Sex Sells Baby!

In this ad, a very beautiful, stylish and sexy Madonna is washing the dishes and talking to someone.  It is not clear exactly what product she is promoting (I’m assuming it’s the dress), but it is intriguing.  In my opinion the ad could be successful simply because Madonna, the music icon is in it!   

She appears to be way overdressed for doing all of these dishes.  The ad seems to portray the idea of sexy no matter where you are, even doing housework!  It’s as if what ever they are selling will make you glamorous. 

If Dolce and Gabbana was not plastered across the bottom of this ad, I would not have a clue who was selling what!

If I was leafing through a magazine I might stop and read the ad.  I find Madonna intriguing and for goodness sake, she looks amazing! 

As far as D&G’s reputation as a creator of controversial or sexist ads, I’m not sure that is what I’m getting from this specific ad.  To me it speaks more to the fact that we all sleep, cook, eat, go to the bathroom and do dishes!  Why not look amazing all the while.  It also says that this powerhouse of a celebrity is just like us and perhaps we can be more like her.  I suppose this ad can also be portrayed as sexist.  The fact that the ad is in black and white and has Madonna wearing a leopard print dress could be retro.  It could be revisiting an era where “women belong in the kitchen” and should look good for their man at all times.

The next ad I analyzed is for Stolichnaya Flavored Russian Vodka.  I couldn’t find the image online and finally gave up looking! 

This ad portrays two women sitting at the bar with their cocktails...which I assume are flavored vodka drinks.  One woman is blonde and one is brunette, which implies “different flavors”, as the vodka maker is offering.  

The target audience for this particular ad, most likely are men (and possibly some women), probably from their mid 20’s to late 30’s.  I would expect to see this advertisement in men’s magazines like Maxim or Playboy.  I think the ad is effective in its promotion of perhaps an “alternative” lifestyle and how serving flavored vodka could aid in the possibility of making it happen. 

The women in the ad have a look on their face as if they’ve got a little secret that they’d like to share.  The look also presumes that the secret is something they want to show whoever they are looking at.  The implied lifestyle is that of an alternative sexual lifestyle.  The ad appears to promise that if you are interested in this type of lifestyle, that this vodka will help you to have it, because variety is always good. 

The text below the picture; “To variety.  If you don’t experiment, how will you know what you like?”, says to me that variety is the spice of life, in all aspects!  I think this text is directed to the reader and the picture serves as a visual aid showing the reader what is possible.  I presume the reader to be male for the most part.