The Erotic History of Advertising [Paperback]

Tom Reichert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003

With numerous illustrations showing many erotic ads - some campy, some aesthetically elegant, some homoerotic - that push the boundaries of sexuality and taste from over a century of product marketing, Reichert not only tracks the history of sex in advertising but also explores the many factors that make the link between sex and our consumer culture so successful. This thoughtful, enjoyable, and fascinating look into the world of advertising - from the late 1800s to the most erotic ads of today - will appeal to both media-savvy consumers and aficionados of pop culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the supposedly prudish late-19th century, tobacco products were advertised with posters showing a variety of buxom, practically (or entirely) topless women. They were invariably draped in toga-like robes and adopted pseudo-Grecian poses. In the 1930s, ads for a Midwestern varnish company used completely naked models; as they were used in trade magazines with an almost entirely male readership, it was considered unlikely that any woman would ever see them. Reichert, a University of Alabama advertising professor, unearthed these tidbits and others in the course of researching this entertaining and fairly comprehensive history of the use of sex in American advertising over the past 150 years. At first, this research may seem unnecessary, since the sex and advertising are so inextricably intertwined. Yet Reichert plots a telling time line, from the late-19th-century petticoat-wearing women coyly exposing themselves on beer tavern walls to the double entendres of 1960s magazine ads and the lasciviously photographed nudes plastered throughout today's fashion glossies. Although Reichert doesn't delve fully into the social ramifications of the constant rise of and backlash against overt sexuality in advertising or how the ads are targeted differently at men and women, he provides a fun, accessible survey of a subject everyone's familiar with. Photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...a delightfully provocative read for anyone who is the target of advertising..." -- Baltimore Sun

"...a number of fascinating anecdotes...well-documented and fully illustrated...an interesting study in excess and American values." -- Blue Ridge Business Journal, April 19, 2004

"...an amply illustrated study of how sex has been used as a tool of persuasion in twentieth-century advertising." -- The Oregonian

"...an intriguing read..." -- Adnews, March 2004

"...shows how and why sex sells everything from mouthwash to cigars..." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Filled with pictures, vintage ads, and anecdotes, this book is informative and fun to read. Highly recommended." -- Choice, December 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591020859
• ISBN-13: 978-1591020851
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and enlightening, June 24, 2003

By 

Christopher Bergman "boxdog" (Florida, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Erotic History of Advertising (Paperback)

If you think advertising has recently become too risque, this is the book for you. Reichert has dug up some amazing examples from the last 150 years to prove that sex has always sold. It's a fun, easy read, and you'll learn something as you enjoy looking at what people considered sexy a century ago.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Marketers, October 4, 2010

By 

Joanna Swank - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Erotic History of Advertising (Kindle Edition)

I bought this awhile back and found it to be interesting. I used it as the base for a college paper. Advertising today holds nothing to the raciness of the 50's and 60's. Back then they were subtle and clever. Today we are too blatant.

Great book and definitly worth the buy. But kindle readers may find it not as intriguing without the clear bold pictures