Video A
Video B
These two anti-drugs PSA’s share a host of similarities and differences. Both attempt to counter the problematic trend of drugs, particularly illegal ones. Both, thus, are targeting teenagers and young adults, the most likely to come in contact with such culture and to feel the most pressure from it. Additionally, both stem from a similar metaphor, an egg – one’s brain – being altered permanently by a frying pan. Finally, both use the phrase, “Any questions?” at the end of the commercial. Despite these basic similarities, however, there are large differences. The first would be time-based because one commercial was made immediately after the hippie-era of the 1970’s, while the other was made in the early 1990’s, when the media and populace was becoming more aware of the detriments of drug-use. Perhaps because of this increased awareness, the latter PSA received more funding and was therefore able to be almost twice as long as the first. The true difference, however, becomes apparent when looking at the effectiveness of the rhetoric. Video A makes a blunt point that brooks no argument, but uses a weak metaphor and no support (pathos, logos, or ethos) at all, leaving the audience to ask questions, most importantly, “Why exactly are drugs so bad?”. Video B, while it also does not apply much logos (statistics would have made it more effective), uses a more complex and easily understood metaphor. The egg is a brain, the frying pan is a drug (heroin, specifically), the kitchen is our life, and when the frying pan smashes through all of these things, our brain and life can be ruined. This, when paired with the sarcastic “Any questions?” line at the end, leaves the audience shocked at such a blunt tone, and makes them think “Why would anyone want to do drugs?” Thus, Video B proves to have a stronger rhetorical argument than Video A.
Brainstorming
| A1: First Video Observations (Older) | A2: First Video Inferences |
| Short | Limited budget, which is likely due to being a PSA |
| Blunt | Trying to hit home the seriousness of drugs |
| “Any questions?” | Sarcastic, showing how solid the point is |
| Egg boiling in a frying pan | Metaphorical for how drugs “boil brain cells” |
| Old | Made in post-hippie ‘80’s, an attempt at countering a serious trend |
| B1: Second Video Observations (Recent) | B2: Second Video Inferences |
| More than twice as long as first | Expanded budget, more serious a problem, perhaps there’s even more awareness among the populace concerning this |
| Blunt, emotional, violent / angry | This IS a serious problem; why in the world would anyone want to do drugs? |
| “Any questions?” | Sarcastic, showing how solid the point is; much better as it follows such an outburst |
| Egg, everything in kitchen, being broken by frying pan | Strong metaphor: If the kitchen is our life (where we make our future, jobs, family, etc.) and the egg our brain, drugs can ruin lives |
| Young woman, celebrity | tries to touch common-ground with teens / drug-users with celebrity endorsement |
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