Reich Post

 First off, I apologize this is getting posted now. I posted it last week but on the wrong blog. Feel free to comment but if not no worries.



In this video Mike Rashid, a professional body builder, interviews 4 x Mr. Olympia Champion Phil Heath about success and how to find lasting success in the fitness industry and life all together. Phil's reply ties directly into Reich's Cultural Parable of the Triumphant Individual. He speaks about how when he first began body building he had to overcome a lot of doubters and had to build his personal brand from the ground up. The manner in which he presents his information causes an cognitive effect with the viewer. He emphasizes the point that success is self driven and that if you're willing to be self motivated success will follow. He also makes the point that you need to find something that you truly care about and you will be able to establish a legacy which lasts far longer than the value of a dollar.



As in any speech or presentation that is used to motivate change emotion will always be a premise that is involved as a basis for persuasion. But also I feel that Needs also is a premise that is present as well. The Reassurance of Worth with the motivating viewers that they too can also be a triumphant individual by believing in themselves and proving the doubters wrong with their work ethic.

Larsen Post

I chose to analyze a public motivational speech by Justin Su'a, a well known mental skills coach and author currently working for the Boston Red Sox. The goal of the speech is help athletes master their craft by strengthening their mental game.



The most noticeable of Larsen's Cultural Images and myths would be Possibility of Success and The Value of Challenge. The whole speech is centered around increasing the possibility of success in times of extreme pressure whether on the field, court, or in real life by stepping back and slowing things down. He gives a personal experience of a time when he was a boy pitching in a high pressured situation and his coach, who was his dad, helps him calm himself by calling a timeout and diverting his attention to food. The result he is able to keep his composure and close the game out. Then towards the end of his speech on of the tips to success that gives is learning to accept failure as a good thing. To illustrate this he gives several examples of famous people such as Micheal Jordan and others who attribute their personal successes to all the times that they failed. He emphasizes the point that failure is an event on the path way to success and is not something to be feared.



Emotion is the most obvious process premise that is used in this speech. Justin's audiences is full feelings of joy and happiness because they are excited at the possibilities of success once they apply the tips that were presented to them. He speaks of fear as being one of the number causes of prevention for athletes and instills a sense of pride and  in the audience that they are more than capable of the same successes as other athletes before them. Even with Maslow's Hiearchy throughout the speech Justin takes the audience on a journey to build feelings of Safety in times of stress, Belonging to the world of sports, Esteem in their selves, and ultimately the Self-actualization that they are good enough and worthy of success,

Assessment 1

God Made a Farmer

1. Dodge is using virtue ethics to try and establish a sense of credibility with the consumers by relating their product to things from the past that have always been around. Such as referencing various long-standing values that we as Americans hold dear; hard work, commitment, perseverance, family, etc. Care Ethics can also be found in the commercial, Using an insert of Paul Harvey’s voice, connects the audience to the past and creates a sense of pride, implying that hardworking Americans drive dodge trucks. Even the content of his quotes implies that people who believe in god need to buy dodge trucks because they were made for God’s people, “Farmers,” or people who identify with those qualities.
2. The central attempt is to create an ideological appeal to the customers by glorifying the life of a farmer who we, as Americans, know to be good, honest, trustworthy and hardworking people. The Peripheral attempt would be motivating people to buy into the message with the images used and the conviction Paul Harvey’s voice. Creating a moral need to purchase this truck that was built for God’s Farmers.
1. Pathos- The story of how the farmer grows up performing all the harsh labors required of them, raising a family based values of work, family,and god. Then one day the son wanting to be just like his father.
2. Logos- Referencing all the good qualities, experiences, and skills set of a farmer and connecting those to the vehicle.  If the people who use dodge trucks are great then the truck must be a great also.
3. Ethos- The credibility of Paul Harvey’s voice validating Dodge’s claim that their truck is above the competition because it’s made for God’s Farmers.

4. This advertisement shows the true nature of life on the farm. It depicts the life of a farmer on a more in depth level then what the general public believe or even know about farm life. The focus being all the intricate details of the tasks performed by a farmer from day to day on the farm, at home, and in the community.. The will to push harder, work longer than everyone else, but also keeping family and god as a high priority.  
5. The main point of this commercial comes from the narration in the ad. Using the voice of Paul Harvey with his credentials gives validity to the ad. The tone and the gospel  style in which he delivers the message create feelings of trust and making the viewer more open and therefore vulnerable to be persuaded by the all the other aspects of the commercial.
6. The commercial speaks to the Triumphant Individual in all of us by telling the story of the life of a farmer. The commercial describes the farmer as one who is willing to work alone, work three times longer than the average person, self-reliant, true to himself, uncompromising religious beliefs. Everything that describes the Triumphant Individual can also be found in the qualities of a farmer.
7. Moral Appeal - would be the most evident, creating the connection with farmers and god, then the connection between dodge trucks and farmers. Guilt-tripping religious consumers to “Go with God.” No god-fearing person would ever think to go contrary to him. Positive Self Feeling - If you buy our truck you’ll have self-fulfillment like hardworking farmers do.  Altercasting -  good,hardworking people buy dodge trucks because it helps them get things done, so you doing the same will help you better progress in life and get things done like farmers. Positive Esteem of Others - Farmers are hardworking, respectful people, buying the truck will make other people think very highly of you.
8. Needs - The need for Sense of Roots is fulfilled by referencing the fact that God created a farmer, who is a “caretaker” over the earth, then raises a family on religious beliefs, which in turn produces a son who willingly wants to be like his father.

Emotions - The commercial creates a sense of Pride for the farmers for everything that they are able to do, and pride for the viewer that if they purchase a dodge truck the will be able to have pride in everything that they will be able to do as a truck owner and how much better their life will be with the truck, just like it helps the farmers be successful.

Attitudes- The attitude of the commercial creates feelings of happiness and satisfaction, with experiences of how farmers find joy in the difficulty of the many labors they perform. Everyone can relate to trying to stay positive through harsh times and finding joy in the struggles of life.

Consistency - If you identify with the lifestyle, beliefs, and culture of the farmers portrayed in this commercial. If you want to pattern your life after the events shown in the commercial, then in order for you to continue to have consistency in your life, you will need to to purchase the dodge truck.

9. I would say the Reassurance of Worth best relates to the commercial, because from the beginning of the ad they make it clear that God sees the worth of a farmer. Playing on the religious emotions and  beliefs of Christians. The farmer sees the worth of his family, and the son sees the worth of the father and wants to be like him. So consumers seeing the worth of these people will logically conclude that the truck has great worth as well.
10. Family, God, and strong work ethic would be the most noticeable values when watching this ad. Every photo that is used in the ad depicts at least one of these values. Whether it’s pictures of the farmer at work, or with his family, or images of the family praying. The ad implies that only a dodge truck is the only car worthy for people who share these values.