Ayu as a sex symbol

[HiruNoKaze]

Hey everyone...Hiru's rants are back...

Once in awhile, we get a pic of Ayu with greater sexual overtones than usual. It seems to be rather uncommon with Ayu; it's just not the way she is. I'm not talking about stylish and sexy, I'm talking about things that suggest you know what. Anyone have any conjectures on Ayu's view of this? How do you think it impacts her image if you think it does? I want to discuss this because sexual and Ayu do not seem to mix at all from my perspective--it's a big incongruity to me. Anyone ever felt the same way when you come upon a slightly risque pic once in a blue moon?

Case Study: BLUE BIRD poster
My girlfriend was a little weirded out by my BLUE BIRD poster; she said that Ayu doesn't have very many clothes on in the pic. When I said that it's Guam and that most people have far fewer clothes on, she got to the point, saying that there's no ambiguity in the message Ayu's conveying with THAT pose...Well I told her what Ayu means to me and that when I look at the poster, I don't see what she sees.

Let me ask everyone, when you look at the BB poster, what do you see? A sex symbol ala Marilyn Monroe? A pornstar? Promiscuity? Is the pose designed to arouse the viewer as if it were saying, "come hither"? Or do you see a pose that hearkens back to classical art with all those chicks lying around "reclining"? When my eyes meet hers, I still feel something of that attitude that is undeniably Ayu. That one aspect of her pose, subtle at first, marks the difference between a vulnerable sexual pose and this powerful woman's majesty...

Copied from http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showpo...1&postcount=78
A lot of people around here have said that they think Ayu is super pretty etc etc etc but that she doesn't drive them into a horny rage. People really do love and care about Ayu as a person and THAT is beautiful thing. Thus, Ayu not only reaches out to people, but she also unites them as we are united here on AHS. She's somewhat of a saint, isn't she? She's human; that's starkly clear. But part of what comprises Ayu has an angelic quality.

Please discuss other examples of sexual poses (at least on the superficial level) too if you're so inclined; I'd love to analyze others.

Here's one I found recently on zyrex.org (page 13 of Ayumi Hamasaki photos):

This one kinda disturbs me...lol. I haven't seen another one quite like this.
(Btw what's up with her ear.)

[Mad_Cactuar]

Originally Posted by HiruNoKaze

Let me ask everyone, when you look at the BB poster, what do you see? A sex symbol ala Marilyn Monroe?A pornstar? Promiscuity?

ROFL. I love the way you think.

No, in the BLUE BIRD poster, I see beauty. It's like she went all out to combine as much beauty and elegance as possible into a shot. The colours are stunning, the pose complements the surroundings, the flowers add serenity. Yes, she does look more majestic, doesn't she?

It's just a very beautiful picture, I wouldn't call it a sexy shot. Of course it's sexy, but the beauty and feminity overpowers the sexiness. Although her eyes, when looking straight into the camera lens, does have the kind of expression indicating sex but only very subtly. Thankfully the ones where she looks elsewhere are more mysterious and more beautiful.

Other sexual poses? I would say Startin' but the expression on her face, the big smile, suggests something different. It's more like fun and joy and happiness. This is the CD+DVD version I'm saying. The CD only version has a strange expression that I can't decipher. Is that her expression when she uses her sex appeal? I imagine that could be her "come hither" expression. Like in the STEP YOU cover shots.

Unfortunately, I don't think Ayu has taken a picture where you can instantly say "oh, she's using sex appeal". She just can't pull it off. It's something she can to learn of course, but I don't think she needs it. Other sexy pitures of her would be the "Rainbow" cover. Even that isn't a picture showcasing her sexiness. But the back cover does of course.

Not like I would ever think of sex with Ayu.

[HiruNoKaze]

Originally Posted by Mad_Cactuar

Although her eyes, when looking straight into the camera lens, does have the kind of expression indicating sex but only very subtly.

Ah yes, thank you, I was trying to say this but I couldn't put my finger on it. It's strange for me how that big contributor to the sex look (the expression and where the eyes are looking) is also the one thing that hearkens back to that Ayu-attitude which I love so much.

lol, yes, would never imagine sex with Ayu. But I find sometimes when I feel lonely, I imagine that she would give a warm hug or that just talking to her would be very warm .

[HilaryDuffFanboy]

even if she is a sex symbol, she is one with class.

[Dustie]

Originally Posted by HiruNoKaze

(Btw what's up with her ear.)

That's the way her ear looks. The lower parts of her ears are longer than people usually have. Plus, the angle and lighting made it look all flat with just the tiny hole visible.

[Pisweet]

I don't think that some of her poses are suggestive, she's just beautiful, with a hint of sexiness.
But yeah, I have to admit that her eyes are sometimes disturbing =)

[Bazaa]

If Ayu looks like a pornstar, I can't imagine what lots of other artists out there might be nowadays.

[truehappiness]

I think the most 'sexual' Ayu has ever been was in that one GQ Asia photoshoot with the half naked dominatrix guys? D:

[alternarist]

ayu is nowhere near a sex symbol. i saw elegance and beauty in the BB poster. comparing ayu with koda, ayu is nothing.

[immel]

Ayu never drove me into thinking about sex. Ever.

I guess that's enough to render her as not a sex symbol, in my world.

[Hana<3]

When my dad saw BLUE BIRD cover he said she looked like a pornstar aswell though I dun see whats wrong with it I like her clothes there

[explodingbird]

I... don't see much sexual about the poses she takes. I think the "sexiest" she ever was was for Duty, with the leopard suit (otherwise, my name's WOMEN PV).

But as rarely as she does it, she does it in a very classy, fun/subtle way. I like that.

Now if the BLUE BIRD covers were for Ku, then... that'd be a whole other subject (I do like Ku. Just sayin', sexy is her thing).

[immel]

Originally Posted by explodingbird

Now if the BLUE BIRD covers were for Ku, then... that'd be a whole other subject (I do like Ku. Just sayin', sexy is her thing).

That's a really interesting thought. I do think the same.

[AyUmIXx]

well..i never saw any of ayu's pics that show "sexually content" on them..
all are about elegant and mature..
that's all~
but she's sexy anyway..but not in the form of "sex symbol"

[HiruNoKaze]

Originally Posted by Hana<3

When my dad saw BLUE BIRD cover he said she looked like a pornstar aswell though I dun see whats wrong with it I like her clothes there

This is the kinda thing that irks me sometimes. How do you think she looks from an outsider's (nonfan) point of view? It's annoying cause we've seen so much of her that we would never see her like that but others, if you show them the right pic, wil dismiss her as a pornstar or whatever. It makes me wonder whether many of us are biased when we say, for example, that the BB poster is not sexual. How would you react if you'd seen the BB poster before you became a fan and before you knew more about Ayu?

[immel]

The fact that you can see pretty much of her ass on some of the covers (I don't think it was apparent on the poster), does make her look a bit... something.

I find the BB shots classy. Biased I may be, I worry not about other peoples views.

[alt.total-loser]

BLUE BIRD's elegant in my eyes, but other people think she looks... well... .__.'

And she is kinda a sex symbol to a lot of people. They may not be on here, but they're out there.

[*Petit*]

I agree, she's had sexy undertones ever since LOVEppears, duty was VERY sexy and also combined with the title.

BLUE BIRD poster; my parents as well thought it was a bit... "male calendar"like, and I can see why. The way she looks at the viewer and how the pose is. But, what keeps it a bit cleaner is the fact that she has a black very visible bra on her.

[immel]

What about her pre-ayumi hamasaki era? She has some... sexy undertones... back then, too, heh.

I agree on that the BB poster is male-calendar-ish, but at least they didn't pick the picture where her buttocks are apparent.

[Chibi_Venus]

The reason why mostly fans do not see her as a sex symbol is because it's as if we personally know Ayu, that her lyrics do not suggest it, that it's not her typical image.

I do though find it annoying if one of my friends classify Ayu as a "Japanese porn star." I would start (calmly) arguing with them about how she's not a porn star and that her poses are just classy, that some outfits are used just for publicity. But... they would just look at me and respond, "Okay, you're weird."