Young Ladies Who Smoke Virginia Slims
According to some people, young women usually have elegant postures when smoking a cigarette. They tend to hold the cigarette higher than men do. Of course, not everyone's Marlene Dietrich, but there is some sort of consensus on the matter, on the edge of fetish among some individuals. It is called capnolagnia, which means having a lustful sensation while other people smoke.
Of course, smoking is bad, and heavy smokers do have some less than appealing features, not exactly something to brag about: bed teeth, even bed breath, etc. But, ultimately, since smoking cigarettes is such a filthy habit, what is it about smoking women that some people find so interesting? Associating favorable attributes to the image of a young lady holding a cigarette is, up to some extent, influenced by the media. We hear about the harmful effects of indulging into a smoking habit all the time, yet, the popular media also maintains a positive, or at least tolerant image of smoking, portraying cool and sexy, successful and romantic young people in smoking postures. We see people smoking in films, on stage, in newspapers, online, etc.
The main attraction in seeing a woman smoking remains the woman. When studying for example Virginia Slims ads and commercials, one cannot stop from noticing the girl, even for the sole reason that her image takes up nearly all the picture. The lavish presentation, the seductive, classy or casual, and dreamy attitude of the models, and the overall glamour are meant to sell. One doesn't have to be too cynical to realize the implication of the environment and the cosmetics: as long as the appearance of the model is attractive, the smoking scene is perceived as positive. The perfume-like icon of the new Virginia Slim cigarettes does fit into this equation. Young women who buy Virginia Slims are more often than not aware of these sales and marketing strategies, willingly accept the fashion distraction, and get in the role of the appealing, celebrated woman who lights up. |
