Chasing After Wind: What Is Fantasy?

Chasing After Wind: What is Fantasy?

Flipping through my two most current issues of Teen Vogue, I noticed that virtually all of the advertisements featured only women as the focal point. Only two (out of the five hundred plus pages featuring over one hundred ads) incorporated males, and still there were women somewhere in the picture; a few ads also featured products by themselves. Every female-oriented ad had an element of sensuality or sex appeal. Typically, young people in America grow up thinking that young men respond to such tactics. However, the majority of Teen Vogue’s readers are girls and young women. So why are Penthouse-worthy images permeating every commercial venue, regardless of who is viewing them?

Maybe it is because that in most people’s eyes, Penthouse-worthy images are commonplace. In most porn magazines, there are certain themes and fantasies dictating the direction of the photo. Some like the cheerleader; others prefer a sexy librarian. The same can be said for most advertisements now found throughout all venues. The new clothing line, the new fragrance, the new makeup collection has a certain premise, and will appeal to a certain demographic. So marketers, fashion photographers, ad agencies, and designers categorize, compartmentalize, and create stereotypes that each age group, ethnic group,