Sex sells. As distasteful and awful as that may sound, it is unfortunately true. If you aren't convinced, here are some ads that portray sex even when the products they advertise have no relation whatsoever to sex at all.
Take this one for instance.
Photo credit: Giant Ideas
It's an ad for Big Kahuna Burger. Yes siree, a burger! The bottom of the ad reads:
"Oh baby! Grab hold of our buns and you can feel the difference having a big one makes. Slathered with love and attention our trademark Big Kahuna Burgers ooze perfection, moist with secret sauces from the Island Gods. When you hunger for a big one, only a Big Kahuna Burger will satisfy your passion."
Now, why would a burger ad include a scantily clad and writhing woman who looks like she is in the throes of passion? Maybe to show a passion for burger? Maybe. But isn't that too much. Couldn't an ad for a wholesome burger instead show a person eating it and whose face invokes satisfaction and passion for the burger? Or something along the same lines but less controversial than this ad. It could have, that's for sure. But it did not. Instead, it choose to show this bikini clad woman. And further gave those suggestive and full of dual meaning lines at the bottom of the ad. And why? Maybe because it is easier to catch people's attention that way. And maybe because, sex sells.
How about this one.
Care to guess what this ad is all about? Maybe you would have better luck than me. When I first saw this, I couldn't for the life of me determine what this ad is for. There are two almost naked couple in it so maybe it's something for a birth control product. But I saw the name printed on the upper right hand portion and realized that why, it is for a brand of tissue paper! And so, where's the tissue? Oh, it's at the background! And looks so diminutive that any onlooker could easily miss it! While the almost naked couple were placed (strategically, I'd say) in the foreground! Easy to spot and would certainly catch anybody's attention.
There are more ads below that say sex sells.
This one is for a men's magazine in Belgium.
Photo credit: coolz0r
This is for a cigarette.
Photo credit: Bill Ward's Brickpile
This one is for a milk with a half naked Pete Sampras on it. This ad could have gotten its message across with just Sampras' milk moustache. There was no need to make him half naked. Unless, of course, they were advertising for a body toning product.
Photo credit: cliff1066
This is for Calvin Klein Jeans.
For Calvin Klein perfumes.
Photo credit: PinkMoose
For Ralph Lauren.
Photo credit: magerleagues
While this, is a huge and very graphic ad plastered in a busy and crowded metropolis where persons of all ages, including children, could see.
Photo credit: activefree
Aren't these just awful? Does it show that the only way ads can get any man's attention is through sex? Have we become like primitive creatures who lack reason? That we cannot anymore determine and decide for ourselves the intrinsic value of a product if it isn't served to us under the guise of sex? If so, that is awfully sad.
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9 comments:
I remember the most controversial Napoleon Brandy Billboard in the Philippines spawning debate because of its double entendre.
It is indeed very saddening, what has come to man? And to think that these are in supposedly very civilized societies.
very sad but very true...sex sells and capitalists will do anything---even forgetting their values---just to get noticed and to earn big.
@Joji: Yes, it's really sad. And very low of them, I think. It sets a bad example to young kids.
The Napoleon Brandy billboard seems interesting. I'll do a research on that. Thanks for mentioning it.
@Elizabeth:That's true. It all boils down to money, I guess.
I think a lot of it has to do with wanting or coveting what others have, and desiring instant gratification. ALso, another reason why sex sells is because a lot of people are lonely and very confused. Advertisers know this. Commercials that ooze sex make people want, and make people feel envious, and that's important to business. Of course it's not right, that's why it boils down to the individual. In the end, it's the individual's choice, that is if he's got a strong enough mind to look past these cheap sex signals and not care. Not everyone cares.
Yikes! So not cool for young kids to see this.
Hi, Dee! The Napoleon Brandy billboard had this line: Nakatikim ka na ba ng kinse años? (Have you tasted a 15-year-old?) Immediately, women's groups and child rights advocates called for its pullout being an assault to decency and a clear violation against the law on child abuse. This happened sometime in 2004.
@Karmi: You've got a point there, Karmi. Brilliant analysis! Yes, you're right, it's because of instant gratification too.
@Asianmommy: Very true. There was a time that we were stuck in the traffic and I saw my son craning his neck uncomfortably to see something out of the window. So I followed his gaze and saw this really lewd billboard. Oh my, it wasn't fit for kids to see. It was something that sent wrong signals to kids!
@Jojigirl: Hi Joji! Oh yes, I remember now! That created quite a stir! And reasonably enough because it was really full of double entendre!
hi dee! wow, new layout... lol, burger and sex, what a collision.
@Sarah: Hi Sarah! Oh, yes, you're right! It's quite a collision! :)
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