Cute

[PumpItUp]

I just finished reading an article for my Media Studies Course that discussed the manipulation of cute in the media. It stated that the idea of cute has become manipulated by corporations in search of more effective advertising, and what is better than a cute little doll or stuffed teddy, waiting for a hug.

The author calls the prescence of cute a perversion of motherhood, and even goes so far as to call interacting with cute things "cute sex", except that no emotion is ever reciprocated.

I found the article really interesting and it poked alot of holes in a topic I'd never even considered before. What do you think?

The book it's from is called Cute, Quaint, Hungry, and Romantic by Daniel Harris. It's a good read.

 

[steveo_justice]

There's a lot more dangerous things than cute the media is manilpulating, but maybe I'm just a conspiracy theorist (coughbushisascapegoatnoonelikesthestimpackagecough).

I'd say that as a marketing tool, teenage stereotypes are being used more frequently than hello kitty, though. Nintendo of course does ONLY cute things so thay can use "family freindly" as a bulletpoint on their box.

 

[NeoAC]

Well, yeah, man, cute is exploited all over the place. Disney uses it to sell movies, Nintendo uses it to sell consoles. Hell, Cottonelle used it to sell tissue paper for crying out loud. Cute is now processed and packaged, and ready for consuming.

 

[Labyrinth]

Join the Hive [http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Cats/Kitten-Duck.jpg]...

 

[Bofus Teefus]

Join the Hive [http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Cats/Kitten-Duck.jpg]...

I had to give my monitor a hug.

 

[PumpItUp]

So... this book is basically saying cute things are bad? Well screw that, I'm never giving up kawaii. Kawaii for life!

No, it never said it was bad, although any manipulation by advertisers is questionable. It's simply stating that advertising has played too big a role in the development of cute.

And honestly, if you find cute bad, you need to see a therapist. Preferably this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAiqmvP5uVs

 

[Erana]

Try going to Japan.
EVERYTHING has a mascot. The subway has a mascot. The subway convience marts have mascots. The several different bus passes have mascots....
Just sooo much.

 

[sanzo]

Join the Hive [http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Cats/Kitten-Duck.jpg]...

Must.. maintain masculinity.... must not gush...

Anyways, it's not that surprising. Cute sells, right up there along with sexy. The only difference is the marketing demographic, for the most part at least

 

[RavingPenguin]

So... this book is basically saying cute things are bad? Well screw that, I'm never giving up kawaii. Kawaii for life!

^This, always this.

 

[linchowlewy]

So... this book is basically saying cute things are bad? Well screw that, I'm never giving up kawaii. Kawaii for life!

No, it never said it was bad, although any manipulation by advertisers is questionable. It's simply stating that advertising has played too big a role in the development of cute.

And honestly, if you find cute bad, you need to see a therapist. Preferably this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOFmZGrrHKo

Oh god, you call that cute? *shudders*

If the thing would just shut up I would probably find it cute. As it were, it makes me want to push it through a meat grinder. Slowly.

sorry it's absoloutely adorable but the english voice is a bit annoying.

 

[Hiroshi Mishima]

Yeah, before I saw all the new posts that popped up in between seeing this thread and clicking on it... I was gonna say "What's wrong with cute?"

But you're absolutely right that "cute" as a concept has been grossly stretched out of proportion as far as marketing goes. Having a mascot isn't so much the problem, as it is the use of cute to sell anything and everything. I've seen things I would NEVER call cute be sold as cute on TV.

It's not unlike how they've been overusing "sexy" to sell absolutely anything and everything. It's gotten to the point where I'm sick of seeing sexy, and sick of seeing cute, to sell video games and a lot of other things I'd rather not think about. The line was crossed (in America at least) quite a good while back, but the video game industry is really letting it take control these days.. especially sexy (which tends to go hand in hand with violent depending on the game). I'm quite tired of it, to the point where it starts turning me away from a game.

 

[Silver]

I find a lot of my friends really cute. Does that mean I've been manipulated and need to commit seppuku so that the evil media doesn't get my soul?

No, no, it doesn't. Just leave it alone, and stop believing everything you read, just like you shouldn't believe every commercial you see. Now that I think about it, don't believe anything you can't prove yourself.

 

[Tattaglia]

Aw, c'mon, can you say no to this face?


And it does make sense... voting is for losers. Drugs are for the cool kids from high school that turn up murdered on the news. Booyah!

 

[Blow_Pop]

Yeah, before I saw all the new posts that popped up in between seeing this thread and clicking on it... I was gonna say "What's wrong with cute?"

But you're absolutely right that "cute" as a concept has been grossly stretched out of proportion as far as marketing goes. Having a mascot isn't so much the problem, as it is the use of cute to sell anything and everything. I've seen things I would NEVER call cute be sold as cute on TV.

It's not unlike how they've been overusing "sexy" to sell absolutely anything and everything. It's gotten to the point where I'm sick of seeing sexy, and sick of seeing cute, to sell video games and a lot of other things I'd rather not think about. The line was crossed (in America at least) quite a good while back, but the video game industry is really letting it take control these days.. especially sexy (which tends to go hand in hand with violent depending on the game). I'm quite tired of it, to the point where it starts turning me away from a game.

i have to concour. i'm completely desensitized to cute and sexy from advertising. yes, the victoria's secret angels are still hot and some adorable but i cant see them as sexy anymore. i worry about what the world is coming to

 

[PumpItUp]

The author calls the prescence of cute a perversion of motherhood, and even goes so far as to call interacting with cute things "cute sex", except that no emotion is ever reciprocated.

I think this man has several child-hood issues. There are some things that people say that make me question humanity. I seriously think there are some weird publishers out there, to a point this man may have a point but when he goes on about "cute sex" I start to go "Riiiiigh, Uh, security!".

Also...

Spoiler: Kitten!!!!!!

No, this guy is sane and actually makes a good point towards the whole "cute sex" term. Once you look past the term itself, think about how cuddling a teddy bear is like sex (no creepiness intended). There is an physical investment (hugging) and an emotional investment (feeling good while hugging it). Dismissing his arguments simply because you don't like the term "cute sex" smacks of close-mindedness.

 

[PumpItUp]

Dismissing his arguments simply because you don't like the term "cute sex" smacks of close-mindedness.

You kind of have a point, still I think the term "Cute Sex" is un-needed.

I do have to agree about the "cute sex" thing, I was simultaneously put off and humored by the term as its certainly not something you would think of everyday (except maybe on 4chan, but that's something else entirely).
Even so, you should still try to consider it important. Refusing to consider something important something simply because it's unappealing is not a smart thing to do nowadays.

 

[Vlane]

Since Lucky Star (which I like) I know that cuteness can make something rmuch more popular.

And I hope that fits in.

 

[PumpItUp]

Uh...my post before hand would show I considered it.... Also I don't think I have to consider something that I doubt is that important (Seriously it isn't.well to me any-ways).

Okay I guess you have a point. I reread my post and I do sound like a bit of an ass. Even so...

There is an physical investment (hugging) and an emotional investment (feeling good while hugging it).

Already knew that, but feeling good from hugging and feeling good from sex are not two completely different things.

Emotional investment was the key word there. You are happy, that is the point he's trying to make. How you get happy is irrelevant.

 

[PumpItUp]

There is an physical investment (hugging) and an emotional investment (feeling good while hugging it).

Already knew that, but feeling good from hugging and feeling good from sex are not two completely different things.

Emotional investment was the key word there. You are happy, that is the point he's trying to make. How you get happy is irrelevant.

Well on that basis anything can be the same if it's irrelevant how strong the emotion can be. The intensity of the emotion has a-lot to do with the point he's trying to make. Disregarding that would be stupid.[/quote]
Hm...You do have a point there.
It would actually be easier to discuss this if you've read the article as well but assuming you play games in your free time, I would doubt that.

But yeah, I think I'll leave it at that.

 

[Gamer137]

Join the Hive [http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Cats/Kitten-Duck.jpg]...

Is it a bad thing that when I saw the word "hive" I thought of 4chan? I had to check the link properties before clicking. Don't want to get dragged to the furnace of Hades.