The Serious Sides of Condom Ads - Essay Example

This essay examines the serious sides of these ads and considers why these ads have been banned.

The two advertisements in question promote condoms. The first advertisement depicts a boy that is about to go on a date. As he approaches his date an army of sperm charges toward her only to be captured in a condom (‘Banned Commercials – Durexy’). While one intention of this advertisement is the promotion of condoms, it also seems to indicate that the boy on the date is highly sexually charged and that the sperm chasing the woman is the symbolic manifestation of his desire. The other advertisement features a screaming child in a grocery store; the child is a pain and at the end of the ad there is simply the phrase ‘condoms’ (‘Banned Commercials – condoms’). This ad is tacitly saying that one should use condoms or potentially have a child that will cause such terror.

Even while these advertisements are seemingly not as morally charged as content on some popular television programming they were banned. It seems to an extent the nature of advertisement is held to a different standard than television programming. One considers that with television shows the viewer generally chooses to watch, whereas advertising is random and involuntary. The nature of the advertisement can also have a more powerful impact on the viewer than a single television show.

Even as the content in the show is temporary, advertisements are oftentimes shown repeatedly as a means of gaining viewer attention. While the advertisement with the child is relatively harmless, one can also interpret some sinister meanings in the first advertisement. In these regards, the sperm charging at the woman seems to encourage an attitude of sexual pressure and promiscuity; an extreme interpretation would even claim date rape. Ultimately, from some perspectives, these advertisements could pose a greater threat to the moral system than risqué television programming.

In conclusion, this essay has examined prominent condom advertisements that have been banned. In this context of understanding, these advertisements’ serious messages were considered, as well as potential reasons they were banned relative to other popular television programming. The essay argues that the advertising medium, as it is random and involuntary as well as highly cyclical, may be regarded by some perspectives as more influential than television shows. Ultimately, it is this perception that leads to these advertisements being banned. Read More