page 307

Proposal

Claim: The use of sexuality in advertisement is overbearing and inappropriate.

Reason(s): It’s becoming harder and harder to turn on a TV, open a magazine, or even listen to the radio without being bombarded by sexual innuendos/images. Advertisement companies are doing everything in their power to draw people’s attention, and most are sexually exploiting men/women in order to do so. It makes others uncomfortable and sometimes doesn’t make sense with the product being advertised.

Warrant(s): My personal criteria for a sexual ad is-

-References to having sex

-Use of sexual innuendos (whether it be object or language)

-Choice of clothing (bikinis and lingerie vs. pants and a sweater)

-Whether they show a man or a woman; women are portrayed as sexual objects

-While watching, you become too distracted to even know what the product is being advertised

· This issue deserves attention because of the nation’s growing problem with youth infatuation with sex. Also, advertisement companies are losing the credibility by featuring women running around in bath suits marketing their product. Sexually charged advertisements grab people’s attention for the wrong reasons and can make for awkward moments with whomever it is you are watching TV with.

· I debating between two audiences. One of the audiences I’m thinking about is the younger generation of people who may grow up to work at an advertisement agency and will eventually have the power to change the over-usage of sexuality. The only problem is that many young people like these sexual ads, so trying to preach to them about modesty may be a fail. My other audience option would be a letter to a specific company about their advertisement.

· I may have a hard time defending my subject because it has been said that, “sex sells.” Another issue I may face is the fact that the younger generation is drawn to sex. Many young men enjoy seeing their fantasy woman dancing on screen in a mini skirt and heels to promote a beverage.

· Research strategies include statistics on the amount of advertising that uses sexuality and depending on the audience, I may bring in information about teen sexual activity to try and raise shock value. I will view television ads, radio ads, and print ads that are publicly known for including sexual material, and describe them in detail to the audience. Other stats I will research include the selling numbers of products that chose to use sexuality to advertise versus products that chose not to use sexuality.

· I am debating between the format of a letter to an editor/company manager/company and an informal informative essay to the public. Public specifically meaning the younger generation.