A Rhetorical Analysis Of A Six Flags Commercial

Lindsay Connell
Shelia Odak
Composition 1 Section 49
October 6, 2014
Six Flags Commercial Analysis
What makes certain commercials better than others? The key to making an advertisement that stands out to all audiences is to make them understand the purpose of the TV ad, while making it interesting. Most aspects of today’s commercials include catchy tunes, interesting storylines, famous mascots, and logos that catch our eye and make us want more. Six Flags commercials include all of these. Many people have seen a Six Flags commercial before and are able to recognize it even without physically looking at the TV. Why is this? Six Flags commercials include all the key points in engaging an ad to all
audiences. I believe the Six Flags commercial works by attracting all ages while enticing consumers with a guaranteed unforgettable adventure they will experience at the park.
This Six flags commercial has an intriguing storyline that supports the argument.
It begins with the scene of a dad looking extremely overwhelmed by his young, overly active son. The dad’s facial expression is priceless! His face describes complete horror and defeat as he is lying on the couch while his son continues to beat his head with a plastic baseball bat. After watching this scene for a few seconds, Mr. Six then appears saying “One flag.” The commercial then changes gears by showing riders, who seem to be having endless fun, on one of the roller coasters at the park. Mr. Six appears once again saying “Six flags. More flags, more fun.” The story of the ad is very important because Mr. Six is implying that you should not just settle for your boring life at home, but instead experience an exciting, unforgettable day at Six Flags. This is portrayed when the storyline changes gears from the chaotic house scene, to the exciting roller coaster scene. The story in the commercial works, while it may be a little overdramatic, it makes the viewers believe what the ad is
portraying.
One of the first things I notice about an advertisement is the use of musical tunes. Most commercials you see on TV have a special jingle for the company they are advertising. A company’s jingle is just as important as their logo and sometimes better, because the audience recognizes the company quicker when they hear it. The Six flags commercial use the component of music in their ad as well. The song “We like to party” plays in the background of the ad as it shows multiple attractions and entertainment that can be attained from the theme park. The song is very riveting and almost makes you want to dance yourself. The tune can be easily recognized and related to Six Flags without even looking at the TV. It’s recognizable because the tune is so energetic and differs from tunes you hear on other ads. Catchy tunes help companies by engaging the audience to listen to what the ad has to offer.
When is the music played in this ad and why is it relevant?
Notice that when the music is played, it’s only at the most exciting part of the ad, which is when it shows the entertainment that the park has to offer. However it is not played at the beginning with the dad on the couch with his son. Why is this? It goes back to the argument. Six Flags wants you to believe that their parks can cure your boring home life. Since the music is upbeat, it is connected with the upbeat feeling of the park. The use of the tune helps the story even more because the scene with the dad and son now seems completely dull and in turn makes the theme park seem even more amazing. Also notice what else is going on while the music is playing. In the commercial, Six Flags is trying to persuade you to purchase a season pass so that you will save money, while having endless fun at the park. This is a very clever technique because once again, the music helps the persuasion. The ad already has you in a stimulated mood making it easier for you to make that purchase of a season pass. Tunes in advertisements really do make an impact on the audience one way or
another.
The different kinds of people that play a role in an advertisement can either make or break the outcome it has on the audience. This commercial does a good job by incorporating different ages to fit the argument. Notice the kinds of characters in the commercial. You see that there are children and adults in the ad, which is necessary since Six Flags is a family theme park. The company wants to welcome all ages. The advertisement portrays this in another way as well with Mr. Six. Mr. Six’s dress attire says a lot about his image. He is a fairly elderly man, dressed in a suit and bowtie with large glasses. If you think his outfit is crazy, just listen to his voice. It’s almost as if he is portraying a small child. So what does he have to offer for the commercial? At first glance, this character seems ridiculous, but then I realized his character is making a point. Mr. Six has aspects of all different ages. He has the voice and energy of a child, the outfit of an adult or teenager, and the facial looks of an elderly man. He helps the argument by displaying to the audience that no matter how young or old you are, you’re still going to have a fun filled day at the park. This encourages the audience because now it applies to everyone and not just young customers. Having Mr. Six in the commercial, I believe is one of the best components of the ad.
How did Six Flags commercials come about and what impact did they have on their viewers? In 2004, Six Flags decided to try an advertising campaign that advertised all of the theme parks they acquired. The campaign that made the most impact on the public was the memorable Mr. Six. The first airing of Six Flags commercials introduced Mr. Six pulling up in a bus to an extremely bored family and then dancing to the energetic song, “We Like to Party.” The commercial was such a hit that the company toured the bus to all the theme parks and sold Mr. Six t-shirts. In November of 2005, the owner of the Washington Redskins, Daniel Snyder, had taken over the company after noticing its increase in franchise. Once he had taken over, he decided that Mr. Six and the campaign of the commercials were “pointless” and needed to be cut completely along with the iconic character. Snyder felt as if Mr. Six was doing a disservice to the ads and the theme parks overall. He then changed them to the “More Flags, More Fun” campaign, which is what we see today (“Mr. Six”). At the beginning of 2008 the ad was seen to have an Asian man playing the part of Mr. Six, but after much controversy of him being an offensive caricature, the ad cancelled and the revival of Mr. Six began (“Six Flags”). In 2009 Mr. Six came back to Six Flags, earning a welcome from the theme parks fans. Why bring him back? The company explained the revival of Mr. Six because he was a fun character who had spirit and fans of all ages. The company also liked the energy he displayed towards the parks and the customers (Gregory). Mr. Six has played an important part in Six Flags advertisements by changing the entire franchise of the company along with its fans. I believe that Six Flags does an exceedingly good job in maintaining an appealing commercial that speaks to everyone. Not every company can say that they have a memorable ad that viewers can appeal to and recognize instantly, but Six Flags can. Every part of the commercial fits the argument in a positive way. The storyline persuades the audience with a fun filled day at the park, the upbeat music makes you feel energized and excited, and Mr. Six’s comical characteristics welcome all attraction lovers. They incorporated every component a successful commercial should have and that’s why I believe this commercial works. A trip to Six Flags will not be a disappointment.

Commmercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItsOx9DnkMw
Works Cited
Gregory, Sean. "Why Is Six Flags Targeting Kids with a Creepy Old Guy?" Time.
Time Inc., 24 July 2009. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
"Mr. Six." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
"Six Flags Great America Commercial: More Flags More Fun!" YouTube.
YouTube, 24 Jan. 2010. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
"Six Flags." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.