The Study of Ambiguous Sex Identity Appearing in Fashion Advertisements

The purpose of this study is to investigate fashion advertisements portraying ambiguous sex phenomena, including homosexuality codes and to analyze the meaning of these advertisements in order to develop effective fashion advertisements strategies. The method of this study was to observe the readings about ambiguous sex theory, including homosexuality, and analyze fashion advertisements that express this through the Internet and fashion journals. The ambiguous sex expression seen in fashion advertisements meet various consumers' needs which is what the latest advertisement market requires, and offer competitive brand image by fresh appeal. In the background, there are various complex factors like the change of contemporary spirit, and designers' tastes and values about homosexuality. The kinds of ambiguous sex expression techniques portrayed in fashion advertisements can be divided as the ambiguity of physical codes and the ambiguity of sex role identity. These advertisements do play a role as a public campaign for a change in society from the sociocultural point of view. And, from the economical viewpoint, they approach the consumer as a fresh marketing strategy. From the esthetic viewpoint, they express new esthetic sense named “edge” And seen from the designers' viewpoints, they express designers' private sexual identities.

패션 잡지 광고에서 보여지는 성 혼돈 경향에 관한 연구