The two photos shown here are parody ads illustrating the way that our culture demonstrates our need to feel desirable, and the extremes in which we will go to achieve it. The original advertisement, for Calvin Klein's perfume and cologne collection "Obsession", features well known English supermodel, Kate Moss. Each of the advertisements that Kate Moss is shown in use very explicit sexuality to sell the product. One of the first controversies involving Kate Moss was surrounding her weight, to which she replied "It was just the time. It was a swing from more buxom girls like Cindy Crawford and people were shocked to see what they called a 'waif'. What can you say? How many times can you say 'I'm not anorexic'?". The problem with these types of girls modelling in perfume ads such as this, is that it feeds the obsession in our society to be as thin as humanly possible. Kate Moss, weighing a mere 100 pounds when the original "Obsession" ads were shot, portrays "thin and sickly" as beautiful and desirable. Unfortunately, Calvin Klein isn't the only company to feature women this thin in their ads. Check out http://home.pb.net/~karyn1/pictures.htm to see more disturbing ads featuring women that look as if they are on the brink of death. These types of images make women feel inadequate, and they become obsessed with achieving the "perfect body". No wonder eating disorders are on the rise. The parody ad of the woman bent over a toilet clutching her stomach sheds a scary, but realistic light on what is happening to women everywhere. Seeing women so thin in advertisements is unhealthy, and should not be shown. Calvin Klein ads for the male version of the "Obsession" cologne are far from being acceptable as well. The original, almost identical to the parody ad above, show men with toned, fit bodies and bulging muscles. Once again, these images do not accurately portray the average man. This type of man, raging with testosterone is featured in every advertisement as the "most desirable man". Like women, men have become so obsessed with looking and acting a certain way in order to be "perfect". Cosmetic surgery and eating disorders for men is becoming increasingly more common, and advertisements such as these are to blame. They give men unrealistic ideas about the way thet are supposed to look, which make men feel like they aren't masculine enough, and attractive enough to the opposite sex. This poses as a huge dilemma for both men and women. The desire to feel attractive has become such a huge part of our lives, and people are willing to do just about anything to get to that point. Advertising such as the images shown in Calvin Klein's Obsession ads are dangerous, and the parody ads above do an excellent job in showing us just how absurd and sickening they truly are.
