Post updates by email:

Do any of you remember the TV commercials back in the '80s that advertised Calvin Klein’s perfume, Obsession?

I first have to say that I wore the men’s Obsession for years and got more compliments because of the way it smelled on my skin. But it is not the fragrance I want to discuss today, it’s the bazaar television advertisements that made absolutely NO SENSE whatsoever.

Please watch this 31 second commercial, and if anyone can tell me WHAT it means I’ll pay you a million dollars.


WTF???? And the part that makes me howl is when she slaps the other woman's face after she's kisses HER husband. Shouldn't that be the other way around??? It seems that when they shot this commercial the director said, "Okay...I want everyone to say the first thing that comes into your mind and then act as weird as you possibly can."

I honestly think the whole reason anyone initially tried Obsession was because the commercials were so confusing yet intriguing, that people just HAD to go into the nearest department store and see what it smelled like. I know I did.

Calvin Klein is also notorious for his provocative and often controversial print ads.

I think he probably coined the phrase: “Skin sells.”

But in as much as his advertisements lure many people into buying his brand, they also push a lot of other people away because they find them offensive.

Personally they don't offend me at all, but I can see where others might find them a bit revealing; especially back in the '80s.






I’m one of those people who can enjoy the sexiness and erotica behind Calvin Klein's print ads because that's what they are...ads. I understand that they're not reality because most of us don’t have bodies like the ones pictured in his advertisements, therefore we’re not all going to look like these models just because we wear the perfume, jeans or underwear.

Again, this is where I see how the media subliminally feeds the public on how they should look and what they need to feel good about themselves.

Which just goes to show you how powerful and tricky advertisement can be, so you have to be aware.

Advertisement:


Real Life:
Tee-hee!

54 comments:

  1. Personally I love the Calvin Klien print ads, especially the ones of David Beckham advertising underwear! WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  2. 'I understand that they're not reality because most of us don’t have bodies like the ones pictured in his advertisements'

    You speak for yourself, young man... hahahahaha

    I have to agree with Pearl about David Beckham.... cor!!!

    Hubs wears CK underwear,sleepwear, and socks; should I perhaps start slapping faces and stuff or is that limited to Obsession users?

    Enjoyed this post, Ron, as well as the gorgeously sexy picture, except the last two, that is. They were a bit off-putting. I couldn't help adopting the red riding hood style of 'what pronounced bones you have' or 'what a big fat belly you have'. Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent again.

    Have a marvellous Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, Ron, my sister and I were just talking about these ads the other day. I guess they thought the weirdness and the good-looking models would get people to buy the stuff. The ads were brutally mocked on Saturday Night Life and Second City TV-and rightfully so! Good point about how "the media subliminally feeds the public on how they should look and what they need to feel good about themselves." Excellent post, buddy, and thanks for the '80s flashback. I suspect all the models in the first ads now look like that guy in the last ad! Oh, the shame of it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That last photo completely cracked me up! Actually, I might buy the stuff if they threw one of those photos in the mix once in a while. And, I'm curious to know if you think that most of the CK advertising focused on men is geared towards gay men. It's pretty erotic.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I remember loving that commercial! Then again, I loved Dynasty and Dallas, so I was all about drama and cheese in the 80's! I couldn't wait to save enough money to buy my CK jeans. Now they would look ridiculous with that high waist!

    Fun post, Ron.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's pretty obvious to me. They dated in high school but he asked the other woman to the prom. She slapped her for "stealing" her boyfriend, and then when he tried to make amends by handing her the dried corsage he had saved all these years, she crumbled it up and tossed it on his head. Aha! Talk about revenge, sista!!

    Or I could have it all wrong...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good morning Pearl~

    HA! I had a feeling you did!!

    I too love the Calvin Klein ads because I appreciate them for what they are...sexy! And I also think they're beautifully done; photographically.

    Thanks for stopping by, m'dear! Have a great week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gooooooooood morning Valerie~

    "You speak for yourself, young man... hahahahaha"

    You GO, girl!

    Aren't the ones of David Beckham faaaaaabulous???? Woot! Woot!

    "Hubs wears CK underwear,sleepwear, and socks; should I perhaps start slapping faces and stuff or is that limited to Obsession users?"

    Bwhahahahahahhahaha! Valerie...you CRACK ME UP!!!!!!!!!!!! No, it's not limited to Obsession users, so I think you should slap him - HA!

    And can you believe (other than using Obsession) I've only own ONE article of clothing from Calvin Klein. It was a pair of jeans which I had MANY years ago. I love his jeans because they fit my body shape better than any jeans I've ever owned. But OMG...they're so EXPENSIVE.

    " Ron, as well as the gorgeously sexy picture, except the last two, that is. They were a bit off-putting. I couldn't help adopting the red riding hood style of 'what pronounced bones you have' or 'what a big fat belly you have'."

    Bwhhahahahhaha! You are so funny! Isn't that last one beastly? But I just couldn't resist sharing it because it ironically matched the real Calvin Klein ad above it. And it was obviously photoshopped.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. I always enjoy your comments!

    Have a maaaaaaaaaavelous week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey there Rob~

    " I guess they thought the weirdness and the good-looking models would get people to buy the stuff."

    Yes, exactly.

    "The ads were brutally mocked on Saturday Night Life and Second City TV-and rightfully so!"

    OMG yes...do you remember seeing those "spoof commercials" on Saturday Night Live? They were called, "Compulsion." HILARIOUS!

    " thanks for the '80s flashback."

    I can remember being in NYC back then, when that photo of Marky Mark was on a HUGE billboard in Times Square!

    "I suspect all the models in the first ads now look like that guy in the last ad! Oh, the shame of it!"

    HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! You're right!

    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a super week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey Jen~

    "That last photo completely cracked me up!"

    OMG...isn't it HYSTERICAL???????? I accidentally found that one while googling images for Calvin Klien ads and HAD to use it!

    " And, I'm curious to know if you think that most of the CK advertising focused on men is geared towards gay men. It's pretty erotic."

    Absolutely yes! Most definitely!

    I think it's the same with Tom Ford's ads. His are VERY erotic too.

    Always great seeing ya, girl! Thanks so much for stopping by.

    Have a wonderful week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey there Bijoux~

    "I remember loving that commercial! Then again, I loved Dynasty and Dallas, so I was all about drama and cheese in the 80's!"

    You are soooooooooooo right! It was ALL about the drama and cheese in the 80's! And the shock value.

    "I couldn't wait to save enough money to buy my CK jeans. Now they would look ridiculous with that high waist!"

    Meeeeee too! In fact, I had one pair of Calvin Klein jeans back in the '80s and they fit me better than any jeans I've ever worn. But OMG...they were sooooo expensive!

    Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a great week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey there Mark~

    "Talk about revenge, sista!!"

    Bwhahahahahahahahahahahhahaha!

    *thunderous applause*

    BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was BRILLIANT, man!

    And I think you nailed it PERFECTLY!!!!!

    I'll be mailing you the million dollars sometime this week, okay?

    Thanks so much for stopping and adding your flawless commentary!

    You ROCK!

    Have a faaaaaaaaaaabulous week, buddy!

    Hope you and Tara a great weekend celebrating your one-year anniversary!

    X to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ron, watching that Obsession commercial again brought me right back to the '80s. I can remember seeing it for the first time and not knowing what it meant, but it did make me curious as to what it smelled like. I wore Obsession for awhile but it became too heavy for me.

    Love the print ad of Mark Wahlberg. And he's still a hottie!

    Calvin Klein ads don't offend me either. There's an eroticism about them but I see it more as art. I think Bruce Weber took most of Calvin's ads early on. Wonderful photographer.

    That last photo is too funny! Have a wonderful week Ron.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hola Denise~

    "I wore Obsession for awhile but it became too heavy for me."

    Yes, it is a heavier fragrance (especially the women's). I use to wear it during the winter months because it has a lot of warm notes in it. For some reason, warmer fragrances smell the best on my skin. If I wear something with too much citrus in it, it sours on my skin.

    "Love the print ad of Mark Wahlberg. And he's still a hottie!"

    Agree! Hubba-hubba!

    "I think Bruce Weber took most of Calvin's ads early on. Wonderful photographer."

    Yes, you're right...he did. In fact, Weber took the photo of the guy and girl standing in the swing in the Obsession ad. I LOVE that photo!!!!!!!!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, girl. Wishing you wonderful week too!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  15. OK Ron I have the commercial figured out, it is actually slapping you into the reality that you will buy this perfume and never really know why Ha Ha

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey there Jimmy~

    "it is actually slapping you into the reality that you will buy this perfume and never really know why

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I think you might have something there, buddy! And it DID slap me into buying it, so it worked!

    Thanks for stopping by. Have a super week!

    X to you and Cindy!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dammit......*sigh* Mark stole my million!!

    :-/

    Okay....truthfully, I never 'got' the commercials and thought they were just a bit 'touched', much like their maker, Mr. Klein. But that's why he rakes in the big bucks, no doubt! LOL

    I'm a 'tough to scent' kinda gal. I can't wear a whole lotta anything without it smelling like bug spray. And I especially didn't wear Calvin Klein--mostly because I didn't like the smell of it from the testers--and then there were his ad campaigns, twhich I thought had zilch to do with the product and yup....too much skin for my liking! But I say the same about some gal in a skimpy swimsuit jumping into a Jeep! LOL WHAT that has to do with a Jeep--heck if I know.

    Yes, I'm an old fashioned gal with old fashioned values and old fashioned beliefs.
    I skip right past the underwear pages in catalogs....LOL And I close my eyes at movies that are showing me too much 'stuff' (and that's when it's actually pertinent to the plot)! Doesn't matter. I think there's more to be said for the imagination at work. And I just don't wanna watch it......seriously.
    And I certainly don't wanna see it in a magazine. If I wanted that, I know which aisle and YES IN A PAPERBAG, PLEASE! ;-)

    Okayokayokay...maybe I'm a prude! LOL
    I guess there are worse things to be called.
    But I do remember the SNL sketches--and I know I laughed! They were really GOOD back in the 80's......(just my not so humble opinion!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes, I do remember those commercials for Obsession and thought the same damn thing. WTF???? But as you stated, I think that was Calvin's whole idea behind it, to entice the public into trying it. Personally I think his print ads are beautiful. Oh, except for that last photo for Reality, he-he!

    Have you ever seen the SNL parody commercial they did? It was so funny!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hiya Matt~

    "I think that was Calvin's whole idea behind it, to entice the public into trying it."

    Yup....I think he knew exactly what he was doing!

    " Personally I think his print ads are beautiful. Oh, except for that last photo for Reality, he-he!"

    Isn't that last photo a HOOT? I don't know who made/created it, but it's BRILLIANT!

    "Have you ever seen the SNL parody commercial they did?"

    Yes I have, it was called "Compulsion" and it was BEYOND hilarious! I miss the ORIGINAL cast of SNL!

    Thanks for stopping by, bud! Hope you had a fab Monday. Enjoy your week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  20. the print ad on the swing is gorgeous
    I never understood any of the odd commercials
    they reminded me of underground art films from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  21. Doesn't make me want to purchase it! Hmmm...perhaps, they should think of running their ads through average people rather than their ad dept before airing them.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hiya Mel~

    "Dammit......*sigh* Mark stole my million!!"

    HA! Wasn't his comment HILARIOUS?????

    "I never 'got' the commercials and thought they were just a bit 'touched', much like their maker, Mr. Klein. But that's why he rakes in the big bucks, no doubt! LOL"

    Exactly....that's why he rakes in the big bucks. But it's funny because even looking at that commercial THIRTY years later...I still can't tell what the hell it means!?!?

    "--and then there were his ad campaigns, twhich I thought had zilch to do with the product and yup....too much skin for my liking! But I say the same about some gal in a skimpy swimsuit jumping into a Jeep! LOL WHAT that has to do with a Jeep--heck if I know."

    Isn't it something how ads and commercials do that? Whatever they're showing, it usually has nothing to do with the product itself, it's more of an attempt to LURE/ENTICE the public. And Jeeps commercials are a perfect example, you're right. Who mainly buys jeeps? Men. So yeah, they use a girl in a swim suit - HA!

    "I skip right past the underwear pages in catalogs....LOL"

    HAHAHAHAHAHHA! Mel...I LOVE YOU, WOMAN! That was so funny!

    " And I close my eyes at movies that are showing me too much 'stuff' (and that's when it's actually pertinent to the plot)! Doesn't matter. I think there's more to be said for the imagination at work."

    Yes, I do agree with you there. There is MUCH more to be said for the imagination when it comes to the "too much" stuff they often show in movies. If a 'nudie scene' in a movie is done in good taste, I don't mind it. Seeing peeks of naked bodies don't bother me in a movie scene. But if it's TOO MUCH, it's overkill and loses the effect.

    I still love the old movies where the couple just kisses and then the screen fades to black; allowing the audience to IMAGINE.

    "Okayokayokay...maybe I'm a prude!"

    No, you're not a prude, you just don't care for that sort of stuff. I understand.

    "But I do remember the SNL sketches--and I know I laughed! They were really GOOD back in the 80's......"

    They were FA-BU-LOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Mucho thanks for stopping by and sharing on this post, dear lady. I always enjoy your comments!

    Have a terrific week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  23. I remember the commercials, don't really understand them either, but that's okay. Sexy with some intrigue. I like them.
    Kate Moss ... wayyyyy toooo thin though.
    Check this video out:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkavTU5tsY&feature=fvwrel
    haha!
    As for the fragrances, I have an old container of Eternity cream, an old bottle of Obsession ... don't really wear either anymore. I really love Contradiction and Escape. I wear them both. Maybe they aren't even in his line anymore but when I run out I'll be looking for them somewhere.
    Funny last picture!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey there Lady Dianne~

    "the print ad on the swing is gorgeous"

    I agree! Isn't it gorgeously sexy? Bruce Weber took that shot. He took most of Calvin's prints ads when he first started out. I remember when that ad came out and everyone was in an uproar because it showed naked butts - HA!

    "I never understood any of the odd commercials
    they reminded me of underground art films from Germany"

    Bwhahahahhahaaha! OMG, Dianne...you are SO RIGHT!!!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Have a supa' week!

    X to you and the gang!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hiya Suzi~

    "Doesn't make me want to purchase it!"

    It is a strange commercial, isn't it? It either turns you off because it's too odd, or it makes you curious. Personally it made me curious.

    "Hmmm...perhaps, they should think of running their ads through average people rather than their ad dept before airing them."

    You know it's ironic you said that because I say the same thing about the cosmetic and fragrance industry I'm in. Companies should ask US about WHAT the public wants instead of sitting in their offices and creating stuff they have no idea about.

    Thanks for stopping by, Suzi! Hope you had a great Monday!

    Enjoy your week.....X

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bwhahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    OMG...that video clip you shared was absolutely BEYOND hilarious!!!!!!!!! I laughed so damn hard!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for or sharing that, Mary!!!!

    You ROCK!

    And I have to agree with you. The Obsession ads with Kate Moss were just too scary. She looked like she was sick or something because she was SOOOOOOOOO thin!

    "As for the fragrances, I have an old container of Eternity cream, an old bottle of Obsession ... don't really wear either anymore."

    Yes, I had a feeling you liked Obsession at one time because you and I like the same type fragrances - earthy, warm, and spicy!

    I like the women's Eternity, but not the men's.

    And I also wore the men's Contradiction too! Loved it! Calvin also had a fragrance called, Truth, which was awesome but it didn't stay on the market long. I don't think enough people liked it. It was very natural smelling.

    "Maybe they aren't even in his line anymore but when I run out I'll be looking for them somewhere."

    Yes they are still in his line and continue to do VERY well. I have a friend who works for Calvin Klein fragrances.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and for also sharing that video with me. I so enjoyed it!

    Have a grrrrrrrrrreat week, neighbor!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  27. reality check for sure :) No clue on the purpose of the commercial. Seriously, wtf? However, loved marky mark then and still love him now. such nostalgia! Reminds me of my favorite high concept cosmetics advertisement - Chanel no5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqhUuH43LNM

    xoxo!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey there Diane!

    "reality check for sure :)"

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Amen, girl!

    "No clue on the purpose of the commercial. Seriously, wtf?"

    Even to this day, I CANNOT figure out WTF?!?!?

    "However, loved marky mark then and still love him now."

    Agree! Hubba-hubba! And I remember living in NYC when that underwear ad came out and they had it plastered on a huge...and mean HUGE billboard in Times Square. Everyone (especially us gays guys) would stand around on the streets and just STARE at it - HA!

    I cannot THANK YOU enough for sharing that video clip of Chanel #5 because I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Isn't it a great video? Love the music especially. I worked for Chanel as a makeup artist and fragrance specialist for six years and Chanel #5 was/is still the MOST sold fragrance in the world!

    It was always remain a classic!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. And thanks again for sharing the video clip!

    Have a super week!

    Much X to you and Cristybella!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I watched that video clip three times and cannot figure out what the heck it means? It looks like a outtake clip of all the scenes they didn't use in a VERY bad movie!

    The first photo of the couple in the swing is truly beautiful. And very sexy!

    ReplyDelete
  30. "It looks like a outtake clip of all the scenes they didn't use in a VERY bad movie!"

    Bwhahahahahahahahahaha! I'm rolling on the floor; laughing!

    Robert, that was absolutely PRICELESS because that's EXACTLY what it looks like....OUTTAKES! What brilliant perception you have!

    "The first photo of the couple in the swing is truly beautiful. And very sexy!"

    Yes, isn't it? And I especially like the 'sepia' effect!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and making me laugh with your comment! Have a grrrrrrrrreat week, buddy!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  31. I feel very strongly about advertising, especially in the world of beauty and fashion. They show a false impression of the real world, by only using beautiful models. I believe this causes young people to aspire to something that is impossible for most of us to achieve. Then they go one step further and airbrush all printed media photos, showing us only what they perceive to be beautiful. Young teenagers see these ads and either starve themselves in an attempt at looking the same, or have low self esteem because they don't. The truth is that nobody can look like them. Not even the models in the original photos.

    Even more disgusting, in my view, is the total lack of any physically impaired people in advertising. Do they not shop? Do they not wear makeup? Do they not wear perfume or aftershave? Do they not exist? They used to lock them away in huge buildings, out of sight, many years ago. In my opinion, the advertising industry still lock them away, out of sight. How are we ever going to remove the unfair social stigma of not being perfect, if the media will never show a natural, imperfect world? Come to think of it. Who's to say what IS perfect?

    I told you I feel strongly about advertising :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hey there Babs~

    BRAVA!

    You touched on so many of my own feelings when it comes to advertising, and yes, ESPECIALLY in the world of beauty and fashion. And this is why I shared in my post that the media subliminally feeds us HOW we should look and what we need to feel GOOD about ourselves.

    "They show a false impression of the real world, by only using beautiful models. I believe this causes young people to aspire to something that is impossible for most of us to achieve."

    Which is WHY so many young people (especially girls) have eating disorders because they try to attain the unattainable. And you're right...not even the models TRULY look like that because of airbrushing and photoshop.

    "Even more disgusting, in my view, is the total lack of any physically impaired people in advertising. Do they not shop? Do they not wear makeup? Do they not wear perfume or aftershave? Do they not exist?"

    Brava! Another excellent and important point you brought up. And if the advertising industry was SMART, they would open themselves to INCLUDING those who are physically impaired not only for financial gain, but more importantly to show that BEAUTY comes in all forms. And this includes, physically impaired and also those who are not a size 2.

    "How are we ever going to remove the unfair social stigma of not being perfect, if the media will never show a natural, imperfect world? Come to think of it. Who's to say what IS perfect?"

    Exactly! Who's to say what IS perfect?

    Please understand that the point of this post is not say that we should look like the models in these images, but rather how advertising has the power to brainwash society into thinking that. Yes, I can enjoy the sexiness in these photos, but I also know what's real and what's not real. Which is why I shared....we need to be AWARE.

    Reality.

    Thanks so much for sharing your insight, thoughts, and opinions on this post, my friend. You've added MUCH!

    Have a great week!

    X to you and Mo!

    ReplyDelete
  33. hey i couldn't leave a comment and finally turned off my popup blocker and bam, the comments returned. darn. ok, i will disable my pub for your site.

    anyhoo, what had happened in that crazy video was the woman was his obsession and the wife got mad that she kissed her man and was about to stop her when she put her hand out and the other woman was like oh no don't you touch me, so she slapped her. a fight over a man. and then uh, well you just owe me a million dollars, i'll take it in small bills, thank you.

    ron i don't know what that ad means, they just want peeps to believe that the perfume will make them someone else's obsession or sexy. i don't know. doesn't hurt to show nice men in their undies either.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Mark Wahlberg ... YUMMY! Ron, I have a hysterical (well, I think so) story about Calvin Klein Crave. I keep meaning to post it. Calvin was/is a master of manipulation, he kn

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hey there VGirl~

    "hey i couldn't leave a comment and finally turned off my popup blocker and bam, the comments returned. darn. ok, i will disable my pub for your site."

    Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that because one of my other readers (Babs) emailed me yesterday to say that she couldn't leave a comment either. She tried over and over again, but the comment box wouldn't open. I will email her tomorrow to let her know what you said because perhaps it's her POPUP blocker that's preventing it. Again, thanks for letting me know, girl...x

    " the woman was his obsession and the wife got mad that she kissed her man and was about to stop her when she put her hand out and the other woman was like oh no don't you touch me, so she slapped her. a fight over a man."

    BINGO! I think you got it because I watched it again after your comment and that sounds exactly RIGHT!

    "and then uh, well you just owe me a million dollars, i'll take it in small bills, thank you."

    Bwhahahahahhaha! Okay, I'll mail it to you tomorrow in small bills or a cashiers check - HA!

    "doesn't hurt to show nice men in their undies either."

    Woot! Woot!

    Thanks so much for stopping back and trying to leave a comment again, and for letting me know about the popup blocker!

    You da' BOMB!

    Have a faaaaaaabulous week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hiya Lady Nitebyrd~

    "Mark Wahlberg ... YUMMY!"

    Yummy is RIGHT! And he still looks GOOD!

    " I have a hysterical (well, I think so) story about Calvin Klein Crave. I keep meaning to post it."

    OMG, PLEASE post it because it sounds faaaaaaabulous!

    Calvin Klein Crave - HA!

    "Calvin was/is a master of manipulation, he knows what to make people want and want to look like - even if they don't."

    Yup...you're absolutely right...master of manipulation.

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, Sis! Hope you're having a super week!

    X ya!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I probably should have said AD blocker. Ads are disabled through my google chrome browser.
    V
    Sent from my iPod

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great, Val, I'll let her know!

    Mucho thanks, girl!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  39. I agree with you, Ron. Who doesn't like looking at beautiful, sexy people? But they take it too far. It shouldn't be at the exclusion of everyone else. I actually heard somebody on TV say that we shouldn't have older people on TV. It should only be young attractive people! "Who wants to look at unattractive people on TV?" This was said by a TV personality in her thirties! I wonder if she will still say that in ten years from now. Can you believe how brainwashed we've become? If you're over 40 or not as beautiful as they think you should be, you should be brushed under the carpet so you don't offend their eyes. Talent doesn't seem to count for much.

    X Factor is a classic. If a girl who isn't perceived as particularly attractive, walks on stage, it is assumed that she won't be able to sing. The shock on the judges faces when they prove to have a great voice, tells a story in itself. Susan Boyle showed them all up.

    Since the Paralympics, we have been interviewing a lot of the paralympians on TV. The aim is to keep them in the public eye, so that people will start to accept them as human beings, just like you and I. How tragic is that? We shouldn't need to do that for them to be accepted. They ARE human beings, just like us, but that brings us back the the world of advertising and entertainment, doesn't it? And being force fed the unrealistic perception of beauty.

    As you can see Ron, I do feel very strongly about the brainwashing that goes on continually. The younger generation are suffering at it's hands, yet we continue to allow it.

    They brought in guidelines to make advertising multi racial. Maybe it's time for another guideline.

    When I first saw your post, I wasn't going to get deeply into the subject matter. Who was I kidding? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  40. And I agree with you too, Babs!

    Especially about not having older people on TV. And what I find ironic about that is that it's okay for a MAN to age and continue a career in acting, but god for bid a WOMAN reach the age of 40...they're OVER THE HILL. This is why I ladmire people like Helen Mirren and Susan Sarandon for not caving in to plastic surgery. They ARE who they ARE and continue to work. However, most actresses their age are not so lucky.

    " X Factor is a classic. If a girl who isn't perceived as particularly attractive, walks on stage, it is assumed that she won't be able to sing. The shock on the judges faces when they prove to have a great voice, tells a story in itself. Susan Boyle showed them all up."

    Yes, I saw that clip on You Tube and applauded wildly for Susan! That's a perfect example of the preconceived ideas people have about talent because of what someone looks like. She showed them though, didn't she?

    " Since the Paralympics, we have been interviewing a lot of the paralympians on TV. The aim is to keep them in the public eye, so that people will start to accept them as human beings, just like you and I. How tragic is that? We shouldn't need to do that for them to be accepted. They ARE human beings, just like us, but that brings us back the the world of advertising and entertainment, doesn't it? And being force fed the unrealistic perception of beauty."

    Amen! Have you ever seen the movie, The Elephant Man with Anthony Hopkins? That's a perfect example of what you just shared.

    "They brought in guidelines to make advertising multi racial. Maybe it's time for another guideline."

    I agree!

    Again, I thank you and respect you for sharing your strong and deep opinions on this topic, because it's something that NEEDS to be heard.

    X

    ReplyDelete
  41. Well! What do you know? Turned off my ad blocker and I'm in! It's strange because I've had no problems with Disqus on any other blog, or yours before. Still, it's no problem to disable it when I read your blog :)

    I use AdBlocker online and we NEVER watch a TV programme while it's actually being aired. We always record them so we can skip the ads.

    Advertising doesn't work on me ;)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I'm so glad to hear that worked, Babs!

    I'm so glad LadyV figured it out.

    It's strange though because as you shared, you've (or others) have not had this problem up until now. Hmmm...I wonder why it's happening? I may have to email Disqus and see if they can give me an answer.

    Anyway, sorry for the mishap, my friend. And thanks again for your comments!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh, Ron, the “Obsession” vs “Reality” picture had me rolling! I’ll bet Photoshop’s stock is worth a fortune.


    As far as what that video means—I won’t get the million dollars because I have no freaken clue. I could go out on a limb and say they all smoked crack before filming and the producer said “just do what’s in your head”.

    “I understand that they're not reality because most of us don’t have bodies like the ones pictured in his advertisements, therefore we’re not all going to look like these models just because we wear the perfume, jeans or underwear.”


    Damn! And here I thought bathing in that stuff would turn me into a bronzed, chiseled Athena! I’m gonna go soak in some Calgon…wait…will that take me away?



    Another great post! Loved it! Thanks!

    Have a fantabulous rest of the week!

    ((YOU))

    ReplyDelete
  44. Helloooooooooo Pam~

    So great seeing ya! You have been on mind lately and wondering how you've been. Hope all is well.

    "Oh, Ron, the “Obsession” vs “Reality” picture had me rolling! I’ll bet Photoshop’s stock is worth a fortune."

    Isn't it HILARIOUS? I really didn't intend on using that as a closing photo, but when I saw it online I just couldn't resist because it was a perfect contrast to the photo above it!

    " I could go out on a limb and say they all smoked crack before filming and the producer said “just do what’s in your head”.

    Bwhahahahahahhaahaha! That's probably EXACTLY what happened! Honest to god, the commercial makes NO FRIGGIN SENSE?!?!

    "And here I thought bathing in that stuff would turn me into a bronzed, chiseled Athena! I’m gonna go soak in some Calgon…wait…will that take me away?"

    You CRACK. ME. UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    No, it probable won't turn you into a bronzed, chiseled Athena, but it might make you smell like one - HAHAHHAAHHAAH!

    Thanks oodles for stopping by, dear friend! Hope you're enjoying a fantabulous week! Can you believe how GORGEOUS it was today? It finally feels like FALL!

    (((((( You ))))))

    X

    ReplyDelete
  45. OMFG! OMFG!


    I am DYING laughing, because way back in the day when SNL was AWESOME, they did a mock commercial called "Compulsion" by Calvin Kleen spoofing this real commercial. I am off to SCOUR YouTube to find it. And I'll be back to post the link when I do!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Okay, it's NOT on YouTube. But I found it on NBC! Here's the link. Prepare to FALL DOWN laughing!

    http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/compulsion/1353618

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hey there Meleah~

    " I am off to SCOUR YouTube to find it. And I'll be back to post the link when I do!"

    OMG...yes...I know the one you're talking about!!!! COMPULSION! I tried finding it online and couldn't. It was HILARIOUS, wasn't it?

    And I agree 100%.....

    "back in the day when SNL was AWESOME"

    Back then they the BEST cast and scripts!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, girl! Hope you're having a SUPA week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  48. "somewhere between cleanliness and godliness, lies compulsion"

    ReplyDelete
  49. OMG, Meleah...I LOVE YOU MORE THAN MY OWN LIFE!!!

    THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR FINDING THAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I never even thought to go to the SNL website!?!?

    OMG...I watched it TWICE and HOWLED! I'm STILL laughing!!

    ""somewhere between cleanliness and godliness, lies compulsion"

    Calvin Kleen

    Bwhahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    That was FREAKIN' BRILLIANT!

    You rock, girl!

    THANK YOU!

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    P.S. I bookmarked the page so I can go back to watch it again and again!

    ReplyDelete
  50. LOL! Oh man, that last pair of pics was brilliant!

    Yeah, I remember those Obsession commercials. Today I find them confusing. Back in the day when I saw them as a kid they sorta terrified me, more so than any horror movie. It's yet another example commercialism destroying a delicate mind ;-) Heh...

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hey there Herman~

    Tee, hee. Thanks! I just couldn't resist ;)

    "Back in the day when I saw them as a kid they sorta terrified me, more so than any horror movie. It's yet another example commercialism destroying a delicate mind ;-) Heh..."

    HA! Ya know, I can TOTALLY see how they could horrify a kid because they were just plan SCARY, WEIRD, and CONFUSING?!?!

    The spoof they did on SNL was so much better than the REAL commercial!

    ReplyDelete

I moderate all comments before publishing. Thank you for stopping by.