Wildest TV Commercials

Last night the hubbie and I watched part of a show on the E channel that showed some of TV's "wildest" commercials complete with commentary by three comedians. Some of the commercials were completely ridiculous - i.e. a local furniture store advertising furniture by the store owner zapping "aliens" (people dressed up in cheap outfits) off of the sofas. As I watched the advertisements, I became more and more reminded that "sex sells" in our culture.

One ad stuck out in particular, an ad for Carl's Jr. Burgers that consists of a woman riding on an electric bull while eating a burger.



I find it interesting that this ad is geared towards a specific demographic - most likely, men, and possibly women, living in the western part of the U.S. I am not sure what message the marketers are trying to convey by this ad: that it is sexy and attractive to eat a burger while riding an electric bull? That men want beef and sexy women? That if you want to attract a man you should be bold and brazen? That a cheap burger tastes better on an electric bull? Frankly I find it more confusing than I do offensive.

I think the ad is meant to entertain and captivate men especially by combining the trifecta of sexy woman, bull-riding, and beef. I don't know that this ad operates on a fear of the other so much as it does put women in a position of toy/sex object to attract men. At least this woman seems to be enjoying the ride.

Some of the other commercials in the show were more disturbing - for instance, an advertisement for a strip club in Ohio, Dayton Gold. It showed a woman trying to find work at some other "sleezy" strip club, and then it showed all the happy women who were working at Dayton Gold where they were treated right. Please! Like any woman wants to work at a strip club because they are treated right. I will respect the women who choose to work there, but I think strip clubs prey on women and certainly put men in a position of power over women.

What I want to know is why sex sells for men, but not for women? Why are there no pictures of shirtless men riding electric bulls eating burgers? Or ads for chip n dale strip clubs? Obviously because men are - or traditionally have been - the ones in power in our society and it's okay for women to be seen as sex objects. But to do it the other way around is either impossible or a joke.