blog #7: art & society- its influences in advertisement & teenage culture

http://www.nicks.com.au/Index.aspx?link_id=76.984
The Excerpt about the Legacy of Fragonard was very interesting to think about. Mostly since this light-hearted, frivolous painting has A LOT to do with the whole party-going, sex-infused beer advertisements of today.
The Rococo painting above "shows us that French upper class in the late 18th century was frivolous & carefree, and had a playful regard for sexuality and relationships."
The patron of Fragonard's work (an unknown "gentle"man) had asked the artist to paint his mistress on a swing with himself in the scene, "in a position where he could look up the woman's skirt." goshhh unknown patron of Fragonard...you are one dirrttyy guy.
knowing this... i take into consideration of always wearing jeans whenever upon a swing. (heehee it sorta rhymes)

& like French Rococo paintings of the late 18th century, beer advertisements, (as well as Ax cologne, Gillete shaving razors, & even hair dye) of today try catching our attention (or guys' at least) w/ what else?... Sex. or at least the idea of sex. (like this Skyy Vodka advertisement which I have seen in Instyle magazine)
but it's not always sex that sells...Homer Simpson speaks veryy true. A lot of ppl turn to beer as a short-term solution to life's problems. Or a way of simply escaping.
(note to ppl who can relate: escapism through movies work- sometimes not always... or just go crazzy w/ a person who acts impulsively withOUT being under the influence)

How else does art (in terms of advertisement) influence teenager culture? Just look at Abercombie and Hollister. You know...the distinctive stores that you can smell their cologne from miles away. Both clothing brands sell like crazyy & it's not even the actual clothing they are selling. As well as many other stores (Express, Victoria's Secret PacSun, American Eagle...) it's the 'ideal LIfestyle' that grabs the attention of consumers. which is essentially how their businesses are in such high demand.
Abercombie & Hollister should be SOO thankful for their uber hot models & talented photographers...for their ads are the ultimate reason teenagers like them. It is as if, when in the store looking down on their clothes, a shirt will say: "Oh you know you want me. If you purchase me, soon you'll be running off, frolicking in fields of wheatgrass playing rugby with toned, shirtless guys. oh & I have an adorable moose logo." (which is essentially mostly what you're paying for!-Abercombie) "You'll get piggy back rides from guys on the beach! & have an oh-so-cute red eagle logo! Come on...buy me. You know you want to. " (Hollister)
but really, when one wears the HCO or Abercombie logo, it speaks: "I'm so unoriginal, a follower of trends & am paying wayy too much for this simple tank." well, it doesn't really...just in my blunt opinion it does
The power of a muscular shirtless guy. Example of how eye-candy can be effective in promoting business. Still doesn't motivate me to buy their products though. -it's SOOO ridicously expensive! HAHa we totally covered the hot girl. =P
People are constantly looking for a way to escape this boring reality of what most of the time is life...& seeing how attractive/'perfect' Alessandro, Adrianna, Marissa, or Gisele look, how desirable they are, & how much fun they are having in photos of V.S. catalouges, girls associate all that sexiness with V.S. products.
We as humans, are vunerable in drinking our problems/reality away, indulging ourselves in food, going party-hoping, or pouring ourselves in fictional lifestyles. (full of impossible drama & always-looking-good characters- whether it's books like Twilight, TV shows like Gossip Girl or the OC, or for some guys...they can satisfy their inner bad-boy rebel with a large dose of thriller-killer action-packed scenes-- shows like 24 or Prison BReak)
(not that I myself do this... i don't drink, go party-hoping, or watch that much TV..& haven't read any Twilight series. But i do drown myself in music, zone out to movies...& always lovve a good desert.)

what makes these clothing brands soo successful? It is the fantasy advertisements! Art plays a HUGE role in selling what they are selling. Consumers of a certain culture, of course, are much more tempted in buying a shirt that's Roxy, Volcom, or Vans (w/ all the notions of surfer/skaterboard cool) than purchasing a shirt that, though may look similar, is a no-name brander. Which is completely understandable, it's a way of associating yourself into a particular group that helps identify who you are & what you're about. So other Vans-loving ppl will see you in your decked out outfit & be like: oooo

Tying in the 18th century Rococo art piece by Fragonard, The Swing...
art, -whether it's in terms of paintings, advertisements, or even music, movies or greeting cards... has an underlying message that grabs our attention by appealing to our desires.
The Swing, though not an advertisment, appeals in a Romantic, frivolous, carefree way. There's the love aspect, the dreaminess of the brushstrokes, the clouds, the trees...it makes me want to visit that veryy place & go on the swing myself. But unlike the girl dressed scantidly in the lucious, pink gown...I'll be wearing either shorts or jeans..thank you very much. :)