Representation Analysis

Women seem to be a very misinterpreted and unique group in media. Either used to appeal to men or to break away from them, women seem to have a unique place in the way they are portrayed in the world of media. In an Axe commercial from 2006, a single man is spraying what seems to be a lot of body spray where suddenly a wild pack of women run towards him from every direction. Happens every day right? Personally, I believe that if that commercial would have come out about a decade later, it would have gotten completely different reviews and criticism for being degrading and completely freaking stupid. For example, in a recent H&M ad, H&M is promoting sustainability and recycling old clothes, where they show a group of women and men in all shapes and sizes and styles portray a stereotype or label. H&M certainly put such diverse group of people to highlight and represent a big group of people to appeal to a larger background (even if it has nothing to do with recycling clothes) but is that not a good thing? Some people may believe it is forced and superficial to forcefully try to include all colors, shapes and cultures but if done for the right reasons, I believe can be a good thing. The two commercials and their lack of similarities in representation show the growth of society over 10 or more years and how instead of women needing to be 5’10 with hourglass figures running to a single man, they can be any shape and size and be unapologetically alone.