Reading Response 2

On YouTube I found a commercial to a Coca Cola advertisement (click). There are three political speakers debating on a live television set when two of them say the same word at the same time. One of them immediately ‘jinx’ the other guy and claims he has to buy him a Coca Cola. So the two get up right in the middle of their show and walk out onto the street and the one guy buys the other a Coca Cola at the nearest vending machine. Then they hop on a bus and spend the rest of the entire day together doing fun couple like things like going to a basketball game, getting their picture painted together, going to an art museum and walking through famous monuments in Washington D.C. All the while drinking their Coca Cola soda pops.

In the advertisement the Coca Cola brought the two opposing political men together as friends and helped them bond, resulting in a fun-filled day. This soda ad is trying to make the audience believe that their Coca Cola will bring people (even enemies) together and help you make a good friend that you can spend the whole day with, doing fun things together.

In order to be fully involved in this ad the audience must have some knowledge of American hobbies and politics. The two politicians were arguing at the beginning but were brought together as a team by the Coca Cola soda pop. Then they went off and watched basketball, observed art and rode bikes. In America these are things that people do to bond together. Knowing this allows the viewer to see the closeness the soda has made these once enemies. The viewer must also know about some important monuments in the U.S. Towards the end of the commercial the two ‘friends’ walk by the Lincoln memorial and end up sitting at the steps and clinking soda glasses together as the sun set. The Lincoln Memorial is considered a very important monument of history and you need to know this to understand the sentimental meaning of the two men ending their day here. It gives off the impression that they are really sharing something special here, maybe it’s the soda but maybe it’s something much more. In order for the advertisement to work you must have this cultural knowledge.

In conclusion this advertisement is ridiculous. The thought that drinking Coca Cola is going to get you a best friend is just ridiculous. The attempt at selling this product was shameless and I almost can’t believe it actually has swayed the minds of people to buy it. The only thing drinking Coca Cola is going to get you is a big cavity.