Sexual Images in Media

Source: twitter.com

In this controversial Calvin Klein advertisement, we see a woman sprawled on a sofa with the words "I seduce in #mycalvins" shown next to a man confidently staring at the camera with the words "I make money in #mycalvins." This ad shares the pornographic view of women having or wanting to sell sex and their bodies whenever they can. This advertisement also reinforces both the feminine and masculine gender codes we have implemented into our current day society.  While the woman pictured here is in a submissive and vulnerable pose, seeking a man to be dominant over her through childlike attributes that have been sexualized by the clothes she wears (the socks, people), the man is standing with his shoulders square and strong, facing the camera with a confident "don't mess with me" attitude.

Source: nydailynews.com

In this Diesel advertisement, a young woman is seen showing her breasts to a video security camera accompanied with the words, "Smart may have the brains, but stupid have the balls. Be stupid."  This ad shares the pornographic view of women having or wanting to sell sex and their bodies whenever they can. This can also be viewed as women being nothing but sexual objects. The gender codes in this advertisement are evident as well, as it can be argued that telling potential buyers to "be stupid" suggests that all women are not as intellectually powerful as men are. The woman featured in this ad is clearly not in her right state of mind, as I do not know anybody who would do this sober, and is also not of age. Teenage pornography is just as condemnable as child pornography, in my opinion anyway.

Source: nydailynews.com

In this Marc Jacobs perfume advertisement, actress Dakota Fanning is shown wearing a sheer, scalloped dress, while holding a large perfume bottle on her lap. This advertisement shares the pornographic view of innocence as the last frontier or the sexy virgin by predominately focusing on the childlike. Fanning is depicted in a submissive, vulnerable pose as she sits down with her legs extended in front of her. Her childlike appearance also suggests a need for protection as she stares at the camera with a dazed, withdrawn gaze.


I have only vaguely realized the bizarrity of these images in advertising before we discussed it in class, and I find it incredibly disturbing how we have normalized these trends in our culture. I don't think that advertisers should be implementing pornographic elements into their advertisements as it only dehumanizes and desensitizes both the viewer and the subject of these pictures. I don't think the people who have authored these ads have realized the impact they can negatively have on the people who view their work. Women and young girls growing up in today's mainstream, commercial realism society where people are plugged into media for the majority of their day, it is impossible to never be exposed to advertisements like these, and these advertisements relay the idea that this is what is desirable in a woman and in a man. If I am not submissive or dress younger than what I am, if I am not cute or sexy or position myself in ways that tell those around me that I am sexually available, than I will not be desired or looked at. If a man does not stand strong, emotionless, anchored and confident in his surrounding environment, than he will not be desired or looked at either.

I do realize that many people use advertisements like these because they want their ads to be looked at, and what better way to do that than displaying half-naked women in suggestive, welcoming poses? I just personally think that there are more effective ways to be found, and they can relate more to what the business is selling. I don't believe that any of these companies are selling porn.