Transgression of Language on Social Aspects, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Susan Bordo, in her book, Beauty (Re) discovers the Male Body, brings out a different sense of male participation in advertisement (Bordo 176). She clearly draws lines and illustrations from advertisements, to place her thoughts on the issue, giving a description, and whether she is against or with the topic. The intensive way which she draws her descriptions, analyzes her thoughts, and embodies her criticism on the advertisement leads one to wonder on what her intention is on the subject. The book brings out several themes that are intriguing. However, the paper on this section will look into the theme of men on advertisement. Using Bordo and Foucault books, the paper will show how the theme of degradation of morality in the society and discipline are intertwined and related.

Traditionally, men would only pose nude on public due to religious reasons or in case of public attenuation (Feasey 221). However, in today’s world, thing is taking a different course. Those in the lead are male celebrities, who nowadays pose in almost nude pictures, trying to advertise underwear or boxers. The trend seems to incur to the common men, and male models who are on almost every commercial with nude clothing. Susan acknowledges this and brings her own perception to light. In her book, she asks the question on how male bodies speak to the public nowadays and gives various answers (Bordo 178). The message that they try to put across is sometimes challenging and aggressive. While many models stare coldly at the viewer, others try to defy the observer, by bringing out a different angle on which the observer judges him. Some want to portray themselves as powerful, armored and emotionally impenetrable. She says it romantically arouses women and some gay men in particular as it brings out certain visual emotional responses (Bordo 180). However, I tend to incline on my opinion that Bordo is just focused on her own emotional aspects, compared to the relevance of the people in the society. By the relevance of people in the society, I mean in America and the other countries. The advertisements get presented all over the world, and not all cultural backgrounds accept the role of men in advertisement. I also think America should be against this.

Sexual appeals are nowadays common in every aspect of advertisement. Despite its prevalence and research into their effects, there has been quiet little conceptual discussion regarding what constitutes a perceived conceptual appeal (Feasey 157). The society concerns itself with the full range of appeals on which over sexual imagery is constantly used to evoke sexual responses. Women, according to research, are an accepted form of advertisement in the society. Their role in advertisements is gladly accepted by many, but rejected by a few (Feasey, 159). However, when they model the society is not all together biased about their role. Men, on the other hand, face criticism. In today’s world when gay rights are considered, findings show that not all people in the society are ready to digest it. The issue of male advertisement gets the perception of one that urges the society to accept the gay issue. The advertisements, however, aim both the male correspondents and the female. In order to sell their products, most advertisers place a woman next to the nude male in order to clear perception of homosexuality. Susan also acknowledges this, as she gives the example of products such as Calvin Klein and the famous Gucci, who are keen on selling under wears. She says that this encourages other male who are not gay to accept the product. Susan also counters on the issue of how the public view nudity of the advertisements. She relies on a comment from the New York post, which describes the advertisements as obscene and overexposed. The write of the post, says that a law should be present to counter the over explosiveness of the advertisements. Susan does not entirely accept the idea; neither does she support the idea. She laughs at the comment, and says that anyone is entitled to their thoughts. On this issue, I feel that men’s role in an advertisement is not justified, and people should stick more to women being brand advertisers. I am personally against men role in an advertisement as it brings out a negative aspect of morality in the society. Women’s role, on the other hand, is understood and accepted. On this issue, I disagree with Susan.

Nudity in today’s society takes different toils and responses. The effects of male nudity on advertisements processing and outcomes in the society are somewhat overwhelming. While the old age views it as degradation of morality in the society, most members of the society view it as a promotion of gay growth in the society (Feasy 321). Some argue that the only effect it has if any, on the people is if people are gay. However, people forget the second target of the advertisements that are affected. These are the women. Research shows that most women are appealed by the nudity of the male models, and end up buying the product. Not all advertisements aim to promote under wears or under pants. Some, like female perfumes, aim to get the women’s view and perception. Women have a submissive response to the advertisements as they tend to incline and buy products. Another issue concerning the effects of male advertisements is that sex is typically operationalized as nudity (Feasey 446). The presence of clothing, or a lack of it, is a primary determinant of sexual responses. There is a profound linear relationship between levels of undressing and sexual arousals. Therefore, revealing displays of the body are components of sexual attractions and sexual arousals, something that is under criticism by most members of the society. The issue is undoubtedly one that requires a social cognition and response. Extents to which the advertisements need limitation to meet the expectations of each member of the society. My opinion is that nudity in the society is still a sensitive issue. The society comprises of not only adults, but also children, as well. What effect it will have on the young children is just demoralizing.

The book of Panopticism, by Michael Foucault, represents Panopticon as a technique through which discipline and punishment work meritoriously in modern society (Foucault 231). It structures a diagram of power in action since when one looks at Panopticon; one realizes how the process of examination and observations operate. The book introduction is through contrast, one typical Foucault device which relates to the relationship between the timetable and execution of measures. The plague in the story is one intriguing case. This is because the author examines a relevant text on plague measures rather than a definite account of a real plague. The author views an account of a real plague as beneficial since texts and reality intermingle closely. This leaves one to wonder whether the plague acted as an image against what mechanisms of disciplines were defined. However, this is not the case as the plague represents a loss of order (Foucault 336). The restoration of order is the sole aim of which policies such as public executions were placed. This shows that, through execution of punishment on people’s behavior, discipline and integrity is implemented in the society. I agree with Foucault view on his theory that people need constant watching. The boundaries between normal and abnormal vanish when the plague strikes. This is because anyone could get sick, and in the end, abnormal. This means that indiscipline in society may spread and infect those who were disciplined. I am strongly against this juxtaposition in the society. Abnormality in this case is dangerous to every person and affects the welfare of everyone. The author adopts this as the foundation of his squabble, and the reason he wrote the book. The theory of discipline is that everyone is analyzed and observed from a building, which makes the operations easy to perform. The Panopticon grows out of the need for surveillance concerning the plague (Foucault 342). Plague measures were necessary to protect the community and the Panopticon allowed power to operate effectively. This brings the essay to examine the theme of discipline in society, and the measures needed to instill discipline. I agree with Foucault on the issue of discipline as a measure of punishment to regulate behavior. Discipline is needed in today’s setting, for the benefit of preserving morality in the future.

Discipline in the society is lacking in today’s world due to recognized factors. One would argue what exactly are discipline, and the role it has in society (Critto 78). Discipline is the practice of training members in a society to obey certain standards and regulations. The forms of discipline measures in today’s society are through legislative processes. One, however, wonders as to whether they are enough to regulate the inappropriate behaviors of people. If there were to be strict policies and punishments, then people would behave in an appropriate manner that is likable to the society.  However, people nowadays are chief promoters of corruption and fideism. The corruption cases range widely from the government’s cases to the little business operates (Critto 112). This demonstrates a lack of discipline in the society. Women are subjects to rape while men murder each other on senseless issues. Foucault in his book agrees that sophisticated societies normally offer greater opportunities for observation and control. This is what explains the references to rights and liberty. He assumes that the society of today is based on the ideology that all citizens are free to make demands on the state. The ideology developed late in the eighteenth century, with the techniques he describes in his book. Foucault is not against the political ideal she argues that not every citizen can understand them without control measures. I totally agree with his line of reasoning’s, that leaving people to lead a free world is what brings indiscipline in the society. This method leaves other people with no profound meaning of their life, which leads to the presence of thieves and burglars that we see today.  People should be watched, and their actions controlled.

Research shows that when people are directed to a common goal by measures and practices, they tend to stick to this new way and abide by the rules. Therefore, introduction of the policies would serve to limit cases of indiscipline in the society, promoting justice and integrity in the way. A good example is the way the Macedonians first ruled conquered nations. The nations had their own policies, and after the Macedonians had taken over, they instilled their own policies through reputation and standardization (Critto 167). Eventually, the nations understood the Macedonians policies and inhabited their ways; the Macedonians then loosened their grip on the nations after they had learned. I believe the same case should apply to today’s society, in a bid to regulate people and standardize their behaviors.  The method of putting measures and watching over the people could bring us back to a society we were before. A developed society is full of integral people with a purpose in life.

Conclusion

The joining factor among the four authors is the idea they have on society, and their perception of its integration in the society. However, they all focus on the society. My stand on society is that the vices should be turned to virtues as stipulated by Foucault. The linking virtue and vices show contradictions in their ideologies. Perhaps it is the lack of discipline in the society that leads to advertisements of nudity in today’s media. One cannot ignore that the two have a linear relationship.  Disintegration of people morals comes after peoples discipline in the society falls. This is the reason why people like Foucault come out to suggest that people need to be subjected to new measures and policies, which are bound to help them later during their lifetime. Disciplinary engagements should be engaged against those who object to justice. People could also voice their concerns through proper channels in as much as the world offers a free society to all.

Works Cited

Bordo, Susan. The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. Print.

Critto, Adolfo. Choosing Models of Society and Social Norms: Improving Choices and Quality  of Life. Lanham, Md. ;New York, NY ;Oxford: Univ. Press of America, 1999. Print.

Feasey, Rebecca. Masculinity and Popular Television. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008. Print.

Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York: Random House, 1977 Print.