An advertisement showing a woman bound with rope and exposing her thighs has been banned by the industry watchdog.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the image used by tile company Bisazza implied sexual violence “had taken place or was about to”.
Of course the firm that produced the ad says it is “artistic,” but since when is “art” meant to promote the violent sexual exploitation of women?
The company said the advert featured “no nudity, innuendo, wounds or scenes of excessive perversion”.
But the ASA said the geisha was “shown in a submissive pose, appeared visibly upset and was shown with her kimono pushed up to expose her thigh”.
“Notwithstanding the highly stylised nature of the ads, we considered the creative treatment could be seen to imply that sexual violence had taken place or was about to take place,” it said.
Which undoubtedly is the idea behind it – whether the pervert artist behind it admits it or not.
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