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Ads that I like disturb me very much #67


I am kind of lost for words when it comes to today's ad. The kindest thing that I can say is that they image and tagline combination seems somewhat poorly chosen. I know that society is used to the sexualisation of wee bairns in this heady age of Bratz, Brittany and bellbottom trousers [look, I've had a long day, all right, and alliteration sells papers].

Yet the notion of childlike innocence as a signifier for getting one's horn on, as advanced in the obviously liberal 1970s is off-putting to those of us with [warning: universal moral judgement coming up] healthy regard for what is or is not sexy.

[Note: the one thing that amused me most about this ad, was the resemblence in make up with some of Bill Henson's models, you know, the ones that were in no way meant to be 'sexy'...]
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Comments

Jules said…
I agree it is appalling to put the word sex, and baby/child in the same sentence. Put simply children aren't sexy they are bloody children!!!!
29 November 2008 at 16:36
magiceye said…
atrocious!!

It is peace in Mumbai at last.
Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes.
Pray for all those who lost their lives and may God give strength to their near and dear ones to bear their irreparable loss.
29 November 2008 at 18:15
USelaine said…
I remember that ad. When you're a teenage girl, you already know you're the target of leering deceivers, and an ad like this just confirmed that reality. I think the model was older than she may look here, and was seen in more typical fashion ads as well. How do you like those phallic product packages?
29 November 2008 at 19:11
Diederick Wijmans said…
I agree with you. It is appalling that both the one who actually made this ad, as well as the company that uses it, had nothing against combining sex with the image of this baby girl. In these cases I am toally in favour of censorship.
Ciao
Diederick
29 November 2008 at 19:37
Kris McCracken said…
Jules, it is an odd message to be sending, that’s for sure.

Magiceye, let’s hope that it lasts.

USelaine, it’s hard to see how you’re doing anything with this ad other than legitimising some pretty dodgy behaviour.

Phallologcentrism, it’s the bane of human society!

Diederick, I don’t think that something this blatant would be allowed in Australia these days. That said, every day we are bombarded by images that sexualise children in both subtle and unsubtle ways (e.g. Bratz dolls, some of the kids TV shows etc).
1 December 2008 at 11:09
Z said…
Yikes! Yikes! Yikes!
1 December 2008 at 20:36
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