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Advertisement is all around us, running through the screens on our computer and television, or on the billboards on the side of the street, there is no denying that advertisement runs the world’s economy by influencing the way we view products and models. Despite the fact on how we are constantly trying to avoid advertisements, the advertising companies are a persistent bunch constantly trying to get our attention in whatever means possible; they resort by showing us images that identify to sex, race, and power hierarchies.

In this new Soho ad by Calvin Klein it not only portrays a sexual image but also a “sexually charged subliminal message” as CBS New York would say. If you don’t see it, the billboard also includes the F word whether it was intentional or not this provocative ad is selling sex. In Killing Us Softly, Jean Kilbourne, points out some interest facts on the sexist screenings that advertising companies put on women. Portraying a body that only 8 out of million people are born with and not advertising the body of your everyday women. Another reason for images such as these is Sex sells, which is why there are constantly pictures of half- naked people on billboards. Kilbourne also points out that advertisements are objectifying women, making them no longer a person and just an object or a thing to please men.

In this second advertisements Intel Processors is portraying a White tech nerd in the center with six dark skinned men in a set position. Although Intel is trying to promote how fast their processors are, what this message showed people were dark skinned men bowing down to a white guy. The advertisement also says "Maximize the power of your employees", if this also included a number of other race, this wouldn't seem so racist. This is the power hierarchy that Corporate America is trying to promote; bow to the white men, they are your superior and your boss. This advertisement portrayed both racism and power hierarchy.

Advertisements wouldn't be so offensive if they represented people better. Using not just supermodels on their ads but the everyday people. They also don't represent everyone, meaning that America is made up of different races, but the advertising agency only sees white and black people. When advertising agency begin to include other races they misrepresent them and use stereotypes instead, misrepresenting people with accents and gestures.

Killing Us Softly 4 trailer
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