Super Bowl 2019 Ads: M&M vs. Audi Effectiveness Analysis
This paper analyzes two commercials aired during the 2019 Super Bowl: an M&M's ad introducing a new candy bar product and an Audi brand spot built around an aspirational near-death fantasy. Using concepts of advertising premise and claim, the paper evaluates each ad's structure, messaging strategy, and likely effectiveness with its target audience. The M&M's ad is critiqued for relying too heavily on humor without establishing a meaningful value proposition or memorable product claim. The Audi ad is praised for its strong brand positioning, vivid visual contrasts, and coherent underlying premises that reinforce the vehicle's aspirational identity. The analysis concludes with recommendations for what makes Super Bowl advertising particularly effective.
- Introduction: Super Bowl ads justify analysis due to high spend
- Ad Analysis: M&M's New Product Commercial: M&M's ad criticized for weak premise and claims
- Ad Analysis: Audi Aspirational Spot: Audi ad praised for strong positioning and visuals
- Conclusions: Effective ads need premise, claims, and clear structure
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What makes this paper effective
- Applies a consistent analytical framework—premise and claim—across both ads, allowing direct, structured comparison rather than purely impressionistic critique.
- Supports evaluative judgments with specific visual and narrative details from each ad (e.g., the minivan setting, the cashew scene, the contrasting wardrobe), grounding the analysis in observable evidence.
- Balances positive and negative assessments honestly; the writer acknowledges potential bias ("me not being in the target market") while still defending a clear position on each ad's effectiveness.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied rhetorical analysis using the advertising concepts of major and minor premises alongside explicit claims. By identifying the hidden premise (White, 2016) in each ad and then testing whether the ad's visuals and narrative support that premise, the writer moves beyond simple opinion toward evidence-based evaluation—a core technique in communications and marketing analysis.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief framing introduction that justifies the choice of Super Bowl ads as an analytical subject. It then devotes a full section to each commercial, moving systematically through premise, claims, and overall effectiveness judgment. A concluding section synthesizes the two analyses and restates the criteria for effective advertising. The parallel structure across both ad sections makes the comparative logic easy to follow.
Introduction
This paper examines two commercials from the 2019 Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the single biggest advertising spend in America each year, and most companies create special ads just for the event—many of which will not be aired again. The approach to messaging and creative strategy is therefore somewhat distinctive, and given the amount of money in play, these ads are well worth analyzing for perceived effectiveness.
References
TrendCave. (2019). Top 10 Best Super Bowl Commercials (2019, Funniest Ads Super Bowl LIII) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9weiTXQjns
White, T. (2016). Want a good ad? Conceal the premise. Travis White. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://traviswhitecommunications.com/2016/03/26/want-a-good-ad-conceal-the-premise/
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