American Apparel causes outrage again with new advertising campaign that uses ‘underage porn’

[NobleSavage]

But what about the "underage" claim? These models do not look particularly underage to me, although of course they could be on the cusp (but what would be the point).

With the standards in American media, it's quite natural to assume that any woman of legal age gets a visit from the boob fairy on her 18th birthday. Or maybe the night before, so she can celebrate properly.
Anyone with small titties simply must be below legal age, else they'd have double D cups like every other woman in any ad.

This is a good point. I like women with small perky boobs, but for some reason I feel kind of dirty about it.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

All right then.

I guess you could classify some of these as softcore porn. My previous statement referenced the no-nudity pics from the article itself.
But what about the "underage" claim? These models do not look particularly underage to me, although of course they could be on the cusp (but what would be the point).

They're portrayed as schoolgirls--and schoolgirls are normally underage.

I don't like the shot in question. It strikes me as exploitative.

 

[NobleSavage]

All right then.

I guess you could classify some of these as softcore porn. My previous statement referenced the no-nudity pics from the article itself.
But what about the "underage" claim? These models do not look particularly underage to me, although of course they could be on the cusp (but what would be the point).

They're portrayed as schoolgirls--and schoolgirls are normally underage.

I don't like the shot in question. It strikes me as exploitative.

Was this exploitative? Porn sells everything but porn -- that is free.

 

[credoconsolans]

Yeah, The one with 3 sets of vertical pictures is Sasha Grey.

Anyway, I don't think any "line has been crossed." Americans need to get over their anxiety with nudity.

Agreed. But the OP is a British magazine. The Brits have more intrusive porn laws that the US. In England all ISPs have to filter out all porn by default. If you want porn you have to tell your ISP to turn it on. They also have vague laws abut violent porn that would make most BSDM illegal. Spain and France seem to be more relaxed about naked people.

Not so sure it's the naked people, it's the titillation factor. Do we really need to see teen-age looking young women nearly naked to show off socks? Are they trying to make socks look sexy?

Sex sells?

I doubt men are going to be buying these socks.

 

[Keith&Co.]

They're portrayed as schoolgirls--and schoolgirls are normally underage.

Um, how?
If i was trying to tell a viewer that the model is a schoolgirl, i'd have thrown in teddy bears, lollipops, a bedroom with a single bed and posters of, i dunno, Bieber on the wall?
A Barbie doll?
How, exactly, are they portrayed as schoolgirls?
What in the images tells you they're underaged?

 

[credoconsolans]

They're portrayed as schoolgirls--and schoolgirls are normally underage.

Um, how?
If i was trying to tell a viewer that the model is a schoolgirl, i'd have thrown in teddy bears, lollipops, a bedroom with a single bed and posters of, i dunno, Bieber on the wall?
A Barbie doll?
How, exactly, are they portrayed as schoolgirls?
What in the images tells you they're underaged?

Adult women rarely wear socks.

 

[NobleSavage]

Sex sells?

I doubt men are going to be buying these socks.

Why do you think that? It's a proven formula as far as I can tell.

I could do this all day just by searching top fashion brands. And I didn't even induce Victoria's Secret.

 

[Kharakov]

Well, I think all of the models posing in the nude are actual porn stars.

Anyway, I don't think any "line has been crossed." Americans need to get over their anxiety with nudity.

Yeah, pretty sure it's the Brits that got their panties in a bunch about it.

And funny enough, Woody Allen sued them over stuff... which might even broach the irony curtain.

 

[credoconsolans]

Sex sells?

I doubt men are going to be buying these socks.

Why do you think that? It's a proven formula as far as I can tell.

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I could do this all day just by searching top fashion brands. And I didn't even induce Victoria's Secret.

Uh, I'd rather see the stats on their sales.

Did Tommy Hilfiger sell more men's briefs after a nearly naked woman wore a pair in advertisements?

I know CK did gangbusters after Marky Mark and his 12 pack abs posed in them, but not because men (well straight men anyway) thought seeing Marky Mark half naked was sexy.

 

[J842P]

are all pictures posted here actual American Apparel ads?

Yes they are actual ads.

 

[J842P]

Yeah, The one with 3 sets of vertical pictures is Sasha Grey.


Agreed. But the OP is a British magazine. The Brits have more intrusive porn laws that the US. In England all ISPs have to filter out all porn by default. If you want porn you have to tell your ISP to turn it on. They also have vague laws abut violent porn that would make most BSDM illegal. Spain and France seem to be more relaxed about naked people.

Not so sure it's the naked people, it's the titillation factor. Do we really need to see teen-age looking young women nearly naked to show off socks? Are they trying to make socks look sexy?

Sex sells?

I doubt men are going to be buying these socks.

Honestly? I think American Apparel just tries to brand itself as edgy. I actually like a lot of their clothes, all pretty basic and solid-color. I like their pique Polo shirts and they have a good selection of t-shirts and pullover hoodies.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, I think all of the models posing in the nude are actual porn stars.

Anyway, I don't think any "line has been crossed." Americans need to get over their anxiety with nudity.

Yeah, pretty sure it's the Brits that got their panties in a bunch about it.

And funny enough, Woody Allen sued them over stuff... which might even broach the irony curtain.

Yeah, it was the Brits this time, but I've heard people complain about American Apparel over on this side of the pond.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

They're portrayed as schoolgirls--and schoolgirls are normally underage.

Um, how?
If i was trying to tell a viewer that the model is a schoolgirl, i'd have thrown in teddy bears, lollipops, a bedroom with a single bed and posters of, i dunno, Bieber on the wall?
A Barbie doll?
How, exactly, are they portrayed as schoolgirls?
What in the images tells you they're underaged?

They're not going to go that far. I just feel the shot is too much like underage porn.

I'm not objecting to the sex sells bit, I'm objecting to the underage aspect of it.

 

[NobleSavage]

Uh, I'd rather see the stats on their sales.

Did Tommy Hilfiger sell more men's briefs after a nearly naked woman wore a pair in advertisements?

I know CK did gangbusters after Marky Mark and his 12 pack abs posed in them, but not because men (well straight men anyway) thought seeing Marky Mark half naked was sexy.

Don't forget when CK had 15 yro Brook Shields saying, "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing."

I'm sure when a brand image is to be sexy or edgy it works.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Um, how?
If i was trying to tell a viewer that the model is a schoolgirl, i'd have thrown in teddy bears, lollipops, a bedroom with a single bed and posters of, i dunno, Bieber on the wall?
A Barbie doll?
How, exactly, are they portrayed as schoolgirls?
What in the images tells you they're underaged?

They're not going to go that far. I just feel the shot is too much like underage porn.

I'm not objecting to the sex sells bit, I'm objecting to the underage aspect of it.

But, what underage aspect? What is it that tells you they're underage?

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

It is about time American society stopped celebrating violence while making sex, and not just sex, but nudity, taboo.

 

[Jarhyn]

Wow. So, who cares? It neither injures me or picks my pocket. I mean, every porn everywhere objectifies the model. In fact, objectification isn't objectionable in itself. I wish people would objectify my body MORE. Because it's nice to think that my meat suit is one of my nice things and that the care I take in keeping it healthy brings people joy.

I spent this weekend objectifying someone. I want to build a long history of objectifying him in all the best kinds of ways. If you don't like being objectified, don't be in porn. And maybe wear a sack over your whole body. And hide in a hole. And castrate yourself, cut off all the remaining dangly bits, and throw acid on your face. Oops! Someone out there finds that sexy too! Seriously, if it exists, it is porn. You exist and you don't get to escape that. I won't be disadvantaged so you can freely pursue the pointless fiction that says it ain't so.