February 4, 2016

The first clothed Playboy centerfold.

Not NSFW anymore.

Here's the NYT article about it:
The centerfold... Dree Hemingway, a great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway — cavorts in the buff. But this is the Garden of Eden after a bite of the apple, and our Eve, while amused, seems a bit embarrassed. In one shot, it’s as if someone has just stolen her clothing, leaving her to hide as much of herself as she can with both hands.

Ms. Hemingway and other featured women in the issue are unretouched.... Some images in the March issue are grainy, and all feel more impromptu than posed. The magazine has adopted the unadorned, point-and-shoot aesthetic made famous by American Apparel ads and fashion photographers like Terry Richardson.
It's like they're testing out the theory that my parents' generation propounded half a century ago: It's sexier to leave something to the imagination.

And by "my parents' generation," I don't mean my parents. My parents had Playboy out and proud on the coffee table in the living room in the 1950s and 60s.

41 comments:

themightypuck said...

It seems weirdly creepy.

Bob Boyd said...

"Propounded" might be an unfortunate word choice in the context of what is more exciting in a porn mag.

Oso Negro said...

What bullshit. More evidence of the decline of western civ.

pdug said...

It made you what you are today.

buwaya said...

I expect Laslo soonish.

chickelit said...

It seems fitting that Hugh Hefner renounces his former life of sin and debauchery to lead to a more chaste afterlife.

Chaste not chased

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

My parents had Playboy out and proud on the coffee table in the living room in the 1950s and 60s.

Your pride in this is charming. [Being sincere! No snark!] You mention this every time Playboy comes up.

Tank said...

"... a lengthy interview (with the MSNBC host Rachel Maddow)..."

Gaaaaa!

Michael K said...

When I was in high school (1950s), I worked summers in a warehouse across the street from the original Playboy building. I used to see the girls, some of whom were models for the centerfolds, catching the bus outside the office building. The first centerfold, Janet Pilgrim, was a secretary for Hefner.

The good old days.

Original Mike said...

"You mention this every time Playboy comes up."

Some people are new around here.

Laslo Spatula said...

Mr. Jones, Diversity Seminar Instructor, meets with the Editorial Staff of Playboy...

"I know, I know: you all don't want to be here. You're tired of being beaten up for working for a magazine that objectifies women, I get it, but I am not going to lecture you on the evils of objectifying women, so relax, relax...

Women CAN be sexy: we can say that. But you know what? Women of Color can be sexy, too...

Here's the thing: you have an easy time objectifying the White Women, but you don't seem to have much interest in objectifying the Black Woman...

Sure, you'll toss one in here and there, a token, as long as her skin is no darker than a latte. But would you ever objectify a Proud Black Woman with skin so Black it's Blue? Would you ever objectify a Proud Black Woman with a Big Proud Black Ass...?

I thought maybe it was the White Fear of the Big Black Pussy, but given that you're not doing Full Nudity anymore that shouldn't be a problem now, right...?

I see some people here are getting a bit uncomfortable. A bit of squirming in some of those chairs. That's OK, but don't you think it's time for Diversity on the Playboy pages? And I'm not talking about fat chicks, that's their own problem, they can set up their own damn seminar...

I know you white people: I'm sure there is a hidden audience out there of meek white men that want to see a powerful black woman that could crush them with their thighs. Don't be afraid of it: embrace it...

I am Laslo.

tim in vermont said...

For a guy with a dick reportedly the size of the .303 cartridge, that Papa guy sure bagged some beautiful women.

rehajm said...

It looks like they're trying to pivot to where lad mags like Esquire and GQ were before they turned into leftie screeds. There's a lot more famous women who can attract eyeballs willing to do knicker shots. Add a bit of quality fiction and interviews like the old days and they just might differentiate themselves...

Having recently purchased a subscription to Garden & Gun I was surprised to learn a few magazines were still a viable business.

rehajm said...

...reportedly the size of the .303 cartridge, that Papa guy sure bagged some beautiful women.

Two words also come to mind: Whisky. Dick.

mccullough said...

They should rename the magazine Pajamaboy

Michael K said...

"reportedly the size of the .303 cartridge, that Papa guy sure bagged some beautiful women."

I hear he has a tongue a foot long.

Just kidding.

rhhardin said...

They're after the gynocologist market.

Dr. Franzblau: No, it's hard enough to get women to go out with me.
Rachel: Right, yeah, I've heard that about cute doctors.
Dr. Franzblau: No, no, really. I... I suppose it's because I spend so much time, you know, where I do.
Rachel: Oh.
Dr. Franzblau: I try not to let my work affect my personal life, but it's hard, when you do... what I do. It's like uh... Well, for instance, what do you do?
Rachel: I'm a waitress.
Dr. Franzblau: Okay, all right. Well, aren't there times when you come home at the end of the day, and you're just, like, "If I see one more cup of coffee..."

Laslo Spatula said...

Mr. Jones, Diversity Seminar Instructor, meets with the Editorial Staff of Playboy...

"Now how many here have ever masturbated to a picture of a woman. Trust me, it's fine, I'll raise my hand first...

So pretty much everybody. Not a surprise. Now, keep your hands up if you've ever masturbated to a black woman...

Still a few hands, I see. Now if that black woman was Halle Berry take down your hands. Yep, that pretty much emptied you out...

So does this mean your dick is racist?

Nah, of course not. It just means you are. Don't grumble, I understand how that is...

Now how many here would consider masturbating to Serena Williams? No? Not even if a gun was at your head?

See? We have established a baseline: you'd be willing to try to masturbate to Serena Williams if there was a gun to your head.

Well, there IS a gun to your head: that gun is Diversity. And it's going to take you down if you don't wrestle it away, yourselves.

So here's a little homework I'd like you all to try...

Tomorrow, when you're in the shower, imagine Serena sucking on your cock. If you're an ass man bend her over and go there. Masturbate, white boys, she ain't gonna hurt you. I'm just asking you to ejaculate once to the fantasy of a Black Woman, Just Once...

And I know how you white people are: no sneaking in Halle Berry for a threesome...

I am Laslo.

robinintn said...

Terry Richardson is repulsive, no-talent and rumored to be a vicious sexual predator.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Partially covered can be sexier than fully uncovered, sure. I really can't stand, though, poses where the model is covering up their naughty bits in an awkward way--it communicates a very strange message ("I'm nude but I don't want you to see some parts, I'm choosing to pose for a picture wearing no clothes but I don't choose to have some unclothed portions of my body seen in that picture"). It's unsexy.

David said...

Of course they have her clothed. She looks like a 13 year old. Talk about leaving it to the imagination.

David said...

Dree is 28, so they had to work to make her look like a overripe child.

Boxty said...

Looks like Playboy is becoming the new Maxim magazine. It's great because I'll get to read it for free at the barber shop while waiting to get my hair cut like I do with Maxim.

mikee said...

The joke of my childhood, that people bought Playboy but "only to read the articles," may now approach truthfulness.

William said...

I'm saddened to think that during my peak porn consumption years I was stuck with a magazine that couldn't even show pubic hair. I wouldn't say things have come full circle. It's more like another twist of the screw. Clothed women and an interview with Rachel Maddow. The dying fall of the male libido.

Static Ping said...

If I remember correctly, the last Hemingway to appear in Playboy killed herself. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the new format. Bad optics.

Etienne said...
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Etienne said...
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fivewheels said...

So ... Dree is a name now?

n.n said...

The people need progressive morality in order to make sense of liberal excess and its refugee imports from Obama's anthropogenic crises.

The Godfather said...

In my misspent youth, I watched the barriers fall in Playboy: First, bare tits; then a glimpse of pubic hair; then the whole enchilada (if there was more than that, it was after my barber shop stopped its Playboy subscription). I'm surprised they didn't just reverse that evolution. But on the other hand, who cares? Just go to Google and type in XXX (or should I not know that? Or doesn't it work anymore? I'll be back).

gadfly said...

Dree Hemingway's mom appeared in Playboy as well.

Joe said...

I found several pictures on playboy.com. They're horribly cheesy and very badly photographed. Worse, they have zero sex appeal. If Playboy wants to become Maxim, they need to actually become Maxim.

Jupiter said...

"Woman wears clothes" is apparently the modern equivalent of "Man bites dog".

JoyD said...

you're old enough to remember Seventeen magazine. All the girls our age wanted to be like Colleen Corby or her sister Molly Corby, the wholesome Irish creamy-cheeked brunettes -- so different from the generic Beach Boys' California blondes. How funny that I remember such a thing, That little 14-year-old pajama party girl is still occupying a far corner of my mind. She just awakened from such a long nap.
But you grew up, what? emulating Hef's girlies? Such cool parents.

Zach said...

It figures they chose a Hemingway for the suicide issue.

I just don't see how Playboy as a brand works without nudity. Their whole deal is that they make porn respectable by mixing it in with sophisticated content. Hemingway is a pretty lady, but you can see pictures just as risque buying underwear at Target.

I was never a subscriber, so I could be wrong. But it seems to me that in the old formula, the sex and the highbrow content worked to sell each other.

If Sex + culture = sophistication, then
Culture + No Sex = what, exactly?

damikesc said...

No tits.

An interview with Maddow.

Yup, Playboy is on TOP of trends.

damikesc said...

That picture is lamer than what you'd see in Maxim. Oh well. Playboy can go ahead and die.

SJ said...

@Ann

It's like they're testing out the theory that my parents' generation propounded half a century ago: It's sexier to leave something to the imagination.

And by "my parents' generation," I don't mean my parents. My parents had Playboy out and proud on the coffee table in the living room in the 1950s and 60s.


Out of curiosity, how common was this in the social circles your parents were in?

How many of your friends had parents who gave them such easy access to Playboy?

I'm just trying to figure this out.

You obviously know enough to quote what many parents of that generation said about nude photoshoots in magazines.

But your parents didn't say that to you.

So when did you learn that It's sexier to leave something to the imagination was the attitude of many adults of that generation?

jr565 said...

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
angel is the centerfold.

Oh wait, nothing to be upset about.

averagejoe said...

They're just ahead of the curve. With the influx of Muslim refugees, nudity will soon be banished like cigarette ads, so as to not offend our Islamic guests and new neighbors.