agency ads

the absolut vodka ad works because it catches your attention.  it's not very often that you see a bottle that looks as if it has been scrunched up in this way.  also, the fact that the ad says, "absolut impotence," makes it kind of funny.  why?  i can't answer that one.  it only seems as though sensitive topics such as that are just funny because that is considered a flaw, and some may even say "less of a man."  it also says that drinking too much will provoke a man's sexual desire but will take away the ability to perform.  that makes it funny, too.  what makes it reflect subjective agency is that the ad is doing something.  the ad is clearly making a point and saying, "be careful how much you drink.  it might have the opposite effect than what you want it to."  It is subjective agency also because none of us are in control of the social spaces we inhabit...especially when we are drinking.  keeping that in mind, this ad is speaking to people, or more specifically, men who drink.  this being said...men are more likely to pay attention to this ad and really think about it (and women as well).

the tommy hilfiger ad looks like it is saying, "hey, be like everyone else.  look like everyone else, and wear tommy so that you can look like everyone else..."  i think this works because it's quite a clear statement that is saying, "be yourself.  don't just blend in.  be different.  don't just wear tommy cause everyone else is wearing it."  the image of the sheep to me, always symbolizes being like the mainstream/being like everyone else.  the american flag in the background kind of goes with a lot of tommy ads so i think it works because it looks like a tommy ad, until you really start reading into it.  this ad reflects subjective agency by pointing out that conforming is something that happens and often we don't have complete control over it.  we may start dressing like people we work with or hang out with and not even conciously realize it.  

the calvin klein ad works because it again gets your attention.  here's a nice looking man looking down his shorts.  you may look at this and start wondering why.  so in this case, by doing this, this man is provoking attention and further thought.  is he self concious about his body?  is he making sure things are ok down there?  i think the point they are making with this is that everybody is concious about their body...even models.  this reflects subjective agency in the sense that this man is doing something.  in doing something, he is making history.