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  • Essay / The Presentation of Products to Consumers in The Onion Magnasoles: Rhetorical Analysis

    In The Onion's fake press release, the author satirizes the way the products are marketed to their consumers and how which people are gullible enough to believe everything marketers say. on their product. By describing MagnaSoles, a fake product, the author brings humor and awareness to the extent that most marketing campaigns are fake. To achieve his goal, the author uses his diction, appeals to ethos and includes images in satirical marketing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Using his diction, the author's connotation behind his words satirizes marketers and the ridiculous claims they make place on their products. By describing MagnaSoles as a “total foot rejuvenation system,” the reader can hear the sarcasm dripping from those words. Usually, these specific types of words are used in over-the-top infomercials that exaggerate the product in an attempt to sell it. When a fake consumer describes their "smart" decision to purchase MagnaSoles, they comment that the product is "clearly approved" by doctors. The use of these words, along with false scientific-sounding jargon, reveals the connotation that people are gullible when they believe these doctors are real, just as many consumers of real products for sale believe these products are approved by “doctors”. Endorsements from these doctors are used to make the product look better and gullible consumers believe what is presented to them. With the phrase "healing power of crystals", the connotation is implied that everyone should see how clearly false this is, satirizing the number of customers who believe everything a product's website says. Using diction, the author mocks marketers and those stupid enough to fall for their fake products. The author also appeals to the ethos of satirical marketers and their consumers by showing how those who are interested in purchasing a product will believe anything they hear. . By using customer testimonials, the product appears to actually work and creates so-called proof that the product does what it claims. This account creates a bond between the customer and the marketer because people will believe the “real” people. Using Helen Kuhn's testimony that she said, "Just try to prove that MagnaSoles didn't cure me," the product appears to have proof that it works as many real-life advertisements do. MagnaSole's use of customer reviews, much like infomercials do, mocks those who buy certain products after hearing good reviews, whether from a friend or on television. By using quotes from Dr. Arthur Bluhe, "the pseudo-scientist who developed the products," the public becomes susceptible to manipulation by the company since this man poses as a doctor and appears to know what he is talking about. Companies that create fake products like MagnaSoles are also satirized, as many of them also use "doctors" to promote their products. By appealing to ethics, as many infomercials do, the author shows how people believe everything they hear and mocks companies for the way they market their products to consumers. Using images, the author describes the product andits effects in as much detail as being sarcastic about the benefits of MagnaSoles. By painting the picture of “healing crystals used to stimulate dead foot cells with vibrational biofeedback,” the reader is able to see and understand how ridiculous this marketing campaign seems. This makes fun of ads that try to describe their product in depth, but over exaggerate and make it look ridiculous. To continue with the imagery, the author describes that foot problems occur when "the frequency of the foot is not aligned with the Earth." Anyone reading this will instantly see how fake this seems, and yet people continue to buy idiotic products like this. Through imagery, The Onion depicts the product and its effects in a vivid manner to satirize the product and its consumer. Onion's fake press release about MagnaSoles was intended to satirize marketers and the steps they take to get consumers to buy their product. By using diction, appealing to ethos, and adding imagery, the author shows how ridiculous most advertisements are. Satire in The Onion The practice of satire can lighten the thought of serious events and provide a humorous approach to making the issue known to those involved. In the article written by “The Onion”, a shoe insert is touted as the remedy to cure feet, as well as other bodily injuries. The marketed product has customer opinion and the advantages of the insert. On the other hand, it does not contain any logical facts or information that gives the article the real effects of a typical persuasive advertisement. The author of the article makes readers believe the advertisement is realistic, but also wants to approach the humor in a distant manner using key literary devices. Although humor can be interpreted in different forms and appeal to different audiences, the satirical strategy uses a different approach to humor. . The article overly calls for authorities to satirize or mock the use of expert opinions to support a product's objective performance. Pseudo-product scientist Dr. Arthur Bluni mocks the fake experts often used in advertisements to attract customers by appealing to authority rather than reality. Dr. Bluni says, “What sets MagnaSoles apart from other insoles is how they harness the power of magnetism to properly align the biomagnetic field around your foot” (5-9). The scientist provides good information that would generally attract an interested buyer, but there are no scientific facts to support or explain why this product is more beneficial than other insoles on the market. Obviously, the approach to advertising is not the same. intended for serious inquiries, but it also aims to mock the marketing of the product by using extremely complicated and confusing language to make the product appealing. Dr. Bluni further boasts in the article of the “patented Magna-Grid design, which features more than 200 isometrically aligned contour points” (11-13). The use of the word “patented” and the brand symbol attempts to make the product appear more legitimate and professional. The author introduces "Magna-Grid design" and "contour points" to simply provide complicated words without any clarification. In fact, these words seem to be an attempt to hide a banal object behind grand terms. For marketing ploys, this tactic is often used, and the satirical article uses its own meaningless terminology as a front to ridicule realistic advertisements that do so..