Q: When did the word "provocative" begin to mean "gut-wrenching offensive in your face obnoxious self-glorifying smut"?

A: Right around the time that American Apparel billboard went up above the Echo Park store on Sunset & Alvarado.


For months people are talking about how from the right angle it actually looks like a nearby telephone pole is violating the faceless lady. Yes, it's yet another in Dov Charney's campaign to promote naked hipsters as provocative selling tools. Some people in New York had enough. Someone defaced the same billboard at the Houston Street store to read "Gee, I wonder why women get raped?" Good thing Jezebel shot a picture before American Apparel replaced it with another less provocative ad.


Read American Apparel's retort from a couple months back here. I especially like how they eat up the outrage with a big spoon and call it compliments. That's like calling a Tecate and a cigarette dinner. They belittle the outpsoken complaints from New York by explaining that LA is bored with their ads due to this post from Curbed LA. Exploring the American Apparel Daily Update today I gather sarcasm is not really a part of their "thing".

This is your call Los Angeles. Get up on that billboard and have some fun.

Labels: local, newsworthy, shopping