Deadly Sins in Ads

Author: Gatorade
Date: Released September 16, 2015
Publication: Released on YouTube

Denotative Examination:
This video was created for the purpose to be used as a video advertisement by Gatorade prior to videos being watched by YouTube users. It was created to promote the virtual experience that Gatorade created to show what it is like to be Bryce Harper at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning with the game on the line.

Connotative Examination:
I think that this video ad uses two deadly sins within it. One relating to the athlete Gatorade chose to use in creating the virtual experience as well as one when trying to reach viewers. The deadly sin that is represented within this ad by Bryce Harper would be pride. Bryce Harper is a very prideful athlete who is very skilled but also very cocky at the same time due to such a great career that he is having. I think Gatorade is trying to reach consumers that are envious of Bryce Harper himself or envious of the pro career that Bryce Harper has as a baseball player. Gatorade can really benefit from this add by targeting the envy within the viewers because they associate their name with such a great athlete and these envious consumers will want to be like Bryce Harper so they will participate within the virtual experience as well as purchase Gatorade products because Bryce Harper uses them.

Intended Audience:
I believe the intended audience of this advertisement from Gatorade are baseball fans more specifically Washington National and Bryce Harper fans. These Washington National and Bryce Harper fans have pride for their team as well as Bryce Harper specifically because he is there star player. Another intended audience would be viewers who are envious of Bryce Harper's career and achievements because they were never able to achieve them and don't play the game anymore or they aspire to be like him in the future. For kids that aspire to be like Bryce Harper Gatorade can really benefit from those viewers because they will be more likely to consume their products because Bryce does and they want to be like Bryce. However for viewers who can no longer be like Bryce might have a bad taste in their mouth from this ad because they can no longer be like them so they are less likely to purchase Gatorade's products. However they could want their children to be like Bryce Harper so they might purchase Gatorade's products for their children so they can hopefully be like Bryce Harper.