Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Repetition in the Media

Repetition can be done for emphasis or to drive home a point. Advertisers know this, so you hear the same commercial tag line again and again. They hope that you hear it and see it so much you believe it!

For example, think of all the mastercard commericals that you've heard again and again ending with the line "...priceless".



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDf751c1yiA

(note also the use of repetition in the form of parallel structure...starting phrases with "most popular" )

Does the repetition make you believe the message? It was once said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” (Joseph Goebbels)

Check out these commercials featuring repetition. Would they convince you?




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is3icfcbmbs&feature=related




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8c2pYBmLxE

5 comments:

  1. THE HEAD ON COMMERCIAL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE!!!!! You would think this type of wording wouldnt be used in this day ans age but actually its all about psychology and it really works the words stick in your head and when you see them in the store you are automatically drawn to it . Great example.

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  2. commercials like these are so annoying but the repetition makes it hard to forget them!

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  3. Great examples. Yes they are annoying, but they are memorable & yourecall the commericals when you see the items in the stores.

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  4. Because I was younger when I started to hear these commercials I never really thought much of them. I kind of accept them for what they are, advertisements. But I can see what teh advertisers are going for, because even if I don't believe mastercard is "priceless" I will still relate the two words.

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  5. I had a roommate that once purchased HeadOn, and it just kind of made me chuckle because I really couldn't fathom such a goofy commercial featuring a product that worked as well as they claimed it did. None of the commercials here made me want to go out and buy the products.

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