Contextual portfolio

Seminar week 8: Propaganda
Contextual portfolio task: 500 word advertisement review 

Propaganda 

This week in our seminar class was about propaganda. Propaganda is a form of communication which aims to persuade and influence and change attitudes of its intended audience. Thus advertising is commercial propaganda. It has acquired negative connotations in the early 20^th century because of the Nazi Germany distorted facts and fed false information. However arguably it has been used in past history to enlighten. Continuing on about our seminar class, they recommended us to review some images in the advertising articles they provided. We were asked to pay attention to what we feel but in details what the piece is saying, with the help from a guide explaining the way we could approach it.

 

        

I reviewed this article titled ‘LATESHA’- ‘let our model be your guide to the teal high streets of London, from hair to hallal butchers’. It featured in a magazine called Mixmag, the fashion editor and photographer was Riya Hollings, hair by Jaymarie Winkler and Andrea Gomez Anzola was the makeup artist. Latesha which is the model standing in front of a hair salon wearing luffy black jumper with two pink lips deliberately placed on where her breasts would be and see also wore blue glittery trousers with cut out white lace in the middle. On the next image Latesha wore lace stocking with court shoes, a crocodile clutch and devotion covert bra which displayed her breasts. I feel that these fashion styles are illogical because one of clothes main purpose was to cover us, but yet we have got the fashion industry promoting nudity which is also ironic.  They grab the viewers’ attention with nudity itself but the sex appeal Latesha shows. Latesha looks flirty and nonchalant on the photographs which can cause viewers to think about how they would look like wearing such things and will they have that same sex appeal.

These images portray women into sex objects; it depicts how it is in today society. As if we have nothing really important about us other than our body. In many different industries they use sex appeal to advertise their product; they have sexualised many things even such as eating and this is affecting the new generation. It can stereotype women, making it seem that we all have that type of side to us.

Whilst I was looking for more examples I came a billboard that was one of the most well remembered interactive designs and it was advertising lingerie clothing company, I wanted to review this because is another example how the media depicts women. This billboard was a 3D advertisement making it possible for it to interact with the environment, when the wind blows past the ladies skirt will be lifted up and revealing the product they are advertising. It very creative, it would catch the eye and create conversation for those is walking by.  The title says ‘Look your best’ in a very fine text which ensures simplicity, this also contributes on advertising the underwear because it is suggesting that you can always be prepared in these type of situation by wearing one our stunning underwear; this way you will not be embarrassed. The basic white background also makes it stand out more. I feel that this is irresponsible and too sexually suggestive to be shown where children may see. Do you ever get the feeling that this type of culture is forcing children to grow up too quickly? I do.