We have all been interrupted during our television shows by the faces of abandoned and homeless animals staring back at us. The ASPCA (The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals) commercial starring Sarah McLachlan is an example of a rhetorical situation that uses the three persuasive appeals. The main purpose of this commercial is to raise public awareness about animal cruelty and raise awareness of the urgent need to donate money to defenseless animals. Through the use of ethos, logos, and a great deal of pathos, they are able to effectively get into the viewer's head about donating to their cause. Two-time Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan is a widely known face associated with this promotion. She is also recognized as a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is a great face to use for this ad because not only because of her musical talent, but she is also known for doing charity work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay McLachlan is used as a voice for abused animals who don't have one. She spent three hours in the studio recording "Angles" and according to Sarah herself it raised over $30 billion. It combines such a powerful song with a serious topic to really emphasize the message. Furthermore, given its notoriety, the company can use it as a tool to influence more donors. Additionally, the video is very relatable to the average person. A couple of seconds into the video, they show McLachlan sitting on the couch with her dog on her lap. McLachlan's ease is similar to that of many people in their own homes. By using the speaker's character-based appeal, also known as ethos, they gain more trust with the viewer. It gives credibility to advertising and the ASPCA. The ASPCA uses pathos more to relate to their audience. As the film continues, Sarah McLachlan's song, “In the arms of an Angel,” plays in the background. The slow and smooth beat tugs at the audience's heartstrings. The lyrics include “in the arms of an angel fly away from here. From this dark, cold hotel room and the infinity you fear. "The words of the song really express the overall message, advocating that animals find safety in the arms of ASPCA employees. McLachlan's soothing voice helps spread the message that the ASPCA is a safe company that has the goal of saving animals around the world. Along with the soft and slow speed of the song are images of terrified and depressed animals. The beat increases the severity of the problem as the images are shown looking in short, distressed and neglected. The weak legs, desperate expressions and wide eyes emphasize the helplessness of the animal , the compelling words used in the commercial are also used to bring out emotional responses in the audience: “'Right now there's an animal that needs you, and your calls say 'I'm here to help.' (00:01:50)” It says that you will be a savior for animals, which triggers a sense of cause and pride in the audience. These words are intended to get your audience to take action and donate to your organization. While pathos makes up the majority of the video, the use of logic, statistics and reasoning also aims to convince the donor to donate. This commercial uses logos, appeals to logic or reason, explaining that if
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