When I was taking classes at Douglas College, my academic writing professor TAUGHT us to read too far into things. We had assignments and essays on finding that “phallic” image in magazine ads. I remember we would all receive different perfume and fashion magazine ads and discuss for hours the fact that the splash of the water looked like it was bursting out to make the consumer think of sex which would in turn make them believe that if they wore this perfume they would be sexy too. This was a required class for all Douglas degrees and transfer programs and in order to pass the class you often had to conform to your professors opinions, so the students around me definitely ate up the idea that advertisers did this all on purpose. I believe my professor told us that “sex sells so it’s no wonder advertisers try to incorporate it into everything”.

All it takes is one person to make a big deal about something for it to spread like wildfire and with the growth of the internet and social media it’s even easier for negativity around an ad, movie, book etc. to build and build upon itself until it’s out of control…even if it was nothing to begin with. This makes it worth it to get that second opinion before posting for all to see.

*Personal opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily the opinions DSA Online, DSA Media or the DSA Media Network.

Similar attention was given to the crude-humour movie “Observe and Report” just before it was coming out to video. Again, a feminist action group were very offended by the “controversial sex scene” and posted their rage via YouTube (click the link to see the rage).

My personal* opinion is that fiction is fiction. Be it an ad, movie, book or other form of media that contains actors and imaginary events, I think that we can either choose to find hidden messages and symbolism or choose to take it at face value. Since I do not feel personally victimized, I don’t see/perceive anything negative in naughty animated soap bubbles.

There was a Cola ad back in the 70s or 80s (I’ll check with David to be sure on my facts for this one) that showed a glass full of vertically stacked ice. Before the cola was added to the glass, it was thought (by a select few) that the ice cubes were stacked JUST SO to create a phallic symbol. In fact, an entire book on subliminal messages in advertising was published and, if memory serves me correctly, there is a chapter dedicated specifically to this glacial portrayal of the male glands. People are going to see something whether it’s planned or not…so, I argue that the internet is the ultimate, brutally honest (,cheap & fast) focus group. If you want to test something out, leave your comments on and let the empowered, anonymous internet give you feedback before spending the dollars in TV, or pre-roll.

*Personal opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily the opinions DSA Online, DSA Media or the DSA Media Network.