Provocative? Vulgar? Creative? Pornographic? Brilliant?
Which word comes to mind when you first saw the above pictures?
First, let me give you guys a little background information. These pictures are a few of the many American Apparel ads, and yes, as the name suggests, they are just selling clothes
American Apparel is the largest clothings manufacturer in the US. Selling affordable, basic cotton knitwear items, they have expanded to have around 185 stores worldwide. The company is known for a number of policies including promoting immigrant rights and labor policies the company dubs 'sweatshop' free.
However, their provocative and sexual advertisements have also been subjected to harsh criticism and disapproval from the public. Many find that the sexual tone of American Apparels' advertising campaign is offensive and explicit, some even going on accuse the ads of bordering on pornography.
But despite the detractors, American Apparel has also been lauded for their creativity and honesty, especially since they insist that all the photos taken are not digitally enhanced or airbrushed, and their models are often staff working in American Apparel, photographed with all their blemishes and imperfections.
But like all other things, this is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The poster does not need to literally exclaim 'YES I"M SELLING SEX!" We as humans can use our perception and see the innuendoes or symbolisms behind each picture and either take these nonverbal cues as tasteless display of sexual imagery, or an ingenius marketing strategy.
Personally, I feel that although the ads are very sexually charged and provocative, I can't help but admire them for their creativity and uniqueness. The ads served their purpose, which was to make people sit up, take notice, and ultimately, look at the clothes they were advertising. Controversial as it might be, it worked.
What do you think?
10 comments:
At the first glance, I would think that the pictures are probably the works of creative photographers who wants to bring the "artistic element" into their work.
When I look at these pictures, I felt that the products are simply not the focus. After all, the priority of the ads is still to draw people's attention. If people took notice of the product itself, its a bonus :)
by today's standards, i don't think the pictures are sordid enough to be considered offensive in an artistic sense. but if the main aim is to sell a product, then i think its a bit too much!
sandra =)
Yes! i totally agree that the the advertising has been done in a way thats it's blatent that the product being sold is not the the focus, they're merely using sexuality to attract audiences. But hey, if it makes people take notice, it's kind of managed to achieve it's goal right ;)
i'm a an avid fan of american apparel, not only cuz of their affordable and trendy basics, but their clever marketing strategies. i think using their own employees as model for their clothes prove that us 'ordinary' people can look great in their clothes as well!
maybe its because im in the creative field, but i feel that american apparel's advertisements deserved to be lauded. advertisments are supposed to be creative, attention grabbing, and most of all, leave a lasting impression on the person viewing it. The ads have managed to do all three things. So what's wrong with that? plenty of other companies are using sex as a selling point as well!
When i first saw the pictures, I never thought that the photos were advertisements that were selling clothes but more like selling themselves. However, after reading more of what you said, i finally realised and understood.
I believe that now no one really bothers if their photos are too sexually charged all their motive is to promote what they were selling. They just want to make sure that such items were bought by people. However not many people might approve of such actions they might just think that is overboard.
if it was me, i dun really think i might even consider supporting the clothes.
samantha
i would like to say that the pictures indeed caught my attention (what's new; i'm a guy) but i did not actually know what they were trying to say or sell?
maybe im too shallow and dont think too in depth. but thats me.
sex sells. period.
i feel that in today's day and age, many people would not find the posters or advertisements offensive or derogatory.
but i think that as a female myself, i think that using a women's body in a way that is sexually suggestive is quite offensive.
using sexual images or connotations has long been the advertising or promoting method used by marketers and advertisers everywhere. personally, i dont see anything wrong with using sexuality to sell a product. people often say it discriminates women, but look at other ads that use men as sex symbols to promote products. i dont hear people complaining or whining that it degrades men or belittles them into nothing more then a sex object, so why the whole hoohaa over using provocative images of women for advertisments?
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