English 1102
Rhetorical Analysis: Life is Beautiful
As an exquisite woman walks into a room, it is not uncommon to see heads turn her way. We have seen beautiful women be the center of attention in many instances, such as when a bride walks down the aisle to her groom, or perhaps when Julia Roberts walks out in a stunning red opera dress in Pretty Woman, illustrating her transformation from rags to riches. The familiar arrival of the pretty woman in movies and books is also seen in Lancôme’s perfume advertisement. Julia Roberts, the face of this particular perfume, walks into an elegant event wearing a glittering gown and is strongly portrayed as the most striking woman of the party. Throughout the advertisement we see that Julia is different than the other characters at the event, and she sets herself apart from them with the help of her perfume. This commercial’s use of contrasting characters, setting, and sequence strongly implies that using ‘La Vie est Belle’ will allow you to become an individual among your peers.
Lancôme’s use of characters shows the audience that their perfume introduces uniqueness by showcasing Roberts’ beauty and using contrasting elements amid the characters. Julia Roberts is a well-known actress who is seen as beautiful by many men and women, and is often referred to as the leading lady (Cieply). By using her in the Lancome campaign and producing an elevated party scene, viewers are interested in learning about the product she is endorsing.
The first thing noticed about her in the commercial, is that she is wearing a sparkling white dress. This creates an angelic characteristic about her, and it produces an ambience among the party as if she is glowing. The other party-goers are dressed very simply in an all-black style. Their formality and sharpness exude seriousness, whereas Julia is the opposite. Her smile and white dress let off a warm, bright personality, making her well liked among the audience. Her
Cited: Cieply, Michael. "The Return of Julia Roberts, Leading Lady." Nytimes.com. New York Times, 6 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2013. Selfridges. "Lancome La Vie Est Belle with Julia Roberts at Selfridges." YouTube. YouTube, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.