TOW #13 "Another Game of Thrones"

            Over the last ten years, it has become clear that four companies, Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook, dominate much of our activity online.  An article in The Economist, titled “Another Game of Thrones”, describes the fierce rivalries between these companies over things such as online shopping and social networking.  In keeping with the style of the magazine, the author of this article did not publish his/her name in a byline.  In order to help the readers of The Economist understand the context of these rivalries, the author of the article compares the disputes to the HBO program Game of Thrones.  For example, when describing Microsoft, the author writes that, “like the Targaryen family, which used to rule Westeros and now plots in exile to regain the crown, the company is desperate to regain its former glory.”  By using the popular television series as a metaphor, the author is able to add humor to the article and better connect with readers who are familiar with the show.
            The author also employs logos by using statistical evidence to support his/her claims.  The author writes that Apple’s “margins on iPhones are so good the company accounted for 60% of the total profits made by the mobile-phone industry in the third quarter of 2012, even though it accounted for just 16% of phone shipments during that period.”  Statistics like these highlight how even though certain companies seem to dominate specific aspects of the online market, competition is becoming more fierce and more diversified.  Ultimately, the author successfully conveys the idea that these four companies must continue to expand their variety of online products if they wish to survive in the future.