Metrosexuals

In our text book, Soldow cited Simpson (2002) that metrosexuals easily fit the gay stereotype of being interested in and concerned about fashion, style and grooming and, "As such, they are attractive to both heterosexual women and homosexual men and report not being threatened by the attractiveness to the latter. Metrosexuals are urban, heterosexual males who are often mistaken for being gay although they are not disturbed by the inaccurate assumption (p. 326).

The Tumi (luggage) ad in the New Yorker, Sept. 24, 2007, issue depicts what appears to be a metrosexual. Ermenegildo Zegna also shows two males posing in winter jackets - they too are depicted as metrosexuals. Then you have a "Hear the world" ad with Placido Domingo. I just like the way he sings - His message raises awareness of the importance of hearing and the support for projects helping hearing impaired people. The message is clear cut. As for metrosexuals - they look "beautiful" and that's what the advertising people succeeded in doing for everyone who cares about fashion, luggage or whatever.

I am reading a book on reserve at the Willis titled "Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound," edited by Martin W. Bauer and George Gaskell. It addresses a lot of what we are covering.