Because we pay for them to do it

Question answer: Because they want to sell stuff, and they know how to tap into our most basic instincts, and coerce us, often unawares, into buying their stuff. The sex and violence instincts are in the earliest formed and central part of our brains, that's why those things are always in the movies too, they sell.

It's up to us to use our brains to better effect, and put up educated blocks to prevent the advertizers getting in. And if you can avoid the advertizing all together, so much the better. Children and teens are excellent targets because they don't have as many blocks in place yet.

Both.  I think that the media seeks to shock and will go to extremes to push those limits in order to be noticed amid so much competition.  Over time it takes more and more to shock us...that's society being changed.  In 1939, "damn" was uttered in Gone with the Wind and it was shocking.  Now it's regularly a part of mainstream tv at any time of day and it has been for around 30 years.  Elvis wasn't shown on tv from the waist down, but have you seen today's music videos?  When The Simpsons first aired, it was considered a little bit shocking and there were all kinds of articles about how it was bad for kids; today they are watching South Park and Family Guy.  In its search for new and shocking ways to get our attention and beat the competition, the media actually desensitizes us to extremes in behaviour, which changse our society.  Because we are desensitized, the media has to reach even further to get our attention.  It's a circle that keeps going.

Good one Jae!

Too true Mike.

I dunno, do you think they got the POINT?  Advertisers have been doing this for decades; it's nothing new.  Unfortunately, some advertisers try to project an ideal 'body image' to children and teens that's both unnecessary and unattainable.  When I was younger, there was the 'sex appeal' tooth paste, the 'Wonder Bra' in which a male actor is 'applauding' the assets of the woman wearing the bra, etc.  The tragedy happens for those few who take these ads seriously and end up with anorexia, etc. because of this influence.  Cigarettes were a big item when I was in high school  As a non-smoker, I was told I wasn't 'cool' if I didn't smoke.  Well, some of those 'cool' people are now suffering from various ailments including cancer and one guy, in particular, died at age 34 in an accident, although he was also dying of cancer at the same time.  Perhaps church and community groups should be targetting programs that teach values and decision making to counteract this pressure and help parents with resources to meet that challenge. Targetting companies that exploit children and youth with massive write-in campaigns as well as working for legislation to limit the type of content may give some control over what assaults our childrens senses.

Yes the product is rather dwarfed by the projections eh!

CBC does it's kids shows in the morning without ads. I like that. When I was a kid there were all kinds of ads on during kids shows. Toys, Fruit Loops, Sugar Puffs... CBC is doing the right thing. They used to have these 5 teenage hosts from across Canada, a nerdy Nufie guy, a spunky black shick, a brainy BC girl, another guy, and sweet Patty. They were good. I really like Bill Nye the Science Guy...

What IS the difference between a black and white slide projector and a colour slide projector? I remember once having a Bell & Howell something or other... can't remember what. I certainly haven't seen it in years... Sabrina either.

The trouble is with bombardment of young girls minds with these images, not so much Sabrina, more Twiggy and Kate Moss... without any positive healthy re-inforcement, or not enough. It is one thing to create or appreciate an artistic photo of a thin beautiful young woman, quite another to start to think you, and everyone else, should look like that. Anorexia is also an illness of the mind, with other influencing factors in the victims lives. We can't pin all the blame on the skinny models, or men, or the brain, or the fashion industry.  An anorexic thinks she is lesser, doesn't deserve food. A part of her wants to fade away.

I have appreciated many an artistic fashion photo, and I'm not a fashion victim. Go to a new age store and you'll see plenty of healthy, alternative imagery of women. With a balanced outlook, you can appreciate the Vogues and the Earth Goddesses of this world. Woman has many faces.

 have you seen the lady gaga video for alejandro? i mean i watch corrupting tv & movies etc all day but i still thought it was kind of shocking/gross

I don't watch tv.  The programs offered tend to sicken me - or be on at a time that isn't convenient for me.  When our kids were young we didn't let them watch iniscriminatly.  I rarely read magazines so avoid the ads in them.  I suppose that makes me an oddball - but I'm happy - and not incapable of holding a conversation about real things instead of tv shows.

When we watched tv as a family I used to point out the nonsense about the adverts.  My kids finished up with some ability to think!

It's a war of attrition. Kids (and adults) are increasingly more savvy and advertisers are increasingly slicker in response. It never ends.

Eleanorgold

Newage stores are just another form of rip-off commercialism.  I can find that stuff from ethnic stores for a fraction of the price, or make it for even less.  It's all about body image, just the same as the annorexics; except that the body image has to do with a one-upmanship about pseudopsychology, health and spirituality.  I'm not saying it's devoid of all of those things but that all of those studies are more than a "safe" newage store, "safe" university, "safe" church and the newage store attempts to rip off all of  the unsafe and safe places.  I do like to go in for a quick aroma therapy, though!  And, I have been known to buy really expensive holistic soap!

As for record stores, sure are a lot of really competative women ( they scare me, actually) in and working in those places, not so sure what you are talking about as it's being a place men go.

I think it's just shock value, myself.  I don't really think she comes across as committed to changing prevalent opinions :P

macho (yuk!!!)

Sensitive, artistic men who are comfortable with their feminine side (Hooray!!)

Well my opinion anyway. I guess there's some women who like the beer guzzling muscle men bound in chains.

I remember in high school one girl I dated had a VERY suggestive poster of Bret Michaels in her locker and he had on almost as much make-up as she wore. Make of that what you will.

Maybe it's just aesthetics.  Badboys are just out there to teenage girls.  Not to mention, they seem a lot more confident than the nice guys.  Then as everyone gets older, people see where the 'bad to the bone' kids tend to end up.  Though I like to think that's not the majority.  I'll have to see in ten years when we have the highschool reunion.

Is society corrupting kids/teens? HECK YES!!!! And there is only one who can save. Please people, I emplore you. Make.......................................................Richard Dawkins your Lord and Saviour. I recently have and it was the best decision of my life. May Dawkins richly bless you all.

Elanorgold this probably isn't the place to bring this up...but I absolutely LOVE you avatar!!! hahahaha

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

i just realized that that avatar is from the safety dance and im kicking myself for not realizing it sooner.  :P

~cause your friends dont dance and if they dont dance then they're no friends of mine~

awesome

Any woman with half a brain will soon figure out that those geeky nerds in high school, the ones that didn't garner the girls' attention, make the absolute best husbands.   They have brains (in spades), tend to be funny, thoughtful, quirky in an endearing way and, because they didn't have girls hanging all over them in high school/univ, tend to appreciate and value their female partner.  I should know,  I married one of those guys and it was the best thing that ever happened to me (other than those three blonde hair boys that tear through my house!).

Hmm, OK.

Good avatar. I like the Bach poster in the background!

In my day teens had the gumption to corrupt themselves instead of waiting around for society to do it for them.

No activism, just sex and booze really.