In 2012, Carl's Jr./Hardee's released a commercial advertising "a spicy twist on a classic burger" with their new sandwich the Southwest Patty Melt (Restaurant Magazine). This ad featured model Kate Upton in a throwback to a time that was simply classic. The video begins innocently enough at a drive-in movie theater, in a 1950's era car with Kate dressed in vintage inspired clothing. The contemporized version of the 1959 hit song, "Some Like It Hot" plays in the background. Throughout the video, by way of closeups, camera angles, and suggestive movements it is very obvious that this advertisement has a lot less to do with burgers and is a lot more about sexualizing a product for the purposes of making money. The executives and producers are aiming these commercials towards men who, because they liked what they saw, will buy their product.
At the very beginning of this video, you see Kate go from her hair pulled back to “letting her hair down” as she climbs over the back seat of the car revealing her thigh high hose and stiletto heels. It is a well-known fact that a lot of men are attracted to women in heels and some even have fetishes with legs, feet, and shoes. This was discussed in Jean Kilbourne’s article, “Two Ways A Woman Can Get Hurt” when she stated, “The main goal ... the exploitative power of female beauty and female sexuality" (p.489, para 1). "It fetishizes products, imbues them with an erotic charge ... never can fulfill our sexual desires or meet our emotional needs” (p. 489, para 2). The video shows her begin to sweat from the “heat” of the sandwich with a close-up of her neck and breasts as sweat runs down her. Then with her head tilted back she fans herself in a seductive way. These are unrealistic images because we know no one eats like this or looks like this in real life when they are eating.
By using provocative poses, facial expressions, body language and little to no clothing these ads are glorifying pornography and the idea that this behavior is acceptable. We are accepting these ideas and passing them on to future generations. As Kilbourne discusses, “When men objectify women, they do so in a cultural context in which women are constantly objectified” (p. 501) and “All women are vulnerable in a culture in which there is such wide-spread objectification of women’s bodies” (p.504). She explains in, “Killing Us Softly 4” people often say that she has been talking about this subject for 40 years and want to know if it has gotten better or worse and she stated, “I have to say they really have gotten worse.” Our society is becoming desensitized at an alarming rate so much so that it is becoming normal to see children (both boy and girls) being sexualized in ads and trends such as those in Japan where men act out their fantasies with make-believe schoolgirls (p.505). In “Killing Us Softly 4”, Kilbourne adds, “failure is inevitable because the ideal is based on absolute flawlessness … the most important aspect of this flawlessness is that it cannot be achieved.” This vicious cycle is perpetuated by those in the film industry by exploiting young models who agree to participate in these advertisements. Another issue worth mentioning are the problems that are rising at alarming rates such as those associated with eating disorders. Kilbourne explains, “girls who are subjected to barking, grunting and mooing calls and labels of “dogs, cows, or pigs” when they pass by groups of male students; those who are teased about not measuring up to buxom, bikini-clad [models] (p.510). This failure leaves women feeling negatively about their body image and never feeling good enough which unfortunately is passed on to young girls.
This advertisement uses many of the tactics discussed by Kilbourne and it is easy to understand why they do this. Ultimately, whether ads are selling burgers, clothing, or other items the bottom line is about making a profit. As we have seen by analyzing different types of media there are almost no lines that they are not willing to cross. This should cause outrage at what it is creating within our society but sadly it seems to be what sells. While researching this ad, I came across an article about this particular commercial in Restaurant Magazine and thought it would be interesting to include this quote, “Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are brands that need to make waves in culture,” said Glenn Cole, founding partner and CCO at 72andSunny. “While our competitors try to out-kid-meal each other, we’re going to keep making noise and delivering young hungry guys what they want.” Once again this emphasizes who their target audience is and what they are hoping to achieve by using sexually driven marketing.
Kate Upton - Carl's Jr. and Hardee's - Full Commercial. YouTube, uploaded by #skullcrusher.org, 16 Oct. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTG9mE8Z2-4
Kilborne, Jean. "Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt" Rereading America. Eds. Colombo, Cullen, Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's P. 2013.
"Killing Us Softly 4 -Trailer." YouTube, uploaded by ChallengingMedia 21 Oct. 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWKXit_3rpQ
“New Southwest Patty Melt from Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Turns up the Heat on an All-American Classic | Restaurant Magazine.” Restaurant Magazine, 22 Feb. 2012, www.restaurantmagazine.com/new-southwest-patty-melt-from-carls-jr-and-hardees-turns-up-the-heat-on-an-all-american-classic/. Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.
Screenshots: "Kate Upton - Carl's Jr. and Hardee's - Full Commercial." YouTube, uploaded by #skullcrusher.org, 16 Oct. 2020