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Pretty young nothings

They stand looking out at us from ads seeking donations for cancer research and farmers, from ads trying to sell us outboard motors and jogging shoes, and I've been questioning the purpose. I mean, what has a pretty young woman got to do with cancer research or outboard motors? Does she herself wonder why she's paid to stand there smiling and empty headed? Probably not.

If in these enlightened days we see age, shape, size and colour as telling us nothing about the person within, why don't we have an obese man or woman draped over the outboard, why not a craggy, crippled farmer standing in the stubble? Or at least a teenager with a few squeezed zits?

Advertisers know what works and what doesn't or they're not advertisers for long, and so I can only assume that the presence of a pretty young thing is more likely to induce us to buy a motor bike than the presence of some pretty old bloke like me. Why would the presence of anyone affect the decision to buy or not to buy?

Have a look - they're everywhere, these pretty young nothings who probably couldn't whip up a half-decent breakfast for the man reaching for his wallet.

I'd hoped that Big Brother's very effective exposure of the inanity of youth would cure us of this cult of youth and beauty, but the cult is now booming and ubiquitous.

We do seem to see something in youth and beauty, something that is not there. What do you see?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 3/03/2009 3:46:57 PM | Comments (20)

comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

"..something that is not there". That's a hard one Jeff. It might depend what we are expecting to see! As they rightly say, "sex sells". Does it sell simply by being eye catching, and making us read or watch an otherwise boring ad? Maybe. Does it make us want the product, because (as you say), "pretty young things" are, ostensibly, associated with it, interested in it, excited by it, draped all over it? Maybe. We are biologically wired to notice and enjoy looking at young, healthy members of the opposite sex. I guess it has something to do with procreation, and the best stage of life to do that. As far as seeing "..something that is not there"..... if you mean we see confidence, or success, or capability, or opportunity (sexual?), that the real person doesn't possess or offer, you're probably right. As you mature in life, you start to see the young models for what they are : visually enjoyable window dressing. And probably vacuous gen x-ers, to boot.

Posted by StopPayingTheBludgers, 3/03/2009 4:13:52 PM

I'm a regular contibutor here - but will alter my screen name so as not to be identified. My other half is a former model ('retired' as 'too old' for the career in her mid 20's). But there is a serious misconception about their intelligence - she has 2 university degrees and a masters. She now works in a high demanding, stressful career where she NEEDS to have not just a brain - but a bloody good one!! I look at her and I think she was so lucky to have options.....I mean, I studied hard, work long hours, commute like most other people - if I had the physique to stand there and get paid for showing off my arse instead of all this other stuff, I know what I'd choose!! Too bad I looked like the back end of a cattle truck!

Posted by And yes, shes got nice ... eyes, 3/03/2009 4:53:09 PM

Hey, while I'm happy to accept that your wife is intelligent, although we should not think less of her is she is not, two university degrees and a masters is no evidence of intelligence!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 4/03/2009 9:06:19 AM

It's the psychology Jeff. The advertising agencies con businesses into spending millions on all sorts of ridiculous ads. The ad conveys the impression on gullible minds that some of the youth or good looks of the model will rub off on them. Also there is a suggestion that the particular product or brand will attract pretty young things to drool over their new outboard or whatever the product is. Unfortunately there seem to be plenty of gullible minds ready and willing to believe this rubbish. Of course, it all adds to the price of the product.

Posted by helper, 3/03/2009 9:50:09 PM

they do it because it works. Nothing particularly scientific about it, it just gets results.

Posted by fista, 3/03/2009 11:02:02 PM

I think that people think if they surround themselves with enough beautiful, pretty things or people for long enough they can convince themselves that they are one too. Perhaps?

Posted by countedsorrow, 4/03/2009 1:07:05 AM

PYNs are in ads because they are great to look at. A woman in her late teens or early 20s is in peak physical condition. Everything's nice and firm and nothing sags. Therefore advertising agencies use them because people like looking at them. I mean what else are they good for? It's not as though you would want to have a relationship with one. They're totally useless vacuous shells. Once a man grows up he wants a real woman with some life experience and we see that by noticing that she's no longer a PYN but a potential life partner that challenges you constantly. Most men eventually grow out of PYNs. That doesn't mean we don't still enjoy the aesthetics.

Posted by Brando, 4/03/2009 8:17:01 AM

I see the future, God help us all.

Posted by nowonmaii, 4/03/2009 8:53:15 AM

The models are used because no matter what your gender or age we all look. This hopefully also makes us take notice of the product. Hopefully the girls make some money out of the advertising. As for a woman with two University degrees and a Masters to back them up, like it or not, she is intelligent and usually hard working and could pick you out in a crowd Jeff, as a sceptic.

Posted by Buell, 4/03/2009 9:28:52 AM

I always thought Jeff was a pretty young thing. lol.

Posted by senior sergeant smith, 4/03/2009 9:37:08 AM

why should the pyn be expected to "whip up a half-decent breakfast" for anyone - especially the old farts here? they'd probably have to deliver it to islington and pass it through the car window to the driver, as he sloooowly cruises around the neighbourhood.

Posted by stoppublishingthebludger, 4/03/2009 9:56:35 AM

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