In this video, the woman has appropriated sexual signifiers from mainstream society and turned them into something unique and different, not typically reflective of women and sexuality. Reappropriation occurs when such signifiers reenter mainstream culture and become associated with the new meaning on a regular basis. In this video, the woman has appropriated various sexual signifiers--the husky voice (from cowboys or burly men, also used in early pornography), stretching and working out (from athletes, although the bending of women's bodies is seen in pornography as well), massaging (from masseuses and again seen in pornography), eating sesame seeds (from oriental chefs), and the use of makeup (originally from prostitutes and pornographers).
She appropriates these signifiers in various ways, often by using something for a reason other than its indented purpose. For example, the woman appropriates makeup by applying it to her cleavage in order to make it appear more pronounced, whereas normally women would wear makeup on their faces in order to enhance facial features. Another example of this form of appropriation in seen when the woman eats sesame seeds, massagers her boobs, and works out. Rather than eating the seeds because they taste good or are good for you, massaging herself because it feels good, and working out to stay in shape, she does these things in an attempt to make her boobs grow or appear bigger. The husky voice and stretching, on the other hand, are turned into methods of seduction. These two traits have been reappropriated and have reentered mainstream culture. When people think of husky voices, they often think of sexy, seductive celebrities and movie stars. Additionally, the contortion of women’s bodies via stretching and bending is a commonly accepted gesture for a male's attention. These signifiers are often accompanied by sexual word puns (i.e. “come quickly” and “Hank Rugburn always comes twice”). Finally, when the women says no to sex with Hank at the end of the clip, it reinforces her power and the fact that her authority comes from her now larger breasts, which solidifies the notion that she has successfully both appropriated and reappropriated sexual signifiers.
Underwear:
How To Make Your Breasts Look Bigger
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