Sexual Imagery as Social Critique

According to this past weeks readings, the porn industry has "crossed the line" (so to speak) on bourgeois norms. Meaning that a lot of the images in porn are coming out in main stream ads. Once upon a time, the idea of a white and a black person being together was almost sinful. Now there are special dating sites specifically targeted to those who desire, just like eHarmony, but much tighter target audience (an example is given below). Also, ads that include images of the same sex being involved in some way. Even celebrities are "doing it." For example, Heidi Klum and Seal, or Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.

Artifact #1: Here is an ad campaign for volkswagen with Seal and Heidi Klum. Some of their most recent ads and commercials target families that want to keep them safe. This is no exception. Showing an interracial couple that is married and has a bi-racial child together in an ad for a "family-safe" car was intentional, and trangresses the traditional bourgeois norms. 
 

Artifact #2: This is a clip from the show Nip/Tuck with Portia de Rossi. She came out about her sexuality around the same time as this clip showing her and the main character Julia, who had been in a hetero relationship for years, making out. Talk about defying the bourgeois norms, Julia is a white upper-class woman who separates from her husband and ends up with another woman.


Artifact #3: I found this ad very interesting. When I typed in interracial ads, this campaign for an interracial dating site popped up. Now, the idea of meeting you soul mate online is a difficult on to grasp, the idea of one of these sites dedicated to interracial couples would throw many traditionalists overboard. 

Artifact #4: I found this ad on a website called pinknews.co.uk and apparently they are the largest gay magazine in England. Their articles ranged in topics, including one about our Mayor Adams. I picked this ad because it struck me. Obviously, there is a black man in the foreground on his cell, with his other free hand stuck in his pocket. However, there are another set of hands (white) that are going into another set of pockets. Based on what I can see, it looks to be another man, which would make sense because it is a gay magazine.  

Artifact #5: Lastly, I present the lyrics to Katy Perry's song "I Kissed a Girl." Now it isn't that appalling considering all the other stuff on television but this is mainstream and I personally hear little girls singing along to it that are too young to understand the lyrics themselves. So without further ado, the musical stylings of Katy Perry.

This was never the way I planned
Not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion
It's not what, I'm used to
Just wanna try you on
I'm curious for you
Caught my attention

I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

No, I don't even know your name
It doesn't matter,
You're my experimental game
Just human nature,
It's not what,
Good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets so confused
Hard to obey

I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chap stick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it,

Us girls we are so magical
Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist so touchable
Too good to deny it
Ain't no big deal, it's innocent

I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chap stick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it