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TechnographSex appeal has its downsides
By Annie Piekarcyzk
Posted: 9/8/08 Section: Opinion Columns
Movies, games, the Internet and the media in general are becoming more sexually explicit as the years go on. And it's not surprising that it's becoming more sexually explicit in the favor of men.
There are countless magazines, calendars and billboards advertising some sort of product with a half-naked, seductive woman standing on the side. But rarely do I ever see a billboard with a half-naked man, unless it's Calvin Klein and there also happens to be a half-naked woman hanging off the guy model. And when was the last time you saw a wholesome celebrity? Hilary Duff? Wait, no. Sorry, that was a few years back...
Not only are these billboards, magazines, movies and celebrities advertising a certain image of sexiness to sell a product, but they're also sending a message to men and women on how we women should look and how we should act. The wrong message, if I do say so myself.
We've grown up in a society where we want to look like our celebrities because they encompass the beauty that everyone fawns over. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's taken a picture of someone famous to the hairstylist and said, "I want THAT!" I even remember buying a studded belt back in the day when Avril was my hero. And now, it's no longer just a matter of wanting a celebrity hairstyle. But if you don't look like that famous sexy someone, you're a nobody!
WHAT?
Exactly. And today's society is taking it to the extremes. You have to have the body, the look, and so much more. Plain and simple, you have to be sexy. It's almost expected. And we all know looking sexy is not plain and simple.
I'm sorry, but I'm not about to go traipsing about outside half-clothed (because I saw it in that magazine!) to get a guy's attention, but these billboards and ads in magazines make men actually expect women to do that, and some women do. Just go out to Green Street at night. Or to, let's say, some frat party. The girls spend hours getting ready and looking cute, and the guys are nice enough to shower and put on a shirt! WOW, it's almost impressing.
There are countless magazines, calendars and billboards advertising some sort of product with a half-naked, seductive woman standing on the side. But rarely do I ever see a billboard with a half-naked man, unless it's Calvin Klein and there also happens to be a half-naked woman hanging off the guy model. And when was the last time you saw a wholesome celebrity? Hilary Duff? Wait, no. Sorry, that was a few years back...
Not only are these billboards, magazines, movies and celebrities advertising a certain image of sexiness to sell a product, but they're also sending a message to men and women on how we women should look and how we should act. The wrong message, if I do say so myself.
We've grown up in a society where we want to look like our celebrities because they encompass the beauty that everyone fawns over. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's taken a picture of someone famous to the hairstylist and said, "I want THAT!" I even remember buying a studded belt back in the day when Avril was my hero. And now, it's no longer just a matter of wanting a celebrity hairstyle. But if you don't look like that famous sexy someone, you're a nobody!
WHAT?
Exactly. And today's society is taking it to the extremes. You have to have the body, the look, and so much more. Plain and simple, you have to be sexy. It's almost expected. And we all know looking sexy is not plain and simple.
I'm sorry, but I'm not about to go traipsing about outside half-clothed (because I saw it in that magazine!) to get a guy's attention, but these billboards and ads in magazines make men actually expect women to do that, and some women do. Just go out to Green Street at night. Or to, let's say, some frat party. The girls spend hours getting ready and looking cute, and the guys are nice enough to shower and put on a shirt! WOW, it's almost impressing.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Freebird
posted 9/08/08 @ 3:00 PM CST
Thanks for challenging people to be introspective about this topic.
The problem with using "shock-appeal" to look sexy or get noticed it takes more (or in this case, less) each time to shock. (Continued…)
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