Background: The phallus is a common symbol in many cultures. It is sometimes considered to be a symbol of fertility, and is thus represented in numerous forms of art--ancient and contemporary. Freud addressed the phallus (which is generally understood as an erect penis) and developed a controversial theory of sexual development that includes penis envy and castration anxiety. In terms of advertising, it is interesting to think about the psychological and sexual foundations of the situations and symbols in ads.  The Ads: These ads utilize linguistic connotations (#s 1, 3, 4, 36, 60), more literal associations of the phallus as a sexual signifier (#s 7, 10, 22, 23, 24), while others portray the direct act of oral sex as it relates to the phallus (#s 7, 56). Phallic #38 is an interesting cover and it perhaps best represents how the phallus signifies in society. It is something that is immediately understood, and the impact of its presence is shock, awe, and perhaps fear.  Discussion Questions: (1) Why does the phallus play such a prominent role in contemporary advertising? Does its prominence relate to the cultural constructions of gender and sexual in society at large? (2) Why is the mouth also such a significant symbol in many of these ads? (3) What effect does the role of the phallus (both in advertising and culture) have on people, their sexuality and their relationships?