Sex in Advertising: Perspectives on the Erotic Appeal (Routledge Communication Series) [Paperback]

Tom Reichert (Editor), Jacqueline Lambiase (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805841180 | ISBN-13: 978-0805841183 | Publication Date: December 3, 2002

Sex in Advertising: Perspectives on the Erotic Appeal is the first book to thoroughly tackle important issues about sex in advertising. What is it? Does it work? How does it affect individuals and society? Well-respected scholars and popular writers answer these questions as they address the following issues associated with sex in today's advertising environment: gender differences and representation, unintended social effects, subliminal embeds, appeals to the homosexual community, and new media. The book contains a blend of perspectives, including original experimental studies, interpretive and historical analyses, and cultural critiques.

The definitive source on sex in advertising, this book:
*is centralized around a singular theme: Understanding how sex in advertising appeals work and why they are so prevalent;
*includes multiple perspectives to capture the richness of sexual appeals;
*brings together viewpoints from both well-known scholars and writers;
*provides a wealth of ideas and research questions for those interested in the topic; and
*contains discussions of sex in advertising from its roots in the 1700s to online advertising today and beyond.

The book is must reading for advertising and gender researchers, scholars, and students. Anyone interested in mass media, consumer psychology, and popular culture will find this book an essential resource.

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (December 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805841180
• ISBN-13: 978-0805841183
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,729,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars grab bag of interesting and dull, June 2, 2005

By 

Nick Matthes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex in Advertising: Perspectives on the Erotic Appeal (Routledge Communication Series) (Hardcover)

It should be noted that this is a compilation of several different author's works on the subject of sex in advertising. The first chapter discusses the types of sexual content, such as nudity, behavior, attractiveness, referents and embeds. Next, there is a historical perspective on the beginnings and changing mores toward the use of sex to sell. The following chapter is devoted to fetish aspects of advertising including an analysis of leather and its erotic appeals. The proceeding couple chapters are quite dull because they are written as a scientific experimentation of the effectiveness of sex in advertising. However, the next chapter is quit interesting because it tells the evolving techniques of advertisng and considers the topic of saturation. Is it better to cater to the human desire for simplicity instead of creating a tension that is released through purchase. The book then turns to a discussion of the negative effects of using sex in advertising. A notion that sexiness comes from the outside rather that from within is very damaging, as well as the concept of divorcing sex from desire and relationships. What I considered to be the most bizarre topic was Wilson Key's chapter on subliminal sexuality. He claims that there are sexual embeds in nearly every type of ad. Males as victims of sexual objectification is covered in a chapter by barbara Stern. Next, there is a chapter on the depiction of homosexuals in advertising. The author believes that the media often portrays gay life as "one-dimentional, usually revolving around sex." The final chapter covers the marketing of sex online. Overall, the book is worth reading, I would have given it a rating of 4 if it didn't have the few boring chapter I mentions. There are useful illustations throughout.