FINAL PRESENTATION

Kristina Terry
JRN131
FINAL PRESENTATION
“SEX SELLS”
I chose the topic “sex sells” for my final presentation. I was really leaning toward the feminine beauty myth as that seems to be the trend in many of my blogs. I figured with this topic I could touch a little on both, because when advertisers are using sex to sell there products they don’t typically use “non-attractive” women to do so. I don’t believe many men, and women alike, can fully understand the effects of living in a culture where half naked bodies are plastered everywhere, it is like having your personhood erased day after day by the images surrounding you. I chose this topic because I believe it is an area in our culture that is denied the attention it deserves. The effect of sexual symbolism in media plays an enormous role in our culture, regarding our self perceptions, and our roles in society.

What I learned about this topic is there are many different ways in which sex is used in media. I became aware of the subliminal messaging and embedding which is subtle use of unrecognizable triggers. Advertisers will intentionally hide sexually explicit words and pictures in the background of their material. We as observers pick up these images and texts with no awareness of the fact. Yet we are still influenced on an subconscious level by the irrelevant correlation between the product and sex. Advertisers like this method because anything programmed subliminally meets no resistance. More commonly used symbols are phallic and yonic. Phallic symbols exemplify male potency. Common phallic symbols are, guns , towers, motorcycles, snakes, fast cars and almost anything that is shaped like a penis. Yonic symbols promote the lushness or allure of feminine sexuality, or have shape of female sex organs. Some common yonic symbols are caves, apples, full bloomed roses, concave, or round objects. In the use of “identification” an advertiser implies that there are certain benefits or scenarios that come with the use of their product. These often include beauty and sex, Axe body spray is a perfect example of "identification". Advertisers use of "identification is very common as sex translates into attractiveness, youth, wealth and power. In media we often see women posed in ways that make them appear as objects of decoration, sexually submissive and/or sexually prone. These poses make women appear available as sex objects to be controlled. Equally disturbing is the models faces are not shown or completely cut out of the image, these women are usually somewhat undressed and posed in a very sexually suggestive way. Their faces are of little importance, and there identity is defined by their bodies. Maya found a perfect image for her week 7 blog that captured this type of advertising http://maya19.blogspot.com/ ( I was unable to copy the image) These type of ads degrade women as they suggest that the women are not consumers, but commodities that can be bought or traded like the product they are advertising. This is not only scary, but down right baffling that this is tolerated in a society comprised of half women.

I don’t believe there is a real clear cut and feasible solution to this problem. Ideally men and women alike would put there foot down and say enough, but I don’t foresee that anytime in the near future. I believe the most important tool we have as consumers is knowledge about the tactics that advertisers are using. Those of us with children at home can limit their exposure to harmful media or materials, as we have the power to turn off the television or video games. I think we as parents need to realize every little bit of effort we put into preventing advertisers from teaching our children the “facts of life” is a huge step in the right direction. For example, if you notice you child’s teen magazine looks like a soft core porn don’t just throw it out inform other parents and write a letter to the magazine. I would like to see stricter guidelines enforced in media but until then we need to know we have the power to change things, and make informed choices.

http://svc003.wic046p.server-web.com/pages/index.asp This is a link to The Advertising Standards bureau
http://www.helium.com/items/385975-sexploitation-ads-that-exploit-women A very powerful article “sexploitation”
http://www.nku.edu/~issues/sexinadvertising/homepage.htm A good bunch of images on this topic
http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/sublimi.htm Best article I have found on subliminal advertising
http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/sublimi.htm This is where I got most of my images for my presentation, its worth a laugh if nothing else.