American Apparel...But is it Art?

[3113]

Apparently, American Apparel has been putting up ads that some folk find a little...pornographic, even edging close to kiddy porn. Here's one editorial on the subject. Interesting, isn't it, how every decade or so *some* company puts out ads that get this sort of attention. Remember Brooke Shields and her very tight jeans?

Here are some of the ads. Whadda experts in erotica think? Answer in the poll!

http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/intouch07041.jpghttp://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/mirror07041.jpg

http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/mirror07044.jpg http://telperion.cult.bg/ying/blog/laurenphoenix.jpg

http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/selfservice07042.jpghttp://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/vice07041.jpg

http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/vice07043.jpghttp://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/vice07044.jpg

http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/samples/styleweekly0706.jpg

 

[Stella_Omega]

I like them. I'm sure it's possible to read all kinds of cultural subtext into them, but what I see is what I get. They are definitely erotic, and far more creative than any pose I've seen in Playboy lately.

I like the multicultural models-- the columnist seems to be suspicious about that, but L.A. is hugely multi-ethnic. If she looks at any other street ads in L.A. she'd notice that most hip clothing lines feature multi-ethnic models.

I have to quote one paragraph;

"Is it the disarming "naturalness" of the models that makes us "know" we're seeing something shady? Is it possible that even the most sophisticated of us can no longer stomach a model who isn't sculpted and waxed into improbable perfection? Or does our readiness to associate amateur-looking shots of barely dressed young people with child pornography suggest we're the perverts?"

Now, is that the royal We-- or is she assuming that her concerns must be globally shared, like whats-er-face Dowd ?

 

[rgraham666]

Yes the people in them are young, although I'm getting to the age where every body's younger than me.

Would I buy their stuff. Doubtful. Unless one of the models came with it.

That lady in the Tank Thong has a nice ass.

 

[JamesSD]

You know, I like the concept behind American Apparel. I just wonder why so many of their clothes are hideous and unflattering? I guess I'm put off by their desire to have their own "style" rather than follow what's fashionable now. Which gives them an oddly 80s look, but not in a fun way.

The ads are provocative, but far from pornographic in my opinion.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

pornography being historically difficult to define, I hesitate to call anything other than blatant spread pussy or stiff cock porn. those are steamy, the red tights even sexal and provocative but they are not porn by any means.

Time to grow up america and realize art can and should be provoking.

 

[SlickTony]

I'm told I look younger than my age, and at my age, that's a thing to appreciate and cherish. The thing is, I looked younger than my age when I was young, too. Reading/hearing self-appointed social critics flap about "child porn" in connection with people who are old enough to be aware of their sexuality and to feel desire, no matter how young they look, makes me feel weary and annoyed.

 

[Liar]

There are more child-like models in greater states of undress than this on the classier fashion runways.

Fun ads. Most of them are just sexy, while others clearly allude sex. It's nothing new though, not really more naked or using younger models than many other ad campaigns (at least from judging from those pics - they all look legal to me), just shot in a style that makes it easy for the holier-then-thous to gawk and point at. It's because it doesn't fall into the photoshopped pretty-pose style of most similar ads, but instead uses an aestethic that is associated with youth culture, that people react.

 

[impressive]

The sock one was the most erotic, IMO -- and those were the face shots.

I want one of those tank thongs, though.

 

[Liar]

The sock one was the most erotic, IMO -- and those were the face shots.

if the text in that pic is right, and the girl is Lauren Phoenix, that's a porn star from canada. A quick Google says that yep, AA hired her for the photoshoot.

And she is 28 years old, sayd Wikipedia. Kind of shoots the whole kidddy porn agument out the window.

 

[Liar]

Oh and to answer the question:

Arty? Meh. It's not like they're trying to say anything other than "buy our products".

 

[SlickTony]

Oh and to answer the question:

Arty? Meh. It's not like they're trying to say anything other than "buy our products".

Well, commercial art is art, too. What educational funding cuts and the stripping away of any kind of art education in our schools in order to teach standardized tests for NCLB, it's just about the only art a lot of us ever get exposed to.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Well, commercial art is art, too. What educational funding cuts and the stripping away of any kind of art education in our schools in order to teach standardized tests for NCLB, it's just about the only art a lot of us ever get exposed to.

Yes, there's the Mona Lisa, and then there are comic books. That's art for many of us.

Kids don't know who Picasso is.

 

[tickledkitty]

These people all look like adults to me, so I've no problem with the ads. And, yeah, if my daughter was a little older and wanted me to buy their stuff, I probably would.

The thing that struck me is the Lauren Phoenix ad. 150 pounds of magic. Pretty cool that she's not a skinny little stick. Obviously not fat by any means, but just healthy. I think that's great. In fact, all of those models look healthy. It's refreshing.

 

[Equinoxe]

It's a wholly and completely manufactured controversy, and the clothes are terrible, so it's hard to be overly concerned. It's not art and it's not pornography, it's an attempt by a clothing company to make Midwesterners freak out and give them free publicity.

 

[jomar]

if the text in that pic is right, and the girl is Lauren Phoenix, that's a porn star from canada. A quick Google says that yep, AA hired her for the photoshoot.

And she is 28 years old, sayd Wikipedia. Kind of shoots the whole kidddy porn agument out the window.

The kiddy porn argument, yes. I don't mind sexy ads at all, but do worry some about the messages and try to process them with my kids. I like humorous ads even better.

 

[Recidiva]

Disturbing to me. The kids are way too young. It looks like amateur porn and if anything, turns me off to the entire company.

 

[SlickTony]

Disturbing to me. The kids are way too young. It looks like amateur porn and if anything, turns me off to the entire company.

Eh--whaddayawannabet they're all at least 25, like Lauren Phoenix?

 

[Lee Chambers]

Maybe I'm just not looking right but I don't see anything even remotely resembling kiddy porn. Everyone of those models looks to be at least in their early twenties to my eyes and a few look like they could almost be thirty.

 

[Recidiva]

Maybe I'm just not looking right but I don't see anything even remotely resembling kiddy porn. Everyone of those models looks to be at least in their early twenties to my eyes and a few look like they could almost be thirty.

The two tights models at the top and the one in the one-piece (swimsuit?) make me extraordinarily uncomfortable about age.

 

[Lee Chambers]

The two tights models at the top and the one in the one-piece (swimsuit?) make me extraordinarily uncomfortable about age.

I still don't see it. How old do they appear to you?

 

[Recidiva]

I still don't see it. How old do they appear to you?

About 14.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The two tights models at the top and the one in the one-piece (swimsuit?) make me extraordinarily uncomfortable about age.

I really object to the term "kiddyporn" applied to teens. It makes people think of helpless seven-year-olds, and it's inaccurate, and an emotional ploy, to conflate the two.


Many of the youngest models are my daughter's schoolmates, as a matter of fact, and they have talked about the age requirements to each other and myself. They have to be 18 or over-- despite that fact that every shot is technically legal in terms of erotic content.

 

[Recidiva]

I really object to the term "kiddyporn" applied to teens. It makes people think of helpless seven-year-olds, and it's inaccurate, and an emotional ploy, to conflate the two.


Many of the youngest models are my daughter's schoolmates, as a matter of fact, and they have talked about the age requirements to each other and myself. They have to be 18 or over-- despite that fact that every shot is technically legal in terms of erotic content.

It's not the kids I'm blaming here. It's the ad execs.

 

[Stella_Omega]

About 14.

She looks like she's in her mid-20's to me. I know 30-year-old Asian women who look 14 by Caucasian standards. After awhile you learn to see differently.

 

[Stella_Omega]

It's not the kids I'm blaming here. It's the ad execs.

That's a bit patronising, my love.