Sarah says she walks by this image (found here) on her way to the subway and it “unnerves” her:
I concur.
Would it be going too far to suggest that the goblet of wine simultaneously stands in for an ejaculating penis and a weapon drawing blood? And, if that isn’t going to far, then aren’t we all seriously disturbed right now?
Thanks for the suggestion Sarah!
Comments 10
Anonymous — March 29, 2008
If you understood a bit more about history then maybe you would understand that this image has a lot to do with the miniseries and the themes within.
moodring54 — March 30, 2008
It's supposed to be disturbing. Henry VIII and Anne relationship circled largely around power and desire. The real jarring part of the picture isn't the wine, but the hand around her neck. It's a representation of the power dynamic in the relationship and also a little visual cue because we know that eventually he'll have her beheaded.
Anonymous — May 15, 2008
I saw a tagline for this series (in a different ad, but with the same image) that said "King takes Queen" which I think really adds to the theme of sexualized violence.
Rósa Dögg — May 20, 2008
as moodring and an.1 say: its a referrence into the series. read up on the tudors ;)
Steph — January 4, 2010
When I was at school, one guy at a party claimed that every girl secretly wants to be choked in bed. When I disagreed (if a guy ever did that to me, I'd go for the eyes), he said, "No one's done it to you yet. If they do, you'll love it." And the worst part was, EVERY other guy at this grad school party agreed with him.
This poster reinforces that women secretly desire to be choked and/or want violence because it is sexy. What a terrible, harmful idea.
Jojo — February 2, 2010
A story about a woman who seduces a man to gain power, but ends up being beheaded by that man represented by and image of sex and violence? Pardon me for thinking it's not a huge stretch...
Davina — March 12, 2011
I agree with multiple other commenters on this one - the story told in The Tudors is historical fact (if fleshed out using creative license), and is, by it's very nature, violent and laced with lust-imagery. I don't think it's fair to take an add like this and try and use it as a weapon for a crusade against a social issue. No one wants sex equated with violence, but when it comes to advertising a story, you can't expect it to play by the "rules".