deadly terrorist attacks. This gives a sexist view of middle eastern men because Volkswagen is classifying them as aggressive