And the sex continues. In a previous post of mine I touched upon the use of sex and sexual images in advertising to sell different products. This technique has been by advertiser for years and I really think it’s time for something new.
The major issue I have with the use of sexual images in advertising is that it’s a technique that’s used to much and often times the product is barely visible; the sex takes center stage while the product, which is the purpose for the advertisement, is an afterthought. Sometimes it seems like the use of sexual images in an ad could actually turn some consumer away from the ad/product and that’s the exact opposite of what the ad is supposed to do.
I came across this Nike ad in a magazine I was reading and it made me stop because I didn’t know what in the world the ad was advertising. After reading the “I have THUNDER thighs” explanation provided in the article I was still left wondering what was being advertised. Everything about the ad encourages me to believe that the ad is advertising strong and athletic, women’s thighs. Can this be true? Nike advertises shoes, athletic wear and now body parts. This cannot be true?
Some of you may be reading this thinking, is this girl crazy because the ad is clearly advertising women’s athletic shorts. I acknowledge that the shorts are in some way the overall product being advertised, but why name the ad “I have THUNDER thighs” and play on the entire notion of thighs if that’s not the product. This is a perfect example of the sexual image becoming the main focus of an advertisement and the actual product being an afterthought.
So I ask that the next time you see an advertisement you ask yourself what they are trying to sell you. A lifetstyle? An image? Sex? Or a product?
No comments:
Post a Comment