Aracely Castillo

Dr. Newcomb

ENG 170: Writing and Rhetoric

21 June 2023 

                                          Mr. Potato Head: Rhetorical Analysis 

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I have chosen Mr. Potato head from Toy story. An original Mr. Potato Head is approximately 6 by 4.25 in height and 7.5 inches wide and made out of plastic felt and is a brown toy in the shape of a potato. It has three holes on one side to insert different pieces, such as eyes, a nose or mustache. There are also holes in the head and feet to put hats or shoes on. According to The Disney Classics, Mr. Potato Head was a “toy you can play with and have fun all the time”, however he also made several political statements. As a result, while Potato head became famous for the many different appearances he has by allowing a child’s imagination to run free, his popularity also is why he was able to make political statements and influence the minds of children. 

Mr. Potato Head back then was a fun toy to play with and still is now and his influence is even bigger because he was in a movie. After being included into a toy story movie it inspires kids all around the world. It taught kids the value of friendship and loyalty and showed parents how it is important to show kids good values and habits with one example being his participation in the song “You Got a Friend in Me.” Mr. Potato Head encourages kids to talk about their feelings, be more social with other people and create different connections with other kids when growing up.  While he is a fun toy to play with, he also teaches children important lessons they need during childhood showing pathos as he appeals to their emotions. 

 

Mr. Potato Head was also making history and made his credibility and ethos very strong. For example, “It was the first toy ever to be advertised on TV in 1952, and the first commercial to be directly targeted to children, which was not a common practice before that time.”(The Disney Classics) Since he was the first and people enjoyed the commercials it shows he was important and people would look up to him. For example, in one of these commercials he was “teaching kids good habits like not smoking in the 70’s.” (The Disney Classics) This shows that Mr.potato head was a good inspiration for knowing what to do and what not to do. Mr. Potato Head was also created to “find a way to make eating fruits and vegetables more appealing to children. He began experimenting with plastics, and eventually created plastic push pin figures that were in the shape of different facial parts, like eyes, noses, mouths, ears.”(The Disney Classics) This shows you finding a way to make eating healthy and more interesting to you so you enjoy it and have fun. It also shows people that they are created differently and we are beautiful in our own ways.The Mr. Potato Head creators were able to use his logos and credibility, to make this childhood toy fun and teach healthy habits. 

Mr. Potato Head has a lot of meaning and has been very important in children’s lives over generations. The toys and their movies and history inspire children and give them hope to never give up and that you will always find your way no matter what position you are in, which is unique that a toy can do that. Mr. Potato Head really had an impact on children’s lives and not just children but also the adults who were parents to the children because it also taught them the value of the toy and what message it was trying to send out to the public about anti-smoking and gender inclusive rebrand. It also taught kids that vegetables are important because it can help them grow tall and strong and to have a healthy life.

In Conclusion, all these toys have a message behind them, every specific one, but most importantly Mr. Potato Head represents kindness, friendship, and loyalty. Everything a kid needs to be a kid is right here with Potato Head which will also teach him positive and health lessons. With Mr. Potato Head is one of the original classics. It’s no doubt that no kid would refuse something like that and would play with him all day long trying to create something new out of him while also making healthy decisions. 

Work Cited

The Disney Classics. “The Real Toys of Toy Story” Toy Story Real Toys

https://www.thedisneyclassics.com/blog/toy-story-real-toys