(www.underconsideration.com)In May 2005, American burger chain Carl’s Jr. introduced a new television commercial to promote their fast food restaurants. The commercial features “Paris Hilton in a skin-tight swimsuit soaping up a Bentley and crawling all over it before taking a big bite out of the burger” (www.money.cnn.com). Groups, such as the Parents Television Council, instantly took action and criticized the commercial for being “soft-core porn” and “hard to steer away from children.” This ad is a brilliant example of how sex sells in the media.
The scary part is that today’s children are being exposed to these types of advertisements “The average American child may view as many as 40,000 television commercials every year. Young children are not able to distinguish between commercials and TV programs. They do not recognize that commercials are trying to sell something” (www.mediafamily.org). Children at a young age should not be subjected to these commercials and messages.
It is also extremely worrisome how Carl’s Jr. responded to the feedback from its commercial. In a message to the Parents Television Council, the CEO of Carl’s Jr. commented that, “the group needs to "get a life." This isn't Janet Jackson -- there is no nipple in this. There is no nudity, there is no sex acts -- it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car"(www.money.cnn.com). The company is obviously insensitive to the views that they express in their commercials. Carl’s Jr. completely ignored the fact that this commercial is degrading towards women and is too offensive for children to watch on television. It seems that their main objective is to sell their product, with little regard as to whom it may offend in the process.
Commercials, like this one, should not be allowed on television. There should be stricter rules for companies who create commercials to ensure that it is appropriate for the audience it is targeting and viewing the commercial.
Work Cited
Children and Advertising. 08 July 2002. National Institute on Media and the Family. 6 Oct.
2008. [http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_childadv.shtml]
No apologies for sexy Paris Hilton ad. 1 June 2005. CNN Business News. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/news/newsmakers/carls_ad/]
The scary part is that today’s children are being exposed to these types of advertisements “The average American child may view as many as 40,000 television commercials every year. Young children are not able to distinguish between commercials and TV programs. They do not recognize that commercials are trying to sell something” (www.mediafamily.org). Children at a young age should not be subjected to these commercials and messages.
It is also extremely worrisome how Carl’s Jr. responded to the feedback from its commercial. In a message to the Parents Television Council, the CEO of Carl’s Jr. commented that, “the group needs to "get a life." This isn't Janet Jackson -- there is no nipple in this. There is no nudity, there is no sex acts -- it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car"(www.money.cnn.com). The company is obviously insensitive to the views that they express in their commercials. Carl’s Jr. completely ignored the fact that this commercial is degrading towards women and is too offensive for children to watch on television. It seems that their main objective is to sell their product, with little regard as to whom it may offend in the process.
Commercials, like this one, should not be allowed on television. There should be stricter rules for companies who create commercials to ensure that it is appropriate for the audience it is targeting and viewing the commercial.
Work Cited
Children and Advertising. 08 July 2002. National Institute on Media and the Family. 6 Oct.
2008. [http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_childadv.shtml]
No apologies for sexy Paris Hilton ad. 1 June 2005. CNN Business News. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/news/newsmakers/carls_ad/]
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