NSFW Ad Uses Naked Men As Props To See How Men Feel When Roles Are Flipped, But Not Everyone Think It’s Right
It’s the template of almost every men’s fashion ad ever to be published; a handsome, sharply-dressed man flouts about glamorous settings while a submissive, fully or nearly naked woman fawns over him. Suistudio, a women’s suit-making company, is turning this tired old trope over on its head with their latest ad campaign, fittingly titled “Not Dressing Men.”
The titular name alludes not only to the fact that Suistudio’s sleek, timeless suits are produced exclusively for women, but also to the use of nude male models in their racy promotional photos. The images show various well-outfitted women in positions of power and dominance, while the men featured act as mere background scenery; as furniture. It’s a clever reversal of the sexist ideologies that seem to plague society at every turn, but it’s not going over well with absolutely everyone.
Some are accusing Suistudio vice president Kristina Barricelli and her advertising team of promoting the very forms of human objectification that they claim to abhor. According to an email sent to Upworthy, however, Barricelli describes her company’s work as a “call to viewers to reconsider the rigid gender roles reinforced through advertising over the years.” Scroll down to decide for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments.
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Women’s suit manufacturer Suistudio has got people talking with their latest ad campaign, Not Dressing Men
Drawing on sexist tropes from men’s fashion ads, the photos feature naked men as background scenery
Almost like furniture
The women, however, appear dominant and powerful, rather than submissive and vulnerable
In modern advertising, it’s usually the other way around
Suistudio vice president Kristina Barricelli wants viewers of the ads to see “rigid gender roles” differently…
But is objectification of a human, male or female, ever acceptable?
Some people definitely think not, and are calling it a step in the wrong direction for feminism
Others, however, positively received the message
A leap forward, or a severe blow back? Have your say in the comments below!
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Share on FacebookI have exactly as much problem with using naked men in an ad campaign as with using naked women. None at all. Tought I can understand people who have problem with both, but not those who have problem with one of them but perfectly fine with the other.
Yep. Most men, including me, don't really care. Almost nobody's provoked, because men usually don't care much about stupid ads, and they are used to be presented as imbeciles in most ads.
Load More Replies...Good message? Of course not! Good food for thought? Oh yeah! Let's think of it as an invitation to empathize, for men to try and immagine themselves in our shoes. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Well, guess what... I dunno wether this will be effective in the way I'm telling about it, and I DO NOT wish for this to be the new marketing standard, but from an artistic and philosophic point of view, you can't deny this is interesting. It makes you think, it brings people to discuss. And btw, we don't need to do this step for the sake of feminism, what we need is simply treating all models with respect in their marketing rappresentations as well as in their personal/professional lives, but I do have a feeling that sometimes projects like these are neccessary. It's a waking slap on the face of society.
Ok, but I think an issue you'll find is most men, like me, aren't offended by this any way so it doesn't really have the impact they were looking for.
Load More Replies...What people don't seem to understand when people criticize representation, is that there is context to consider. Yes, feminism wants equality. That is the ultimate goal. But it's not there, not nearly. Not in gender, not in race, not in ability, sexual orientation, religion. Criticism is raised in the context of certain groups of people systematically discriminated against, and generally degraded by society at large, which shows vastly in the media, ads included. No, naked men in this ad is NOT the same as naked women for men's suits, because their social status is not the same. It'd be nice if things WERE equal, if ads didn't have to get that hyperbolic to get a reaction, but what most people end up doing is complain about men being treated the same way as women, and not... actually doing anything to stop men treating women that badly. The message is, "How does it make YOU feel to see yourself as furniture in an ad?" It's intended to be a social discussion. It's a good message.
It would be the same if they showed naked men in men's suits ads around other men who are clothed. The only way for most men to get it is to truly put them in the position that we currently put women. Men do fear being sex as a sex object by women. It's not particularly threatening and many think they desire it However being seen as a sex object by other men, then drives the point home.
Load More Replies...I have exactly as much problem with using naked men in an ad campaign as with using naked women. None at all. Tought I can understand people who have problem with both, but not those who have problem with one of them but perfectly fine with the other.
Yep. Most men, including me, don't really care. Almost nobody's provoked, because men usually don't care much about stupid ads, and they are used to be presented as imbeciles in most ads.
Load More Replies...Good message? Of course not! Good food for thought? Oh yeah! Let's think of it as an invitation to empathize, for men to try and immagine themselves in our shoes. Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Well, guess what... I dunno wether this will be effective in the way I'm telling about it, and I DO NOT wish for this to be the new marketing standard, but from an artistic and philosophic point of view, you can't deny this is interesting. It makes you think, it brings people to discuss. And btw, we don't need to do this step for the sake of feminism, what we need is simply treating all models with respect in their marketing rappresentations as well as in their personal/professional lives, but I do have a feeling that sometimes projects like these are neccessary. It's a waking slap on the face of society.
Ok, but I think an issue you'll find is most men, like me, aren't offended by this any way so it doesn't really have the impact they were looking for.
Load More Replies...What people don't seem to understand when people criticize representation, is that there is context to consider. Yes, feminism wants equality. That is the ultimate goal. But it's not there, not nearly. Not in gender, not in race, not in ability, sexual orientation, religion. Criticism is raised in the context of certain groups of people systematically discriminated against, and generally degraded by society at large, which shows vastly in the media, ads included. No, naked men in this ad is NOT the same as naked women for men's suits, because their social status is not the same. It'd be nice if things WERE equal, if ads didn't have to get that hyperbolic to get a reaction, but what most people end up doing is complain about men being treated the same way as women, and not... actually doing anything to stop men treating women that badly. The message is, "How does it make YOU feel to see yourself as furniture in an ad?" It's intended to be a social discussion. It's a good message.
It would be the same if they showed naked men in men's suits ads around other men who are clothed. The only way for most men to get it is to truly put them in the position that we currently put women. Men do fear being sex as a sex object by women. It's not particularly threatening and many think they desire it However being seen as a sex object by other men, then drives the point home.
Load More Replies...
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