I was literally frightened when I saw this! This is Project Runway we're talking about here, not a sadomasochistic porn site. If you're unfamiliar with the show, model Heidi Klum is its host and figurehead. In this picture, she is lying on a bed of scissors while holding two open scissors in her hand. It looks as if she's about to be cut, like the photo's heading suggests. This picture could have potentially negative consequences for those who view it. Klum's nearly-naked, vulnerable-looking body is being paired with sharp scissors. In other words, violence and sexualization are being combined, which equates to sadomasochism. Is it just me, or do other people find this advertisement equally horrifying?
This ad is consistent with the finding that female models are often nude and in sexually explicit and submissive postures (Ward, 2003).
