Annotated Bibliography

Shah, Neel. "I Love You, But I Hate What You're Wearing. Now Change."

GQ - Gentlemen's Quarterly July 2009: 20. General OneFile. Web. Oct. 2010.

            In this article Shah explains his encounter on a blind date. Now anticipating the blind date he was told the female was “smart, funny, and attractive”. However when she first walked in Shah’s immediate thoughts was that he couldn’t take her serious. All because of the 2005 True Religion designer jeans she was wearing. Of course that was a bit shallow, someone being turned off by a pair of jeans. It happened on two different occasions, the second time, blowing the female off, after seeing her in metallic blue Christian Louboutin booties.

The topic of this project is Masculinity, different types of it. After coming across different occasions, where Shah has blew off females because of the jeans they were wearing, you start questioning his sexuality.  If you are more concerned with her jeans, than with what's inside them? You might have a problem.

Final draft.. link

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=16B2Fedey0WhNiDL2aZzTd6wwMmjnw9DLK5rOKwNv4z8&hl=en&authkey=CIOkgHE

Final Draft

      Every we go and everywhere we look, we see advertisements, the sole objective of which is to get us to purchase goods, products and/or services. Often times advertisements convey subliminal messages behind their ads, such as male ads convey the message of masculinity. The hidden messages are the features being used to appeal to the consumer. In a Lucky Brand ad it promotes masculinity through features, clothing, and the overall appearance. It can be considered as the 'bad boy' aura, but not so much of the appearance, because the model is well attractive. 

     The pose is what can capture the readers attention. As Susan Bordo mentioned in "beauty (re)discovers the male body" the 'rock pose' is to be considered strong and dominant. Many models stare coldly, or even just a simple smirk which should establish power, and confidence of what everyone is suppose to fear. Susan Bordo also comments that "As embodied in attractive and sometimes highly manipulative images, "men act and women appear" as a visual instruction" (200). However the model in my ad is not acting but appearing, or rather posing. Even though in the ad he's not doing much and just appearing there still can be a message behind it. Which is look and stand strong to appear dominant even if however your not on the inside. Therefore your winning over women's affection because women tend to want a powerful man. Its all about appearance so when others look they can feel that confidence that you are portraying.  

      In most case scenarios the masculine ads are portrayed without a shirt on, showing off their well built and toned muscular bodies. But in this case the model however is wearing a shirt but yet it isn't buttoned all the way. Therefore his chest is still capable of being seen. Saying he doesn't have to be completely topless but yet is still powerful. The attitude and confidence makes the ad. In the ad the model is wearing a denim shirt and jeans which is a everyday look for men. Ads usually show specific clothing that screams masculinity.  

      The ad in which the model appears to just have stopped and pose has just a plain background. It can be said he was on his way out, starting his day. The ad actually goes on to two pages, one where its his upper body being pictured, and he's just looking off. The other page is where he's actually standing and posing, not staring coldly but sort of in a flirtatious manner. His hair, facial hair, weight, and skin all appear attractive. Conveying the message that it's perfectly fine for men to be masculine while still looking good and not have that rough and rugged look of a 'bad boy'. Lucky brand can be giving off the idea that the new masculinity is a bad-boy in a good-boy or man’s disguise.

      How do male ads speak to us now? Do we view them as masculine? What about these ads make people want to go out and buy their product/goods? The hidden messages are the reason behind it all.   

       
         

Lucky Brand Jeans- First Draft

        Often times advertisements convey subliminal messages behind their ads, such as male ads convey the message of masculinity. The hidden messages are the features being used to appeal to the consumer. The purpose of these advertisements is so your convinced enough to buy their products. This lucky Brand advertisement gives off a good example of what masculinity should be.
        
    The product being advertised is clothing, Lucky Brand Jeans. The clothing and the pose captures the readers attention. When i refer to pose the model in the ad has the 'rock pose' which is to be considered strong and dominant. The rock pose is suppose to show that men are fearless while other ads go for a different approach. Most case scenarios the model portraying the rock pose are centered in the ad standing straight with a expression of confidence and intimidation on their face. Usually their not wearing a shirt showing off their muscular body. His body is built and toned. Or in this case the model in my ad has a shirt on but it isn't buttoned all the way to the top therefore his chest is still capable of being seen.
          
     The ad goes on to actually two pages, one having a shot from the chest up with the model looking off into the distance. And the other is where he actually has the rock pose. He's wearing a denim shirt and jeans which is a everyday look for men. Ads usually show specific clothing that screams masculinity. The theme can be considered as ideal life because in the ad it says Lucky You. So basically it appeals to the consumer because when there looking at it people want to feel that confidence that he shows and have his features. Susan Bordo comments that "As embodied in attractive and sometimes highly manipulative images, "men act and women appear" as a visual instruction" (200). However the model in my ad is not acting but appearing.

     In the ad his hair, facial hair, weight and skin all appear attractive. Conveying the message that it's perfectly fine for men to be masculine while still looking good and not have that rough and rugged look of a 'bad boy'.Even though in the ad he's not doing much and just appearing there still can be a message behind it. Men arent suppose to like being looked at, its sort of a female thing. But yet the ad is just of posing and looking good doing so.