A Rhetorical Analysis of Marketing Strategies in China
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2013 Taking Culture and Philosophy into Consideration: A Rhetorical Analysis of Marketing Strategies in China Yi Huang Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Huang, Yi, "Taking Culture and Philosophy into Consideration: A Rhetorical Analysis of Marketing Strategies in China" (2013). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 2024. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/2024 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TAKING CULTURE AND PHILOSOPHY INTO CONSIDERATION: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF MARKETING STRATEGIES IN CHINA by Yi Huang A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Theory & Practice of Professional Communication Approved: __________________________ _________________________ David Hailey, Ph.D. Lisa Gabbert, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member __________________________ _________________________ Ronald Shook, Ph.D. John Mclaughlin, Ph.D. Committee Member Committee Member __________________________ __________________________ John Seiter, Ph.D. Mark R. McLellan, Ph.D. Committee Member Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2013 ii Copyright © Yi Huang 2013 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Taking Culture and Philosophy into Consideration: A Rhetorical Analysis of Marketing Strategies in China by Yi Huang, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2013 Major Professor: Dr. David Hailey Department: English Globalization has posed colossal challenges to professional communications, and the most significant one is to overcome the cultural barriers. Rather than looking into cultural phenomena that are superficial, this research takes a philosophical approach to investigate the beliefs and values which are the core of social systems. The overarching purpose of this research is to establish cultural competence for entering the Chinese market by a discussion of different aesthetic, emotional, and philosophical points of view. With detailed analysis and evaluation, this research provides some guidelines to appropriate future marketing strategies in China. This research contributes to the understanding of the entwinement between philosophical values and marketing iv strategies and it provides further insight into future research for improving communicative competence across cultures. (192 pages) v PUBLIC ABSTRACT Taking Culture and Philosophy into Consideration: A Rhetorical Analysis of Marketing Strategies in China Globalization makes the physical boundary between countries almost disappear, while on the other hand, it exacerbates cultural and philosophical differences. The overall aim of this dissertation is to dig into the philosophical values of Western and Chinese cultures to provide some theoretically sound and pragmatically useful guidance for future communication and marketing in China. While some American corporations have been embraced by the Chinese, many more have not. This research concerns itself with searching what the leading causes are for the above phenomenon, and more specifically, this study explores answers to the following questions: What strategies are used for product and brand promotion in the Chinese and American markets? What are the functions of written texts and images? How are they organized? Are these strategies related with the philosophical thoughts? How do strategies differ between Chinese and American markets? Why would the differences exist? Do they differ in a superficial level or deep rooted habits? How to understand these differences? Why do some commercials succeed and others fail in the Chinese market? What philosophical principles underlie the strategies in the Chinese market? What guidelines should an American company know when deciding its marketing strategies to appeal to the Chinese audience? Applying a cultural philosophical lens of rhetorical analysis, I begin the discussion with the analysis of nutrition brochures, the traditional paper documents, and then develop the research into multilayer media, i.e., video commercials. During this study it became apparent that people from different cultures have different expectations concerning what is good or appropriate, choice of color, the use of image, and the organization of the text or the methods of persuasion. This study concludes by recommending taking the following issues into consideration when marketing in China: Interchangeability and change; Persuade through analogy and story-telling; Warmth and support from the family; Being suggestive in expression; Strong feeling of loyalty and group vi identity; Relation with the nature: holism; Relations among people: harmony; Cultivation of the inner virtues; Hierarchical system; Intuitive thinking mode. This research speaks to the importance of exploring the relevance between the philosophical values and marketing strategies, and it suggests that a good understanding of the Chinese attitudes toward family, philosophy, and their rich and varied past will lead to a better communication and success in business. This research is the starting point for future, more in-depth research in philosophical thoughts, communication, and marketing strategies. Yi Huang vii CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 The Process of Glocalization ............................................................................... 4 Scope and Audience ............................................................................................ 7 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 9 Research Methodology ...................................................................................... 10 Chapter Outlines ................................................................................................ 13 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 15 Foundations in Philosophies within Western Cultures ............................... 16 Foundations in Philosophies in Chinese Culture .......................................... 25 Philosophy and the Chinese Aesthetic Standard .......................................... 38 Chinese Philosophy and Health ...................................................................... 42 Related Research in Professional Communication ....................................... 43 3 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF NUTRITION BROCHURES ........................... 50 GNC vs DFH Brochures .................................................................................... 51 Analysis and Discussion with Cultural and Philosophical Lens ................ 62 Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................... 94 viii 4 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF VIDEO COMMERCIALS ................................ 96 Interchangeability and Change ...................................................................... 100 Persuasion through Analogy and Story Telling .......................................... 105 Warmth and Support from the Family ......................................................... 110 Being Suggestive in Expression ..................................................................... 120 Strong Feelings of Loyalty and Group Identity ........................................... 124 Relation with the Nature: Holism.................................................................. 131 Relations Among People: Harmony .............................................................. 138 Cultivation of Inner Virtues ........................................................................... 144 Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................. 148 5 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................... 151 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 157 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 169 Appendix A. Chinese – English Versions of Some Important Concepts and Book Names ............................................................................................ 170 Appendix B. Some Seemingly Apparently Contradictory Expressions from TaoTeChing Quotes from Red Pine’s (2009) Translation ........ 172 CURRICULUM VITAE ..............................................................................................