"Subliminal" Sex in the Media

I don't know if "subliminal" is a real thing or just a layperson idea, but when I talk about media in intro I show some images to show just how carefully advertisers are steeping their material in raw sex. I start with the image below.

I ask: Notice anything interesting about this image? Even in very large classes it usually takes a long time for anyone to see...

...that the shadow of the liquor bottle is pointing directly between her nearly bare breasts.

Then I show them these:

NEW: That's Salma Hayak and Campari... or should I say Salma Hayak's boobs and an ejaculation fantasy.


And where is the rocket going?


This is from a gay mag.


What image accompanies the word "come"?


I love this one. Eh em.


I also think Gwen's post here is great ("testees" anyone?)

And I close with a visit to the Gillette Vibrance website. The Gillette Vibrace razor may or may not be a razor, but it's definitely a vibrator.


1. Go to the website.
2. Watch the umbrella penetrate the v (v is for vulva) shaped lines on the screen.
3. Click on Go to Venus Vibrance (there are a number of razors on this site).
4. Note the shape of the product.
5. Look at where the model's hand is.
6. Click on the message-in-a-bottle for a "GoddessTip." Notice how it spurts out.
7. Click "Learn More."
8. Click through the information bytes.
a. The second one shows the vibration. “Push of a button,” eh? “A whole new shaving experience”? I bet.

Students love this.

1 comments:

  Anonymous

February 5, 2008 at 5:49 PM

Here's an example;take the world famous Virgin logo.If you turn it slighty to the left so that where the underline and tail of the g form an X,you'll also notice the V forms a slightly hidden S and the i,r and part of the g form a broken capital E,spelling the word SEX.
So you have Sex/Virgin in one word.Very clever Mr.Branson.