American Apparel Raped
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
They must have rappelled over the side to write this, or maybe it was written from behind the ad.
Update. I was interviewed by a reporter from ABC News on Thursday:
"It’s kind of shocking," said Michael Natale, who edits a blog that writes about the East Village in New York City, where this particular ad was located. "But it still doesn’t offend me."
Other posters felt differently, writing that the ads prompt them to "shy away" from the brand."
Sex May Sell, but Some Say Ads Go too Far
I really don’t remember saying exactly that to her. I did say that I do enjoy seeing young women in ads but that this one was particularly pornographic. And that I was more interested in the fact that people are talking back to ads than what this particular person had to say. And she could have thrown the name of my blog in there, damn it. 
i’m so glad someone is finally defacing these ads.
what might be questionable but an eye roll in a magazine ad is totally different in a public space, especially when it’s this large and unavoidable.
this is diagonally across the street from a playground, and it’s almost impossible to not see it.
Yeah, this one is particularly pornographic.
im generally not a fan of graffiti that defaces private property like homes and some businesses, but with an eyesore like this – go for it!
i would shop at american apparel if it weren’t for their disgustingly objectifying ads.
Ah American Apparel, they just annoy me. I can’t pinpoint why. It could be the boring, generic clothing, or maybe the approach of their ads, or maybe their painfully transparent endeavors to be "hip"…maybe it’s all these things, I’m not sure. But I am sure of one thing – I’ve never been inspired to spend a dime there…
p.s. Nice capture, G!
p.p.s. Another thing I’m not sure of – if this ad has much to do with rape…
gamma -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7202253@N05/1747160849/
That’s nuts, rbb. Thanks.
Yeah, Irena, that American Apparel store is annoying, the endless supply of teen twigs hanging there, looking so self-satisfied, is astounding. Where do they all come from. It’s funny that the "god bless" squatter also occupies the benches year-round.
Aw G, you were such a gent to that Vanessa person who stole your photo. Seriously…You should report that.
Yeah, I can’t figure where the American Apparel fans come from…They’re the same lot that turns the LES into an MTV Spring Break set on the weekends. Soon they’ll all be moving into that wretched condo down the block.
The "god bless" guy used to sit on front of the pizzaria now he’s at American Apparel, perhaps employed as some part of their spooky "let’s be hip" campaigns…
Sometimes I wonder what effect all of this exposure to HUGE advertisements has on people, too. Nice capture, GB. That’s lame that people steal photos.
I was thinking about this the other day. There’s a huge face on the side of a building just down the block from me. I was looking out my window to see what was going on with some fire engines. Just seeing this face in my right peripheral vision it felt like there was someone right next to me. It was a startle response. I don’t think we’ve evolved to have giants amongst us.
thankfully they’ve gotten the message and replaced it with this wholesome shot of a puppy…
thankfully they’ve gotten the message and replaced it with this wholesome shot of a puppy…
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called American Apparel – Official, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called American Apparel – Official, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.
dude
pretty sure that gawker’s new ‘jezebel’ blog has been using this shot w/o credit.
dude
pretty sure that gawker’s new ‘jezebel’ blog has been using this shot w/o credit.
Adam, can you give me a link. I scrolled through that blog all the way to this past summer and didn’t see anything.
BTW, It’s funny that "that Vanessa person" still has it on her Flickr page and did not respond to my message.
Adam, can you give me a link. I scrolled through that blog all the way to this past summer and didn’t see anything.
BTW, It’s funny that "that Vanessa person" still has it on her Flickr page and did not respond to my message.
follow this clicky and scroll down a bit
jezebel.com/tag/american-apparel/
follow this clicky and scroll down a bit
jezebel.com/tag/american-apparel/
Thanks Adam, you have sharp eyes. I’ve written to the editor.
Thanks Adam, you have sharp eyes. I’ve written to the editor.
I’d contact flickr to get "Vanessa"’s stolen shot taken down.
I’d contact flickr to get "Vanessa"’s stolen shot taken down.
Yeah, you’re right rbb. I’ve certainly given her enough time to do it herself.
Yeah, you’re right rbb. I’ve certainly given her enough time to do it herself.
Possitions like that don’t lead to rape. People treating men like animals incapable with thinking like a human being is why there is rape.
Possitions like that don’t lead to rape. People treating men like animals incapable with thinking like a human being is why there is rape.
whatliesinthedark is a really creepy nickname. have you ever raped anybody?
whatliesinthedark is a really creepy nickname. have you ever raped anybody?
If theres a bum hanging outside american apparel stores, maybe he saw this billboard and thought ‘hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that’.
I don’t see how this is pornographic, shes attractive sure but shes not being particularly provocative. Looks more like shes trying to climb in a window, perhaps to steal some clothes from american apparel?
If theres a bum hanging outside american apparel stores, maybe he saw this billboard and thought ‘hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that’.
I don’t see how this is pornographic, shes attractive sure but shes not being particularly provocative. Looks more like shes trying to climb in a window, perhaps to steal some clothes from american apparel?
This is creepy.
The graffiti is provoking more of a response than the advert – and why? Because there’s nothing truly obscene about the advert, but that daubed-at-night comment is so very sinister.
Sure, the writer may consider the advert as too racy for their conservative tastes – and you may agree – but what, I ask, has what women wear got to do with rape?
While I think American Apparel’s use (on its website) of its staff as cutesy, half-naked models is verging into exploitative/porn territory (though the staff who pose obviously don’t agree – at least not about it being exploitative), I like this advert.
This is creepy. Since when has it ever been a woman’s – or an advertising exec’s – fault for getting raped?
The graffiti is provoking more of a response than the advert – and why? Because there’s nothing truly obscene about the advert, but that daubed-at-night comment is so very sinister.
Sure, the writer may consider the advert as too racy for their conservative tastes – and you may agree – but what, I ask, has what women wear got to do with rape?
While I think American Apparel’s use (on its website) of its staff as cutesy, half-naked models is verging into exploitative/porn territory (though the staff who pose obviously don’t agree – at least not about it being exploitative), I like this advert.
on their website the women on their are wearing almost nothing, barely selling a thing.
someone had to do it
on their website the women on their are wearing almost nothing, barely selling a thing.
someone had to do it
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Sexualization of Public Space, and we’d love to have this added to the group! Please join the group as well!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Sexualization of Public Space, and we’d love to have this added to the group! Please join the group as well!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Brandscape Architecture / City as a shopping mall, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Brandscape Architecture / City as a shopping mall, and we’d love to have this added to the group!