Does Sex Really Sell? Apparently not!

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
Anyway, the Romans were carrying out orders handed down from a Jewish court.

'carrying out order handed . . .'

We're talking the Romans here- you know, the masters that followed ONLY the orders of their superiors.

You might want to flesh this statement a bit.

I see where a lot of you are coming from. There's plenty of PG-13 rated movies that have Butt-crack shots (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves) and on the other hand, there's also tons of R rated movies which got their rating for gratuitous violence. (Matrix: Reloaded)

But is a Butt-crack shot of Kevin Costner considered, "selling sex"? Planet of The Apes also had the same shots, and they were FAR from sexy. I think of it more as a crass humor shot, since the it was certainly intended to get the predictable response from Maid Merrian. She got flustered and turned away.

Now, if you want to argue that sex in music videos sells CDs, I just might agree with you.

In regards to Titanic making so much money, I'd have to say that most people saw it exactly for what James Cameron wanted. Mainly, that he could do it bigger and better than the real thing. Didn't he build an actual-size Titanic shell for the harbor shots?


link

By the way, here's where I got my list.


[edit on 2-5-2005 by Toelint]

(mod edit to reduce wide page stretching link )

[edit on 6-5-2005 by pantha]

I think some of you guys are dumber than dirt about some things.

Titanic is a chick flick. Millions were spent on sets and wardrobe to create a romantic time frame... a ambience.

Pickup almost any romance novel...one gauranteed formula for appeal to women is the death of her male or mate in the plot to gaurantee success to the female. Male death equals female glory and success. Danielle Steele uses this textbook formula over and over in many of her books. Many other romance novelists do too. John Cameron uses this forumla to sell appeal to women in this movie. Its so romantic.!!!! It adds to the ambience and the overall flavor of the movie.!! This is pornographic...male death sells ..it is male disposabilty. You can see it over and over in life if you look around you.
Does Sex sell..you bet...it is just done in this avenue in way far beyond the ability of the sports minded male to tell..way to dumb to get it.
However..this is a sure fire formula for selling tickets to frustrated women who want escape from the hardship of daily life....gauranteed.
I dont hold much success of the average male catching on to this formula..but here it is..

Thanks,
Orangetom

True, chick flick sell. Skirt films made major money even if only women see it, well, women and the poor unfortunate soul dragged by the women to watch it. Sorry, when I go on dates(the few I actually do anyways) it was Dodgeball, T3, F 9/11, and Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. Never a chick flick, NEVER! Of course, I choose women who have the same funny bone as me, you know, the kind who think Schindler's List is a comedy.

I go to the occasional "Chick Flick" with a woman but I have schooled myself to quickly know what they are and put a mark on them.
I havent seen any of those movies you list...or video games if that is what they are.
Nevertheless I agree with you ..that is what they are..chick flicks and you must have a punch line or series of punch lines to sell tickets and preserve the ambience. I have seen the "Charlies Angels " movies and they are awful...terrible. Those two blonde haired goofballs are hardly the "right stuff " for that role..but they are very photogenic. Im not impressed.
Chick flicks are prime realestate for maneuvering women into a alternate reality ..and under proper usage ...gauranteeing that they will pull the correct levers in the voting booth and election time...if you put them on enough of a emotional roller coaster.

Oh by the way James..I replied to your post of some time ago. on the board "Below top secret" Hope it helps.

Thanks ,
Orangetom

Adjusted for inflation, Star Wars at $461,000,000 in 1977 kicks all the other movies' butts back to the Dagoba system.



Still, Titanic was a wonderful film...

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Okay, I did a quick tally of the top 100 movies and found only ten other R-rated films made the list. People, to me this is HEAVY PROOF that a GP rating isn't the "kiss of death" Hollywood makes it out to be. Quite the contrary!

Some argue "Well, a GP rating just means that Mom isn't so leary about taking the kids." Isn't THAT the point? As far as selling anything else, ask yourself these questions:

How does sex keep McDonalds the #1 fast food restaurant chain in the country?

How does sex sell the #1 selling car in America, namely, the Honda accord (or is it the Ford Escort?)

How does sex sell something as ambiguous (yet EXPENSIVE!) as a house?


[edit on 7-5-2005 by Toelint]

Originally posted by Toelint
How does sex keep McDonalds the #1 fast food restaurant chain in the country?

How does sex sell the #1 selling car in America, namely, the Honda accord (or is it the Ford Escort?)

How does sex sell something as ambiguous (yet EXPENSIVE!) as a house?

These are necessities. People are fairly pragmatic when it comes to necessities, so having a sexy chick scantily clad and draping herself all over the front porch is not going to make some dude buy a house...unless she came with it.

Sex, or the image of sexual and social success, does sell when it comes to luxury, lifestyle, entertainment or recreational items. Think mobile phone advertisements, alcohol ads, music videos, pop CD covers, sports car ads,etc etc.

This stuff is a science for advertising firms, and they go about it two ways. One, they find a need or desire and cater to it. Two, they make you believe that everybody else has a need or desire and you should too. Sex is not the be all and end all of marketing ploys. It's simply another one in the available repertoire. What ploy is appropriate depends on the target consumer demographic, the application of the product, and the social factors associated with the product. Sex or the image of sexual success isn't going to sell breakfast cereal, but it will sell beer.

[edit on 2005/5/7 by wecomeinpeace]

Originally posted by James the Lesser
KILL THE JEWS!!!!!!! Gee, that's not hate? The whole story creates hate for jews, sure it is among the people who already hate the jews, but still, it would be like "The Passion of Hitler" except that movie would probably not be supported by the church, and probably more on the War in Europe then hating Jews.

Sorry James, but your personal agenda isn't playing here. I understand that you have some rather abnormal anger toward anything with God in it, but there's absolutely no where in this movie that the message "KILL THE JEWS!" can be derived...not even remotely. And your hyperbole just points toward twisting the facts to your hateful motive.

And concerning the fact that the Sanhedrin came out looking bad in the story - sorry, but that's what the original story had in it. Should Gibson have changed the facts of the original story so as not to make anybody look bad? To take the account of the political/power-mongering actions of the Sanhedrin and then claim that account is anti-Semitic to all Jews is laughable.

When some one does a movie about the details that come out on the Abu Ghraib investigation, are we to assume they will have to "un-nationalize" the MP's at the prison in order to avoid the movie being labeled "anti-American"?

I am so happy that star wars films were in there!
I wasnt to sure about Titanic being number one- but i can see why and i agree with all saying that chick flicks sell! Personally i am not a big fan of chick filcks lol

I do think that sex sells, in a big way, the sex industry itself is more socially acceptedeverybody's getting in on the sex industry train!- even boots and marks and spencer is getting in a it!

Sex sells everywhere!!

Originally posted by misspickle
I am so happy that star wars films were in there!
I wasnt to sure about Titanic being number one- but i can see why and i agree with all saying that chick flicks sell! Personally i am not a big fan of chick filcks lol

Personally, I'm not real sure the high-ranking on the Titanic is because it's a chick flic. I'm a chick and I have to tell you I tolerated "the love story" in order to see the film. The special effects and the powerful way the movie got across how terrifying it had to have been on that ship are what made me really love the Titanic. But I absolutely hated the "story" super-imposed on it. Not all chicks are that easily amused

[edit on 5-7-2005 by Valhall]

But the Passion of Christ should have been NC-17 for violence, torture, blood/gore, and teaching hate.

Hate? What in the heck are you talking about?

Toe lint,
You cannot possibly be that green or new to this concept ..can you ???

First off ..McDonalds sells fast food..and have enough of a name world wide that they do not as of yet have to stoop to this level...thank God.
Dont worry ..if the competition gets bad enough and they cannot stay above water ..no telling to what extents they will stoop. Not to worry...it will come soon enough.
However...I can tell you clearly that McDonalds and others in the fast food franchises have learned that they must sell the woman through her kids ...to keep up buisness..hence you see the kids merchandized with all these playground toys..to get to the women and their pocketbooks. Is this sexism??? Think about it???


Sex appeal is often used to sell cars...not always directly ..but indirectly. Most salesmen know that in certain transactions ..it is the female that is the prime determiner in a family situation that has most of the input into what kind of car is bought. Not the male. The female must be sold in order to get the male to take upon themselves the payment schedule..got it yet... Dont they teach this connecting of the dots in public school or on ESPN????
For a single man...mostly again it is the female..which gets a man to buy a certain kind of car..why?? Because you seldome see a ugly girl get out of a certain kind of car..Got it yet????
By the way ..while we are on this topic...how many women do you see buying cars for men..and making the payments. Got that too yet???? They may buy themselves cars and make the payments but you dont by and large see women trying out for men by buying them cars..and taking up the payments..indicating once again that women are one of the prime movers in this market.

Homes..this one too should be pretty much self explanitory. Just go to Home Depot or one of t hese nationwide hardware franchises...stand back and see how many men are taking input and directions from their women.
The prime mover in homes sales and refurbishing is the female. What kind of home is bought ..price range...amenities...etc etc..etc. Not the male.per se. Once again .how many females buy a home for a male and take up payments ...while the male looks up his options as to how the home will be furnished.???
The prime mover in the American economy is the female..not the male..per se... Most attempts at male consumption rates are in the direction of providing more for the female and family..in this direction. Any close check of any department store or drug store will clear this up.

What I am telling you toelint..is that there is a definite line in social roles and expectations between males and females..based clearly on sex and social sexual expectations and beliefs. Merchandizers have spent alot of time and moneys ..to explore ways to take advantage of this sexual social belief system..without many being aware of it. Lots of psychologists specialize in this type of "seduction"and work for the manufacturers and advertisers.

I suppose they dont cover this concept on ESPN or in public schools ..in lieu of keeping people on the tredmill..unthinkingly.

Thanks,
Orangetom

Originally posted by Toelint
...The next Movie with an "R" rating finally comes up at #24, Which is Matrix: Reloaded...

[edit on 30-4-2005 by Toelint]

did you some how miss that huge sex scene and dance orgy in that movie?

I am having a bit of a problem ..with some of the posting in this topic arena. It seems that so many of the posters express their beliefs and opinions mostly based on some movie they have seen. This is a very strange yardstick by which to measure this topic.
It seems to indicate to me that most of the experience of the posters is through movies..not actual experience or observation outside the movie arena. Like a vicarious observing of life...through movies. As if we are incapable of defining ourselves by our own experience or knowlege..but some movie we have seen. Have we become watchers ..not doers or understanding people. As if movies are mostly our reality now days.
Is this an exaggeration on my part?? Am I just imagining this phenomonon.??
To me the world of sex and sexuality is so much more than movies in the manner in which it is used or misused to sell.
The world out here is so much more than movies.
Just a thought line from this mind..

Thanks ,
Orangetom

Across sex sells. Movies are rated not everyone can see it, that’s why movies like The Incredibles is one of the biggest grossing films of last year. A whole family of 4 will go see it.

Sex sells just watch MTV and see how much sex is directed at there young target audience. Brittney Spears needs to sell more cd's so she takes off more clothes.
Movies are sometimes Blockbuster just because of Sex.
1. Basic Instinct
2. Striptease. Terrible, but had Demi Nude, made money.
3. Deep Throat. Yep it was huge.
4. Showgirls. Real bad movie. But people went and saw it just for the sex.

Flip thorough a magazine and look at the ads. Even it Time and Newsweek you can see sex.

Watch commercials on TV. Lots of sex in those things, to the diet dr pepper dude, to all the beer commercials.

Hooters Restaurant. Not everyone goes there for the wings.

[edit on 7-5-2005 by Snowman9]

[edit on 7-5-2005 by Snowman9]

Originally posted by Toelint
As far as selling anything else, ask yourself these questions:

How does sex keep McDonalds the #1 fast food restaurant chain in the country?

Those people who don't get any sex, go to McDeaths too much
Those people who had too much unprotected sex take their kids to McDeaths too much
There are 3 times more Chinese restaraunts than McDeaths in America, so they are not
actually the #1 fast food restaraunt, if you added up all the chinese food money.

Originally posted by Toelint
How does sex sell the #1 selling car in America, namely, the Honda accord (or is it the Ford Escort?)

How does sex sell something as ambiguous (yet EXPENSIVE!) as a house?

These are pointless questions.

Sex is used as a tool to sell things people wouldn't feel like they needed unless there was some emotional response, like alcohol, cigarettes, expensive cars, magazines, etc etc.

Take some advertising and marketing classes and come back when you are not oblivious.



[edit on 8-5-2005 by Legalizer]

Sex is used as a tool to sell things people wouldn't feel like they needed unless there was some emotional response, like alcohol, cigarettes, expensive cars, magazines, etc etc.

Exactly.

Remember this Super Bowl commercial?




Made me go on a Dorito binge.

There are 3 times more Chinese restaraunts than McDeaths in America, so they are not
actually the #1 fast food restaraunt, if you added up all the chinese food money.

Thats not really a correct comparison. To compare it like that you would have to add up the money from all the burger joints.

LOL Skibum, I got a great idea! Let's convert every chinese restaurant in Amerca into a Panda Express! Hey, it has a lot more appeal than turning every burger joint into a McBurger Joint.