Over the last few days, there's been something of a furore over the two main birds off Glee posing for GQ with the dude who can't dance off Glee in what could be deemed a salacious shoot. How innovative, big whoop, wanna fight about it? Well, it would seem the increasingly vocal Parents Television Council did indeed want to squabble about it - going so far as to say it was "bordering on paedophilia".
The statement issued by PTC president Tim Winter read: "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. Sadly, this is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment. Many children who flocked to High School Musical have grown into Glee fans. They are now being treated to seductive, in-your-face poses of the underwear-clad female characters posing in front of school lockers, one of them opting for a full-frontal crotch shot. 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."
OK, even I think that's a bit over the top. The average age of the cast is 24, making them well over the age of consent. The average age of the viewer is probably early to mid-teen *ahems* to mid-thirties - hardly a Hannah Montana audience... None of the cast, now I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong, were globally recognisable child stars. That aside, sure, the characters sing and dance, but they're also dealing with sexual orientation, teen-pregnancy, and what not. Essentially, it's not a kids' show.
Anyway, Dianna Aragon felt the need to issue a (barbed) apology: "In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, Gossip Girl (she obviously "forgot" Taylor Momsen's name) other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans... we are not the first. Now, in perpetuating the type of images that evoke these kind of emotions, I am sorry. If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention. And if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there? I was a very sheltered child, and was not aware of anything provocative or risque in the media while I was navigating through my formative years. When I was finally allowed to watch a movie like Grease, I did not even understand what on earth Rizzo was talking about!? I understand that in today’s world of advanced technology, the internet, our kids can be subject to very adult material at the click of a button. But there are parental locks, and ways to get around this."
Very well said. I do find it amusing that it was the more demure Aragon who came across with an "apology". Lea Michelle is probably still too consumed with swishing her hair and straddling her bedpost to realise what's going on outside the confines of her mirrored bedroom.
