Cover-up at Shanghai auto show as scantily clad models banned

Illyas APR. 21, 2015 - 07:05AM JST It's always interested me how social conservatism and social liberalism can reach the same conclusions, but from completely different angles. A religious conservative may say that skimpy models should be banned as it's an immoral appeal to people's base desires (lust), while a feminist may say that skimpy models should be banned because it's sexist and degrading.

It's a good point and I actually thought something similar, but we must also remember that though these moves may be superficially similar in outcome, deep down they're very different in how they come about. All cases I know of where models and "booth babes" are banned by trade events, these bans are imposed by the event itself because they perceive the models using their sex-appeal to draw customers as a negative influence on their show. It's a collective decision: "We agree not to do this thing that we think makes our show worse. After talking to our models who are uncomfortable with the role past shows have put them in, we agree this is the best choice for everyone." In the case of China's ban on models, it's something imposed by the state and we don't know what participants in the show think about the decision (and knowing Chinese media, we're unlikely to ever know).

Outcome is the same, process is very different.

The year is 2015.... and people are still ashamed of the human body.

What is more natural? Odd, that humanity bans itself certain things knowing that exactly the act of banning it makes it an object of desire.

UK9393Apr. 21, 2015 - 09:29PM JST

Good. People, not objects.

These "Objects" you refer to, do they model because someone has a gun pointed to their head? I thought modelling is a proffesion?

Good. People, not objects.

These model recalls have gone too far.

@paulinusa

Ever attend the Tokyo Auto Show? I'd say half the young guys are there to photograph the models and I don't mean the cars models.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Guys will be guys, but the lengths these types go to for those photos is CREEPY. I've even seen these guys stop random girls (ie. not staff) and ask them for a quick photo shoot. Seriously.

Chinese car models of the past used to dress like the vulgar Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus. Good riddance!

@Illyas

The feminists you speak of thankfully are pretty underpowered. AFAIK, strip clubs and porn are legal in essentially every western country. It is the "think of the children" crowd that try to keep bubbles around schools and such.

“We’re just standing here. We’re not models,” one said when asked about his role.

Save that for your resume, young man! "Experience: Standing; pretending not to be a model."

Now if only Chinese cars were built as good a s Chinese women The Chinese would have something worth the stampede!

The communist blood still flows deep inside CCP - no sexiness for the commie populace!

Ever attend the Tokyo Auto Show? I'd say half the young guys are there to photograph the models and I don't mean the cars models.

Well I suppose that attendance numbers shouldn't go down because the people are there to see cars and not models, but with that said... what a boring show that would be! (Sorry for being a guy)

organisers of this year’s event aimed to bring attention back to the curves of the vehicles, and create an “orderly, clean, safe” atmosphere.

selling cars or condoms?

According to the leaked directive, organisers had urged exhibitors to “Put an end to the phenomenon of all types of vulgarity, harm to civilised society and ill-intentioned sensationalism,” ordering them to provide visitors with “artistic enjoyment” instead.

It's always interested me how social conservatism and social liberalism can reach the same conclusions, but from completely different angles. A religious conservative may say that skimpy models should be banned as it's an immoral appeal to people's base desires (lust), while a feminist may say that skimpy models should be banned because it's sexist and degrading.