I thought these two images were interesting because they are using sexualized images of men in a magazine called Metropolitan Home. It struck me at first because it’s pretty unusual to find sexualized male bodies used in ads targeting a general audience that might include straight men. Then I started thinking–maybe the fact that it’s in an interior design magazine means advertisers assume the readership is mostly female or, if male, gay, so there is little fear of offending straight men with these types of ads.
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Comments 11
Tim — April 27, 2008
These images are hardly sexualized. Are the far more sexualized ads of Calvin Klein offensive to straight males? One would have to be a hypersensitive person to be offended by any of these ads.
Google Calvin Klein ads and you'll find these on the first page: http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7754/freddieckoj8.png
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/semicharmedchck/ad04.jpg
http://www.hollywoodheartbreaker.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/djimon-hounsou-calvin-klein-ads-01.jpg
http://gfx.dagbladet.no/magasinet/2003/03/10/CALVIN.jpg
Sociological Images » OBJECTIFYING MEN — February 23, 2009
[...] see these ads and these two posts (here and here) on ads that portray women dominating or in-charge-of men. [...]
Le Chat Noir — May 16, 2009
I'm sure the sexualized ad of Calvin Klein are ppealing to many gay men and that yes, many straight men do find them offensive.
christopher barson — July 18, 2009
An attractive human form is always a great accessory to any well designed room....
alix — September 26, 2009
roy ames.... what the hell are you talking about? it's kind of been an issue for 40 some years...
Adan — October 20, 2009
O c'mon everyone we all know sex sells. You don't have to take a communications class to find this out. If it didn't work the media and these other companies would not be using it. When pictures like the one above are used, they are selling you a good look, a great time, and a sensual appearance; not the jeans. But it works because guys will go and buy them.
Christopher Barson — January 23, 2010
Don't miss "Design Freak: The Christopher Barson Project" airing March 11 2010 at 8 PM EST on FINE LIVING NETWORK...
Joy — April 10, 2010
1st guy looked kinda 80s rocker. KINDA. Not really but I always relate spiky hair to the 80s for some reason. don't ridicule me- heehee. he was very very cute. ;)
anyway, these are MUCH less sexualized than some Calvin Klein ads... some of those are just plain nasty.
emily — September 30, 2010
Where did you get this photos from?
I am doing a project and I need a direct url.
Thank you!
They’re Not Commodity, Either | Life on the Margins — March 26, 2012
[...] body is merely a prop or confection. Male bodies can be admired and envied, and are consumed by males and females alike, whereas female sexual objectification is chiefly for male consumption and female bodies are [...]