Questions to Consider: * Are women on their way to becoming perfectly constructed robots? * Why does Svedka use a female bot and not a male bot? * How does this ad represent women? * What would it mean to be bought (purchased)? * Who is the target audience of this ad? What We… Continue Reading →
Gallery of Offenders: Marc Jacobs crosses the (age) line.
Questions to Consider: * How old does this girl look? * Why is she only wearing underwear and a bra? * Is this ad sexual? In what way is it sexual? * How does the advertiser (Marc Jacobs) want you to feel? * What is this ad selling? What We Think: This ad for Marc… Continue Reading →
Gallery of Offenders: Victoria’s Secret: Passive Seduction.
Questions to Consider: * How is the woman in this image presented? * What body parts are most emphasized in this image? * What product is this image selling? * Who is the intended audience? What We Think: This image is problematic because the woman is posed provocatively, with the intention of being a passive… Continue Reading →
Gallery of Offenders: An Appalling (lack of) Apparel
Questions to Consider: * What product is this ad selling? * Why would American Apparel use a semi-nude model to sell clothes? * Who is this ad’s intended audience? What We Think: “Oh, hi! You caught me completely by surprise as I lay here topless, staring vacantly into the camera. But while we’re here,… Continue Reading →
Gallery of Offenders: Diesel tells all to “Be Stupid.”
Questions to Consider: * What is this ad saying about women? About men? * What kind of action or attitude is this ad encouraging? * What product is this ad selling? What We Think: In this ad, Diesel is encouraging women to take actions that would gain them the title of “having the balls.” I… Continue Reading →
Christina Hendricks’ curves should never be Photoshopped
Poems should be written about “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks’ curves. No, really. The actress has one of those unbelievably beautiful bodies that only Botticelli could have dreamed up. The show’s costume department must have a field day dressing her up in vintage styles that showcase breasts, hips, and butt (all of which she has… Continue Reading →
Proenza Schouler and “Top Model” get waist-ed
Flat abs, lean legs, perky breasts: these fashion industry staples have been mandated so long, you can pretty much expect to find them on any straight-size model. But what’s the newest must-have on the runways? A teeny-tiny, impossibly thin waist. Obviously, this trend isn’t a new one (ever heard of a corset?), but recent media… Continue Reading →
Skin-lightening for Indian men? Vaseline has a Facebook app for that.
Judging by Hollywood (and “Jersey Shore”), many Americans covet nothing more than the perfect tan. Imagine a Facebook application that allowed these tanning enthusiasts to tint their pasty profile pictures with a faux bronze glow. No big deal? Now imagine a similar app inviting Indian men to lighten their skin. If you just uncomfortably shifted… Continue Reading →
Sophia Bush thinks Urban Outfitters is as bad as we do
There’s nothing better than a celebrity who recognizes how sucky the media can be. Sophia Bush (“One Tree Hill”) isn’t about to fall prey to any warped body image messages, and she doesn’t think you should either. The actress recently took to her blog to rant about Urban Outfitters’ offensive “Eat Less” t-shirt. Here’s what… Continue Reading →