[img_inline height=350 src=http://www.bannedinhollywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/carmen-electra-playboy-cover.jpg]
I just watched a Daily Show skit. The subject matter of the bit was the recent announcement that Hugh Hefner might have to sell the Playboy mansion. I'll spare you the set up, but the punch line was along the lines of "Hugh Hefner's playboy empire will fall due a failure to differentiate between women and pieces of meat." (If you want to watch it, you can find the episode it's in on the Daily Show's web site. It's the November 30th episode.)
Now, I found this a little surprising, in that it portrays Playboy as objectifying and tasteless. Admittedly, the closest proximity I've had to a Playboy in the age of free porn would be Mafia 2, though I've heard people, casually and professionally, talking about it. However, I have seen some spreads, and they're a far cry from tasteless -- but maybe that's because I've been desensitized by the internet. Moreover, I recall from some TV show (a History special on James Bond I believe) that at it's inception, Playboy represented feminine independence and women's rights. It wasn't until the feminist movement of the late 60s and early 70s (I think that's when that movement happened; does that sound right?) that the public perception of Playboy soured.
Thing is, I thought we'd gotten over that as a culture (keep in mind I'm talking about America). The only thing about Playboy that nets it a charge of sexism and objectification is that it makes female sexuality a salable trait, and I just don't see how that's good enough. The feminist ideal of realizing the potential of a woman beyond a sex symbol is a noble one, but the rejection of women as sex symbols entirely, or ignoring the fact that women are sexy, is as inane and counterproductive as it comes. Sex is not and should not be the only thing which defines and gives value to a woman, but it should be one thing that does, out of many. For a woman to deny her sex appeal is self-defeating, and for a man to ignore his desire for those women is stifling. A trade based on sexuality is just as valid as one based on the ability to hit a ball well, and it's just as inherently degrading.
Don't get me wrong, some works of entertainment media are objectifying and unambiguously misogynistic, but I don't think Playboy is one of them. As far as I can tell, it's as tasteful as pornography can get without classifying any photo of a woman porn. To charge even Playboy with objectifying women is to deny the morality of satisfying one's desires with or making a living with pornography. That's just ridiculous to me.
Or is it just that Playboy's a little bluer than I've been lead to believe?
[HEADING=2]TLDR:[/HEADING]
Is Playboy misogynistic and does it objectify women? If so, is it possible for pornography in general to be tasteful and morally acceptable as entertainment?
EDIT: Man, the image I added won't show up.
I just watched a Daily Show skit. The subject matter of the bit was the recent announcement that Hugh Hefner might have to sell the Playboy mansion. I'll spare you the set up, but the punch line was along the lines of "Hugh Hefner's playboy empire will fall due a failure to differentiate between women and pieces of meat." (If you want to watch it, you can find the episode it's in on the Daily Show's web site. It's the November 30th episode.)
Now, I found this a little surprising, in that it portrays Playboy as objectifying and tasteless. Admittedly, the closest proximity I've had to a Playboy in the age of free porn would be Mafia 2, though I've heard people, casually and professionally, talking about it. However, I have seen some spreads, and they're a far cry from tasteless -- but maybe that's because I've been desensitized by the internet. Moreover, I recall from some TV show (a History special on James Bond I believe) that at it's inception, Playboy represented feminine independence and women's rights. It wasn't until the feminist movement of the late 60s and early 70s (I think that's when that movement happened; does that sound right?) that the public perception of Playboy soured.
Thing is, I thought we'd gotten over that as a culture (keep in mind I'm talking about America). The only thing about Playboy that nets it a charge of sexism and objectification is that it makes female sexuality a salable trait, and I just don't see how that's good enough. The feminist ideal of realizing the potential of a woman beyond a sex symbol is a noble one, but the rejection of women as sex symbols entirely, or ignoring the fact that women are sexy, is as inane and counterproductive as it comes. Sex is not and should not be the only thing which defines and gives value to a woman, but it should be one thing that does, out of many. For a woman to deny her sex appeal is self-defeating, and for a man to ignore his desire for those women is stifling. A trade based on sexuality is just as valid as one based on the ability to hit a ball well, and it's just as inherently degrading.
Don't get me wrong, some works of entertainment media are objectifying and unambiguously misogynistic, but I don't think Playboy is one of them. As far as I can tell, it's as tasteful as pornography can get without classifying any photo of a woman porn. To charge even Playboy with objectifying women is to deny the morality of satisfying one's desires with or making a living with pornography. That's just ridiculous to me.
Or is it just that Playboy's a little bluer than I've been lead to believe?
[HEADING=2]TLDR:[/HEADING]
Is Playboy misogynistic and does it objectify women? If so, is it possible for pornography in general to be tasteful and morally acceptable as entertainment?
The crux of the joke was really that Playboy's tastelessness is responsible for the current level of financial instability it's suffering, which implies that the modern market has rejected it on moral grounds. But that just seems blatantly false, since as far as I can tell, people still love porn. The lower price (to free), higher availability, and greater variety of internet pornography is to blame. That and the wishy-washy economy strangling everyone's expendable income. Admittedly, there are some faults to internet porn (less quality, malware risk) but the pros just far outweigh the cons here.
EDIT: Man, the image I added won't show up.
