As images that used to be considered obscene gradually become accepted by mainstream media audiences, marketers need to keep pushing the envelope, leading to the increased pornification of our culture. When Fox Broadcasting shows S&M images to our kids, I believe that contributes to such pornification. Pornification hurts girls, but it hurts boys, too. Read Melinda Tankard Reist’s interview with Maggie Hamilton, How we are screwing up boys with violence, porn, drugs and alcohol.
Fox showed a depiction of sexual bondage in an advertisement during The Simpsons (see my previous post). According to Parents Television Council, via Nielsen, The Simpsons is one of the top shows for boys ages 12 to 17.
Here’s an excellent piece by teacher Brian Crosby at Oppposing Views on The Pornification of America.
Marketing, Media and Childhood 