Much has been made over Playboy<\/i>\u2019s recent decision to cease publishing nude photographs in its magazine. I\u2019ve hardly seen any real commentary on this other than ha-ha statements noting the irony or gratuitous digs at \u201creading the articles.\u201d As a fan of Playboy<\/i> for several decades I really have nothing more to add other than\u2026 eh.<\/p>\n
The magazine which more than any other brought sex and pornography to the mainstream outlived its necessity about 40 years ago and its relevance about 20 years ago. Sad but true, Playboy<\/i> has basically become an imitator of all the magazines that grew as imitations of it<\/i>: Maxim<\/i>, FHM<\/i>, Details<\/i>, etc. Playboy<\/i> had been the only one showing nudity, but now the transformation is complete.<\/p>\n
At least we can\u2019t say that the reason Playboy<\/i> is covering up is the machinations of some tyrannically repressive government. Nope. It\u2019s the exact opposite. Pornography is so widespread, commonplace, easily accessible\u2026 and free!… these days that paying for it hardly seems necessary anymore. Who wants to pay for classy porn when so much filth is out there for nothing? The \u201clow-browification\u201d of our culture is an endemic problem that goes far beyond porn, but this example shows it pretty well. Need another example? Read an article or short story published in Playboy<\/i> in 1960 and then read one from today. Its photos, sadly, often get the same level of care.<\/p>\n
Playboy<\/i> moved from being a trendsetter to a trend-follower long ago, but this has been the sharpest example thus far. It\u2019s disappointing, but I guess both financially and socially understandable. And is anyone out there still relying on Playboy<\/i> as his only source of nude women? I think I\u2019m too old and too married really to care about these kinds of things anymore. My reaction basically is\u2026 eh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Much has been made over Playboy\u2019s recent decision to cease publishing nude photographs in its magazine. I\u2019ve hardly seen any real commentary on this other than ha-ha statements noting the irony or gratuitous digs at \u201creading the articles.\u201d As a … Continue reading