Ad Question...sexual innuendo?

jpegjenna · May 13, 2008

I'm curious how you all feel about "sexy" ads and exactly how far one should or can go if prompted. I might be snagging a smaller retail client for some graphic design stuff I do. But there will be a photo side to it as well (that I will probably not be in charge of, thankfully!). The interesting part is that they want to start copying some heavy, sexy ads they've seen elsewhere.

Here's a sample I was given: http://picasaweb.google.com/jpic.etre/StuffILike02/photo?authkey=S_6tQhwngxE#5199618176515262578

This is a bulldog gin ad that is currently showing in European magazines but apparently got held up in the US market for being too sexually aggressive. FYI there is no nudity or obscenity of any kind, it is not pornographic.

This is the kind of vibe that the company wants to give off but they want to do it without getting in any trouble. I personally can't see why the ad was "held up," since it isn't at all explicit, it's all connotation through a mixture of text and photo. I posted this at a graphic design forum where I occasionally hang out and I got some great tips, but I feel like a photographer could maybe fill in the other half of the story.

Thanks for the help!

The_Traveler · May 13, 2008

It isn't sexually aggressive, it's just promoting physical aggression.

How would you feel if this was a guy sitting on a female?

Ugly image (conceptually)

jpegjenna · May 13, 2008

The_Traveler said:
How would you feel if this was a guy sitting on a female?

That's an interesting point...if it were the guy on the female I don't think it would have even been released! Reminds me of an argument in the movie Spinal Tap about album covers...

Alex_B · May 13, 2008

one of the most harmless images i have ever seen in advertising. Even the teletubbies are sexually more explicit than this

The Traveler is right in a sense though, as it looks she defeated him in a fight, just to get that gin from him

Mike_E · May 13, 2008

Or is about to bash his head with it.

The art director and the marketing director with this ad both need to get out more. Or perhaps neither had their spankie and it's showing.

Alex_B · May 13, 2008

Mike_E said:
The art director and the marketing director with this ad both need to get out more. Or perhaps neither had their spankie and it's showing.

:lmao:

But then again ,they achieved what advertising is about! people talk about the image and hence the product.

dklod · May 13, 2008

I gotta ask why would they not allow that to go ahead in the US. Like I mean, honestly, they censor so much stuff over there and what has it achieved, nothing. The bottom line is your upbringing and been shown and told whats morally right and wrong. Its ridiculous. I guess I come from a country that censors nothing after certain times on TV and very little on radio ever. Doesnt do us harm. Nothing personal against america, hey, I married a yank.

Senor Hound · May 14, 2008

dklod said:
I gotta ask why would they not allow that to go ahead in the US. Like I mean, honestly, they censor so much stuff over there and what has it achieved, nothing. The bottom line is your upbringing and been shown and told whats morally right and wrong. Its ridiculous. I guess I come from a country that censors nothing after certain times on TV and very little on radio ever. Doesnt do us harm. Nothing personal against america, hey, I married a yank.

I gotta say something. Just so you know, the game Grand Theft Auto 4 had certain scenes cut out of it for its sale in Australia, however here in the US it is shown in its full version. Although I agree with what you have to say about nudity and the like in America, other countries censor violent things even more than America could even dream of.

America only censors nudity and sexuality. You could put a photo in Tiger Beat of someone being violently murdered and it wouldn't draw a complaint. Put in a woman showing cleavage and the people would say, "What sort of message are we sending our children?" America's censorship is hilarious.

The_Traveler · May 14, 2008

I always thought that 'Innuendo' would be a great name for a brand of Italian suppositories.

Rick Waldroup · May 14, 2008

Senor Hound said:
I gotta say something. Just so you know, the game Grand Theft Auto 4 had certain scenes cut out of it for its sale in Australia, however here in the US it is shown in its full version. Although I agree with what you have to say about nudity and the like in America, other countries censor violent things even more than America could even dream of.

America only censors nudity and sexuality. You could put a photo in Tiger Beat of someone being violently murdered and it wouldn't draw a complaint. Put in a woman showing cleavage and the people would say, "What sort of message are we sending our children?" America's censorship is hilarious.

Yep, when Janet Jackson popped out an aging tit live during the Super Bowl, the whole country went into spasms. Yet, night after night on TV, murder, gore, and mayhem in general, are viewed as entertainment.