The Parents Television Council has been heard from and they have decided that the GQ pictorial featuring cast members from Glee is pedophilia. "It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on Glee in this way. It borders on pedophilia. By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show's direction. And it isn't good for families."
Umm, last I checked the women in the photos are each 24 and the guy is 28. Hmmm, not exactly pedophilia. I'm not sure where they were going with that statement other than the fact they wanted a way to bad mouth Glee or just because they wanted to use the word pedophilia. I don't understand what this pictorial has to do with the show anyway. The two are separate entities. Just because Lea, Dianna and Cory posed for the photos does not mean these photos will be reenacted on the show.
Well, the photo shoot was set in a high school. Don't get me wrong; I think they're prudes. I just enjoy playing devil's advocate.
ReplyDeleteUh, Ent...I have to call you on this one...they are right...first of all they didn't call it pedophilia, they said borderline pedophilia and that it serves pedophilia. I agree. These are pictures taken of what are supposed to be school kids in a school, scantily clad with hands where they shouldn't be. I can see their point. Glee is not a good family show, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think what they mean is that these three portray minors/children on the show and may be perceived to be minors in real life. Now you and I know they are over 18 because we read sites like this. However, there may be some out there that think they are actually HS age. That may be where they were trying to go, but I don't think they got there.
ReplyDeleteWell, I know I'll be the odd person out on this topic, but I'm done with Glee. I feel it has gone beyond the pale with its subject matter lately. I don't think of pedophilia when I see these pictures, because I understand adult schoolgirl fantasy stuff.
ReplyDeleteBut I have a kid in high school who doesn't disassociate entertainment value from an interpretation on how life should be, on what is acceptable, on what should be imitated.
She doesn't see 24 year olds; she sees high schoolers. She sees the kind of high school kids she wishes she was, tries to be. She wonders if she should be this sexually forward. She wonders if she should BE this sexually active. They're growing up in a world of sexting, sexy clothing, and parents who don't see the red flags. They don't think anything other than intercourse is sexual. They think that having babies before marriage is the norm, not the exception, because many of their celebrity idols have done that, and the magazines all celebrate it with them.
Do I want her to watch Glee? No. Does she have a ton of ways to see it even if I don't have it on at home? Of course. Do we talk about it? Yes. Do I think I'm reaching her? No -- I'm just her parent; her friends know WAY more about life than I do.
Ent -- do you think these GQ pictures, that are all over the internet, aren't showing up on Facebook pages, Glee fan sites, etc? Come on. They're related. They're totally related. And everybody involved with these choices know it.
You've been pretty hard on Billy Cyrus for letting his daughter be exploited. Ditto Dena Lohan. This is the sexualizing of teens, too - -there might not be teens in the pictures, but teens will see it, and teens don't think that these hotties are adults. They want to be like them. They'll imitate them.
I find it disturbing, too.
Some of the other pics from the shoot were much sexier. I was actually pretty shocked by them. I think its because they are suppose to look like high school kids, even though they aren't.
ReplyDelete@Patty: I agree with you, but not only do they portray minors in the show they also portray minors in those photoshoots. Not to mention that it was Terry Richardson who took those pictures. There's also a picture of Lea sitting on a bench in a locker room with spread legs. That picture is shot in an angle which leaves no doubt that the bench is supposed to look like a phallus she's sitting on.
ReplyDeleteAgain, it's a HS locker room with Lea re-enacting a high school girl.
American society can't have it both ways. You cannot be outraged about Miley Cyrus showing her bare back and then don't care at all if the image of high school girls is getting overtly sexualized by taking pictures of female models - no matter what age - in a HS-like setting in HS uniforms.
they have a problem with this photo shoot but haven't said a word about how 'scissoring' was said in this week's episode (which I didn't know was 'bad' until others commented on it)?
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids so I'm not sure if I would let them watch the show, but I LOVE it :-)
I agree with White Lorelei.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's highly inappropriate given they are dressed as high school kids.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought, even before I heard what the PTC said, was that the pics were bordering pedophilia.
I wouldn't call myself a prude but I'm a mom to a daughter.
I just wish that the print media would halt it's campaign to portray all female stars as cheap slutty whores and the males--no matter how effeminate as studs who can get those slutty girls with a snap of their fingers.
ReplyDeleteand why isn't the guy in his underwear, it is always the girls! always two girls making out or showing skin!! why don't we see pictures or scenes like this with the guys???
ReplyDeleteI don't find these pictures any more sexualized than the characters are on the show. Rachel is a tease. She recently let Finn feel her up. She uses sexuality to manipulate Finn. Santana and Brittany were recenty laying on a bed together kissing and talking about scissoring. Glee IS sexual. Period.
ReplyDeleteI actually agree with White Lorelei in that she - as a parent - is censoring what her child sees. That's her right and responsibility as a mother. I find that totally appropriate.
What I don't find appropriate is the censorship of EVERYTHING because parents don't want their children to see it. The rest of society shouldn't be censored when parents don't want to do their jobs.
ITA, white loreli.
ReplyDelete"I don't understand what this pictorial has to do with the show anyway. The two are separate entities."
ReplyDeleteThey are clearly using the themes from the show for this pictorial. So, they are one in the same here.
I totally go both ways on this one. One one hand, being an adult, I do understand the difference between reality and television. On the other hand, though, as White Lorelei and Mina said, the magazine cover and show ARE related and it is oversexualized. They aren't the same, but they are related. People don't look at this cover and say, "Oh, look, it's the ADULT actors who PORTRAY teenagers on that popular television show, Glee." They say, "Hey, it's Rachel, Quinn, and Finn from Glee!" It's all association because thats how they got famous... if it weren't for Glee would they be on the cover? Probably not like this.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that more could have been done to even up playing field here. Did Cory really need to be fully clothed while the girls are half naked? Did the girls really need to be half naked?
It's sad that someone, like Lea, who is shouting from the rooftops that she's happy with herself, her weight, her nose, would feel it necessary to show this happiness, conveniently for the magazine and photographer, in her underwear. I've seen pictures of her fully clothed where she looked more beautiful and sexy. This just screams desperation and begs for acceptance from that those people to whom she was saying "@#*% you" to in another article for not liking her nose. I think she's cute and she's very talented. Kudos to her for taking care of herself and making healthy lifestyles. Far be it for me to say what she can and can't do - women are allowed to flaunt their bodies if they want - it just saddens me that these two chose to do it in this manner when it will be difficult for people who do admire them, particularly the young people, to fully understand the difference between what is reality and what is just for fun. It took a long time for me figure out that I didn't need to live like Rayanne Graff from My So-Called Life to be cool.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell said white loreli, you found the words to describe how I feel about this topic.
ReplyDeleteThere is more to this argument than just a picture. This picture is the embodiment of everything that is wrong in our society and how we are failing our children.
I think magazines will do anything to sell now and if it rubs up against the line of "borderline pedophilla" then so be it. They don't care they just want to sell magazines.
ReplyDeletePersonally I'm a little creeped out by Willow Smith singing the line "Whip it real hard" while whipping her hair bent over in a semi doggy style position. Does she mean it to be sexual, no. Will a pedophile still get off on it, yes.
I think it has all been said. And I am so happy that I have boys. While I don't think boys get let off scott free, they don't have to deal with some of the bullshit girls do. I don't even want to go to the mall anymore because of the trash I see girls walking around in. Just because it is everywhere doesn't mean it's right.
ReplyDeleteI watched Glee one time and it was a Crapfest for 12 year old kids. Having said that, Britney Spears did the same crap in high school wearing a School girl uniform, and she WAS underaged.
ReplyDeleteCome on people! BTW, GQ is not a TEEN MAGAZINE!
One other thing, I'm sick of women being portrayed as dogs to hump. I don't think we will ever have equality with men, not that I want it. I want to be a woman, not a man. I just don't want men to treat me like these whores.
ReplyDeleteChihuahuense, opposite genders have equal amount of crap to handle. It's just, well, different. I have two friends whom have children that are opposite genders.
ReplyDeleteoriginally, i had nothing to offer this thread, but i have to comment on this...equality has nothing to do with gender, race, religion, etc. equality is a human right. men and women are different, but both deserve equality.
ReplyDeleteThey mentioned scissoring on Glee? Holy crap. Trolling for attention much, Glee writers?
ReplyDeleteOK...I hate to aak....what is scissoring?
ReplyDeleteRight. Reframing the criticism so it doesn't sound reasonable. (Because the critique actually says it "borders on" pedophilia, not that it actually is pedophilia).
ReplyDeleteThe photographer was this guy
http://jezebel.com/5494634/meet-terry-richardson-the-worlds-most-fked-up-fashion-photographer
so what could possibly go wrong?
@ Ice Angel
ReplyDeleteScissoring:
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Scissoring
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ReplyDeletei think this is a load of bullshit. adult men read all kinds of salacious shit. this is certainly not as bad as most of it. i don't see what parents have to do with it----these are not children in the photos, and the do-gooders' kiddies aren't going to be reading GQ either.
ReplyDeletethere are many things out there to get lathered up about, but this photo layout isn't one of them IMO.
i'm sick to death of the sanctimonious, pious, puritanical bullshit going on in this country. this is just another example.
My opinion, for what it's worth: borderline pedophilia, especially that inside photo. As White Lorelei said, the photos don't really represent the actors, but the characters they play on Glee, who are teenagers.
ReplyDeleteI think that the only offensive thing is that it is on the cover. It's disturbing the types of things that are on the covers of magazines in stores where everyone can see it.It would have been fine if it was just on the inside but now kids will be able to see it.Pedophilia or not, it's not right that any child in a grocery store or a pharmacy can see something like that.
ReplyDeleteEww, I'm glad the guy is not in his undies.
ReplyDeleteI admit I have never watched Glee, it must conflict with one of my important reality TV trainwrecks.
ReplyDeleteThat being said... I don't like the pictures.
I completely agree with lorelei. And I am sick and tired of women being portrayed in this way in photos; sure, they're of age, but they're made up to look like little girls. In their underwear, looking up at the camera, a finger in the mouth. Innocent, yet asking for it. GQ is not the only magazine out there with these kinds of pictures, they're everywhere. And it's gross.
ReplyDelete*pops in and applauds white lorelei*
ReplyDeletelove the parent perspective. that was awesome.
I agree with white lorelei. It's also unsettling that Terry Richardson, perv and misogynist, was the photographer on this shoot. I get a really creepy feeling about these photos. And, I'm liberal, single(no kids) and believe in freedom of speech. However, just because you CAN say/illustrate something, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
ReplyDeleteI was done with Glee after watching one episode.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Lady J for introducing
ReplyDeletehttp://encyclopediadramatica.com
And White Lorelei, your perspective really speaks to me. Thank you.
I used to like Glee but with the magazine covers, diva gossip and red carpet appearances adding up, we're now shifting into overload, especially on Leah M... I hate the over-exposure over-hyped phases of celebrity.
teens r sexualized. we're all hormones. we've always been all hormones. weren't u as a teen?
ReplyDeleteI had a lot to say on this topic, but white lorelea and others have said it all. Glad I choose to remain childless. I would hate to have to try and teach a daughter about how a lady should act and be treated or teach a son how a gentleman should act and treat a lady because there are very few examples in popular culture.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I totally disagree with a lot of you. While I think the pics are what they are and do depict women as one commentor so aptly said, as dogs to hump (love this!)
ReplyDeleteGlee is a great show. While there is sex going on instead of making it purely over the top ala Gossip Girl, or hell all the rest of the teen shows out there Glee does address issues such as teen pregnancy and the harsh reality of being ostrazied, it addresses all the time the hardships of being gay, and I happen to like the causual way in which the writers have the two female cheerleaders making out and having sex. We need to incorporate all sexual practices into teen dramas if they want to include sex include it all. SOme of you sound like, with all due respect, ppl who forgot just how sexual hs and young teenagers are. I think we should not forget that Glee is about underdogs constantly fighting for happiness in a school that tries to crush anyone who is not heterosexual, popular and gender conforming. I like that they think outside the box.
To banish your TEENAGE child from watching Glee is ridiculous to me. There are far worse shows and I garuntee she has heard seen worse things. Oh no someone mentioned Sissoring!Quick turn off the tv! Eye Roll, please, there are far worse heterosexual things depicted in even commericials.
that being said,Im worried more about Lea losing so much weight. This says more to young girls than a simple scimpy pictorial.
ReplyDeleteOh brother. Is that how it is? You disagree with ENT, and he deletes your comment? That's bullshit.
ReplyDeleteITA with LM Smoke & Mirrors.
ReplyDeleteIt's my job to parent; it's not my job to police what the media is putting out.
I've had plenty of discussions with my kids about inappropriate stuff they've heard and seen on TV. I had to do that with the Katy Perry "Teenage Dream" video recently. Teen Nick plays that as early as 8 AM, when my kids put "Full House" reruns on. I don't like the message or the video, and I explained WHY to them.
That's the tough part of parenting that many (not all) parents don't want to be bothered with. We,, if you want your kids to emulate your values, you HAVE to talk to them. There's no way around it.
First off there is no pedophilia here! Even if the actors and actress were the age they were playing there would be no pedophilia! You might be observing hebephilia or ephebohilia but not pedophilia!
ReplyDeletePedophilia has a strict definition sexual preference for prepubescent children. See DSM IV.
Organizations And People Who Do Not Understand That There Are Strong Distinctions Among The 3 Agephilias Mentioned Have No Intellectual Or Moral Right To Enter The Conversation.
Yes society has the right and interest to protect children and teenagers from sexual predators outside their age group. But, to deny that teenagers have been and always will be sexually active is stupidity.
The PTC and those who support it our ultimately a threat to our rights to free speech and especially sexual expression under that right.
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ReplyDeleteI think in general women (actresses and thus the kids who idolize them) have been sexualized at too young an age for a while now. Britney did something similar to this at 16 and look what's become of her. She's a woman/child.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again - the fact that Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian have teenage fans is disturbing. They are basically famous for making home porn yet somehow, the stigma of being a porn star doesn't apply to these idiots and they get mainstream money and appear in mainstream media as someone young girls should aspire to. I kind of agree with the people who say that these photos are crossing a boundary that blurs with the show because the photos are set in high school and they are dressed as high school kids - no high school girls I ever saw outside of Playboy's college hotties but what do I know. I hate Glee anyway.
I wonder how Glee is doing in the ratings? This seems completely desperate.
ReplyDeleteI asked my 19 y.o. daughter what she thought of the pictures: "Ewww, they're so old - I can't even watch Glee anymore, it's so boring". She has no plans to watch it in the future.
As for my 15 y.o. son - Glee is probably at the very top of the list of tv shows he would not be caught dead watching.
My take on these pictures is that most teens won't even notice them,there's just so much of this stuff out there that it doesn't even register.
I raised two daughters during the Britney era and neither one of them dress or act like Britney. Why? Because we discussed her, the choices she made, the way she acted and the clothes she wore.
ReplyDeleteSex has always been a difficult subject to discuss with your children, but that's your job. ITA with Jasmine. To stick your head in the sand and pretend teens are not sexual is ignorant at best and dangerous at worst.
Not pedophilia, obviously. Duh. But sexism, which is just as strong a complaint. Why the hell is Cory Monteith not as near-naked as the girls (who, yes, play underage characters)? This is rampant, disgusting sexism and whoever picked Terry Richardson, of all people, to shoot this, and then okayed the photos, should be fired on the spot.
ReplyDeleteThanks Netta! :)
ReplyDeleteThats all I meant to say (and I think a few others said as well)
Its is dangerous to both overly police the media/tv shows and to ignore the content out there.
Slightly off topic but this reminds me of how our VP was asked why he supported reproductive rights when he was a Catholic and he said although he doesnt believe in abortion himself he does not put his beliefs on others.
So to me its like if you dont want your kids to end up like these overly sexual ppl dont banish them from the house instead DISCUSS the options around the topic and let them make their own decision.
I mean isnt parenting ideally about raising kids to become strong decision making adults?
(I dont have children but I am in school for Sociology and this issue is often raised)
ReplyDeletetimebob, I thought the same thing when I saw that video.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's ok to see this sort of thing in music videos (including ones that include the actress who plays Hannah Montana), but to have photos related to a tv show? Horrors!
I LOVE Glee, but I can understand why some parents wouldn't want their teen watching the show or at least without having a discussion about it's topics.
ReplyDeleteThe magazine is trying to appeal to the "school girl" fetishes. "We show you what happens when the teachers aren't around." Yeah. Hot "underage" chicks show up in just their underwear.
Uhhh...have to go with the Council on this one...maybe I'm traditionalist but I don't remember running around high school dressed like them. I was brought up to respect myself first and the rest will take care of itself. Maybe I am being a prude but I'm pretty proud of who I am. The three in these photos may be adults but they are featured in a "Family" oriented show. It also takes place in a High School. Tell me these pictures aren't supposed to make you think this is what "really goes on" in their school...pretty lame in my opinion.
ReplyDelete