Look, “Glee,” I’m excited about the “Rocky Horror” episode next week as anyone. I am ready to Time Warp all up in this business. But I was not prepared for a horror of another kind. What is happening in this GQ photoshoot? I understand that all parties involved are, in fact, above the legal age of consent and therefore this photo isn’t technically underage. But, doesn’t it look underage? And isn’t that the nod and wink they’re trying to convey by it being set in a high school. Of course, it’s no surprise the shot was done by perennially plaid-shirted and bespectacled photographer/creepy uncle you don’t want to sit next to at family dinners Terry Richardson. He gives almost all his shoots an uncomfortable, bad 70s porn feel. But what is supposed to be hot here is just, well, creepy.
So creepy that it is making me feel weird/wrong/worried about getting arrested just by looking at these pictures. In fact, I feel my only recourse other than finding some sort of industrial memory erasing soap with which to scrub out my brain is to rate the pictures on an “EWWW”-Factor scale from 1 to 10, 10 being something involving sex dice, riding crops and your grandparents.
The first person to Photoshop Cory out of this picture and replace him with Heather Morris or Naya Rivera gets a cookie. Watch where you put those hands, young man. Well, at least Lea is touching Dianna. But my Faberry fantasies are a strictly two-person only affair. In other words: Go away forever, Finn!Ewww-Factor: 8
Really, a sucker? Really? How original. Why didn’t they just give her a banana to suck on? Though, I wish the photo was a little higher resolution so I could tell what that tattoo was of.
Ewww-Factor: 6
Speaking of tattoos, I really wish this picture was bigger so I could see what was written on Dianna’s side. And, yes, I kind of wish there was a stiffer breeze in that auditorium.Ewww-Factor: 4 (Two of those points are all me, by the way.)
OHMYGODMYEYESWHATNOSTOPSERIOUSLYATLEASTCLOSEYOURMOUTHORLEGSORBOTHWHATNOSTOP!Ewww-Factor: 300
What is seen cannot be unseen. I’ll be needing that cookie now. And a Silkwood shower.
44 comments:
What kind of cookie?
"What has been seen, can not be unseen." I like that.
I'm not surprised at the photo shoot. Richardson always has a high Ick factor in his work and this is just another example. What bothers me, as you mention, is the sex play on the underage characters. I'm not a Glee viewer, but I know it's about high school kids and I have no idea how old the actresses really are. To me these are 16-17 year old high school juniors being stripped down.
You can't blame the photographer or the magazine, however, the GLEE writers have been sexualizing the cast more and more with each episode. Pregnancy, hooking up, lesbians... this kids are not squeaky clean, so if the Ick factor is high, let's complain to the show writers, not just GQ
I too need a Silkwood shower (love that reference) ugh it's like we've gone back to the 70's.......great decade but not for the representation of women tho
Gives us photographers a bad name
who's the photographer?
oh.
but then again.
really?
girls. c'mon.
ugh.
Holy CRAP! If I had a HS kid, I'd completely freak OUT. That having been said, this is just more play on the barely legal franchise, and it's creeping me out. The same way having Shu do the Brit number a couple of weeks ago creeped me out.
There is sooooo much room for improvement here. The first photo would be much better without the guy in it. They could move the whole series to a college or graduate level and have older characters. Older actors would help with all the photos. Then they could improve it by having it on a different network - one that doesn't employ homophobes.
Gotta agree. Ewwwww.
In the first season of the show, I loved how the camera *didn't* linger on the "teenage" cheerleaders when they danced. I kept expecting the MTV treatment and being thrilled not to get it.
I don't think pregnancy, hooking up, and lesbians are inherently "dirty" (as opposed to "clean"). Consensual, empowered, happy sex between appropriate partners is healthy.
This set of photos is just filled with gross.
Lea's tattoo there is a bird.
Ah.
Here's a closer scan for you.
http://i55.tinypic.com/2ppfrqh.jpg
Lea and Diana are both 24. Cory is 28. There are a number of valid criticisms that can be made against this photoshoot (sexist double standard etc), but their age isn't it.
Oh my god, you are HILARIOUS!!!! silkwood shower!!!! I love your humor...I'm baking you a cookie right now:)
No, don't be excited for the Rocky Horror episode, haven't you heard how they've "straightened" it up, with Mercedes playing Tim Curry's role and their version of the Time Warp sounds like Hannah Montana sung it. I think I'm officially done with Glee, despite my love for Brittana because of the way they are ruining Rocky Horror for me.
Classy.
Lea Michelle is just weird. She has such a big head. Not proportional at all.
It was so cool when band geeks and musical show nerds loved this show.It was our own secret love...Sigh.
I'm surprised there isn't a line of clothing products.Or is there?
About to take my Silkwood shower.
I was going to say, "I'll join you in that shower," but then realized how incredibly dirty it sounded. I blame the porn pictures. *shudder*
Quick and dirty (just using an online editor)
http://i54.tinypic.com/2mm68tj.jpg
Much better, yes? Do I get a cookie now?
Dianna Agron's tattoo says "Mary had a little lamb". Kind of cute right?
Diana Agrons tattoo is the 'Mary had a little lamb' nursery rhyme.
When I saw that picture I did my googling.
http://i42.tinypic.com/zst5j.jpg
image found on IMDB via google
But the actors are of age. And people know that. It feels pretty harmless to me. It's not as if you don't put up pictures of hot women every other day of the year. Oh so witty comments about how you appreciate their intelligence, political savvy, etc. make it ok?
I like all pics you put up Dorothy. Why so much shame now?
ds, i'll right back,
thanks!
geez. those photos are subtle like a two by four upside the head.
Acid Burn:
Post that picture as an icon somewhere and I guarantee it'll go viral. TOO HOT!!!
http://i54.tinypic.com/346lqpf.jpg
Enough said
Lea is beautiful.
Dianna is beautiful.
Cory, tbh I'm glad he was in the photo to stop it from turning into GQ and the photographers queer fantasy.
The eww factor is way up high.
geez, no over 60 voice grandpa anymore,
in gay pop culture place.
It does make me feel a little uncomfortable, and I've only graduated from high school for a few years. But I have to admit, the reception would've been different if these were shot by anyone other than the embodiment of sexual grotesque that is Terry Richardson. Probabyl as the photos would be less pervert-y, and yes, there's a difference between sensuality and perverty, people!
Being only a couple years out of highschool, and in fact younger than all of the participants in this photoshoot, I have to say... I keep looking for an ick factor and not really finding it.
The joke could, yes, be said to be in poor taste but honestly I think the whole thing is just very tongue-in-cheek. Compare it to Mr. Schu performing the "Toxic" number with the cast: now that was uncomfortable. Older man, high school kids, sexy song and dance? Not cool.
This... this is not that.
Dorothy asked for it, how could I resist. The GQ cover we'd all rather see.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigshamu/5099002427/
Bon Appetit
Anonymous said: "...But the actors are of age..."
Well, it still is (maybe inadvertently, maybe not) portraying high school students as teasing sex kittens. You can transfer this to a more explicit setting, like porn, for example. An adult movie featuring underage characters, even if played by 28-year-olds, would still be playing to that fantasy of having sex with someone who is essentially a kid. The actual age of the actors don't quite matter when compared to what they're trying to convey.
"The actual age of the actors don't quite matter when compared to what they're trying to convey."
I take that part back. Of course, it's highly important that they're not 15-year-olds, but I think the photos still mirror fantasy porn about underage girls. It's understandable that people are not comfortable with these photos.
I could not agree with you more. TMZ posted this today
http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/20/glee-photoshoot-gq-dianna-agron-cory-monteith-lea-michele-pedophilia-parents-television-council/
I hope you gave Shamu a nice big cookie. A significant improvement.
Being one of the few who doesn't watch Glee I thought this shoot was pretty HOT! Though I can see where the eeeww factor comes in for people who watch these actors playing High Schoolers on TV. K
I don't understand what the problem is. These are grown women. They are NOT underage. I don't see why this photo shoot is worse than any other posted on this blog.
Sure, Lea Michelle is looking kinda porny and I'm not very into that, but I don't think it's wrong because she plays a teen on tv.
Is it just me or doesn't Lea Michelle look kinda hot in htse pictures?
I'm willing to bet there is an age difference in those who find this rather inappropriate and those that don't. Its probably obvious which is which. I find it wildly inappropriate. It matters not that the actors are of age. It matters that their characters on the show are not. That is who they are representing here. And this is for a men's fashion magazine, i.e. men's titillation. I like to look at pictures of beautiful women as much as the next lesbian. But this is soft core porn, and it makes me feel like a pedophile.
I work in the entertainment business, and I can tell you, that it is highly unlikely that the producers of Glee were not involved. Meaning, they probably had to approve these photos for publication, if they were going to mention the show title. In other words, the producers of Glee were aware of the salacious nature of these photographs. Not to mention the actors I'm sure weren't forced to do the shoot.
Frankly it just makes me disappointed in all involved. This show is supposed to be fun and about high school kids and singing, and some difficult issues that teenagers face. Objectifying the 2 female lead characters is unnecessary and makes me not want to watch the show. Thumbs down! and big fat EWWWWWWW!
It's already all been said so I'm not going to talk about how the photoshoot is sexist or degrading. These people are adults. I will say though that although I've never been a fan of hers, I find to be completely obnoxious, I do think she has a great voice. However, I have now lost what little respect I had for her after seeing the GQ shoot. She looks utterly trashy. Dianna looks so uncomfortable that she should have had the guts to either say no to the shoot or use those so-called acting skills she has to fake it. At least she looks a teeny tiny bit more classy than Lea.
Ugh. That crotch shot of Lea just validates my opinion that she is tries WAY too hard. We get it, Lea. You're nothing like Rachel Berry. You're a sexpot, yesokayfine. MESSAGE RECEIVED. Now put on some pants.
Sorry, take out that misplaced "is" up there. It's past my bedtime!
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