Old School Ads- how I laugh.

This image makes me laugh- but not for joy. I am offended by the stereotype of the man as the smoker who symbolically is represented as a sexual maniac. Side note- smoking and sex? Why? The woman in this image also offends my sensibilities. She looks like a blow up doll. With her wide eyes, protruding breasts and submissive stance- apparently she will follow you anywhere- so long as you blow in her face.
Now, this image could mean just that- blowing smoke in her face.
OR this could have sexual meaning. If I need to explain the cultural term of blow- then you really need to visit urban dictionary.

Essentially- this advertisement says- "Treat her as an object. She will love you."
In the words of my friend Shelby Scott- "Whaaaat?"

Last Friday, I didn't have a lot of time to deconstruct the image of the geisha. So here I go-
First off-while foot binding was more common in ancient China, there are several accounts that tell us that foot binding also happened in Japan. Geisha's are a very accomplished women who were often hired to simply entertain men. Sometimes there was sexual intent, and at others, there was not.
A good geisha was graceful, passive, funny at appropriate times, submissive, cultured, and intent on serving.
Small steps and use of their facial expressions to attract customers were some of the most prominent and proper ways in which Geisha's worked.
I find it ironic that their graceful small steps are mocked. After all, she is tied to a man's shoe. What does this say? My interpretation of it is that it mocks geisha's while advertising them as submissive women. Asian women are already seen as passive members of society- this image further depicts a certain kind of reality. If you had no knowledge of how Asian women are represented, what would you think? "Wow, Asian women really are submissive and decorative."
I have issues with this: Women have no in between. You are either a bitch or submissive. What about a kind and active women? Apparently thats rare? I hate to break it to those ignorant citizens of humanity, but you cannot define women as one thing. I mean, do not get me wrong. Men are often objectified too. But men have the agency to change their status; to fight back. Men can be anything. Why can't women?
This image further enforces Asian stereotypes but also expresses something about the cultural belief of what women are. I have a challenge for you- don't think of WHAT women are; think of WHO women are.

What does this mean? Geisha's have long been a sex symbol- but to strap them to a man's shoe? Sick. Especially because she is in some kind of shoe lace bondage. To me- this says women can be stomped all over and are nothing more than sex symbols. Thank your corporate America.

Thunder by Nuttin' But Stringz

I have fallen in love. Buy their album on iTunes. Best investment ever.

LEE Advertisement

MMkay. Someone explain how Lee, a clothing brand, uses this as an ad. There are no clothes featured. Only lip stick. And cum looking substance. Rhetorically, this suggests that women who wear the Lee brand will sit there with their mouths open waiting for white substance to enter their mouths. Sick. Wrong. Confusing. Can anyone offer any other interpretations?

Sisley. Sisley is a messed up brand. What is this even supposed to be? Women get thirsty while milking the cow? This image is like animal/human pornography. Disgusting. And if you want to get technical- this image looks like the aftermaths of a bad porn scene. What is it with women enjoying white crap all over their faces? I mean really. That is SO degrading to me. I just don't even get it. I mean, I am open to interpretations. Bring them on. I would just like my viewers to look at the rhetorical message that it is sending and embedding in society. Media literacy is needed for those who look at this image and think that it constructs some kind of inherent truth about women.
There are more messed up Sisley ads to come.
- Kendall

Jimmy Choo- do you know what you do?

Oh Jimmy Choo. How the heck do you do what you do?
First off- yes, all girls like to hang out in a trunk wearing hott shoes? NO.
Secondly, I know race is a trickly subject for people, but having the African- American male outside of the vehicle while the woman lounges around inside is not usually a good thing to advertise. I say this because Black males are often advertised as violent and over masculine figures. Granted, he himself isn't being violent, but the ad as a whole has a tone that represents some kind of film noir murder mystery suspense.
In addition to this, the car is in a desert. A desert. A girl in the trunk. A man outside. This does not really make me want to buy that shoe- and I do love Jimmy Choo shoes, do not get me wrong. But really. Oh the fashion world, how you annoy me.