Rhetorical Analysis: The Chevy Silverado

Molly Ainsworth Ms. Caine Honors English III 9 October 2024 Rhetorical Analysis: Analysis of 2021 Chevy Silverado Cat Commercial The Chevy Silverado cat commercial is not very convincing in my opinion, but for the right audience it definitely could be. This is because there is no evidence or reason that the truck is better than a different truck other than the multi-flex tailgate. The tailgate could be enough to sway the right kind of people, but not me. The commercial doesn't use enough logos in my opinion, because there's no stats on why the truck is better. They are too focused on the cat and trying to focus on the pathos. This commercial could grab the attention of certain country-based men because they could also drive trucks, go hunting
The commercial could have used someone well known with credibility. The commercial is entertaining, but does not display anything about the truck other than the bed and the tailgate. This commercial is mainly targeting more country styled men like cowboys. This is because of not only the setting and activities, but also the tone and mood of this commercial. I think the commercial reached the intended audience because of Chevy’s credibility, they already trust the manufacturer. They used an ethos of incongruity with the cat doing dog-like activities. This is because most cats do not herd cows or go get firewood. This sets a funny tone. It repetitively shows the cat doing dog-like activities, like scaring other cats, jumping in the water to get a stick, going and getting firewood, and even riding in the front seat of a pickup truck. Then the old man next to them mistakes the amazing actions of the cat for the truck, and the features of the tailgate. This includes how the tailgate extends, can be a step or even a workspace. The cat could also be a symbol of the truck and how it does what you do not expect it to do. If so, the writers are using the element of incongruity which is