O how the mighty have fallen:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/business/media/nudes-are-old-news-at-playboy.html?_r=2 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/business/media/nudes-are-old-news-at-playboy.html?_r=2)
QuoteLast month, Cory Jones, a top editor at Playboy, went to see its founder Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion.
In a wood-paneled dining room, with Picasso and de Kooning prints on the walls, Mr. Jones nervously presented a radical suggestion: the magazine, a leader of the revolution that helped take sex in America from furtive to ubiquitous, should stop publishing images of naked women.
Mr. Hefner, now 89, but still listed as editor in chief, agreed. As part of a redesign that will be unveiled next March, the print edition of Playboy will still feature women in provocative poses. But they will no longer be fully nude.
Its executives admit that Playboy has been overtaken by the changes it pioneered. "That battle has been fought and won," said Scott Flanders, the company's chief executive. "You're now one click away from every sex act imaginable for free. And so it's just passé at this juncture."
For a generation of American men, reading Playboy was a cultural rite, an illicit thrill consumed by flashlight. Now every teenage boy has an Internet-connected phone instead. Pornographic magazines, even those as storied as Playboy, have lost their shock value, their commercial value and their cultural relevance.
Playboy's circulation has dropped from 5.6 million in 1975 to about 800,000 now, according to the Alliance for Audited Media. Many of the magazines that followed it have disappeared. Though detailed figures are not kept for adult magazines, many of those that remain exist in severely diminished form, available mostly in specialist stores. Penthouse, perhaps the most famous Playboy competitor, responded to the threat from digital pornography by turning even more explicit. It never recovered.
(...)
The latest redesign, 62 years later, is more pragmatic. The magazine had already made some content safe for work, Mr. Flanders said, in order to be allowed on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, vital sources of web traffic.
In August of last year, its website dispensed with nudity. As a result, Playboy executives said, the average age of its reader dropped from 47 to just over 30, and its web traffic jumped to about 16 million from about four million unique users per month.
The magazine will adopt a cleaner, more modern style, said Mr. Jones, who as chief content officer also oversees its website. There will still be a Playmate of the Month, but the pictures will be "PG-13" and less produced — more like the racier sections of Instagram. "A little more accessible, a little more intimate," he said. It is not yet decided whether there will still be a centerfold.
"Do you remember when MTV used to show music videos?" "Do you know remember when History Channel used to show history documentaries?" "Do you remember when Playboy used to show boobies?"
Then what's the point of Playboy? :huh: :wacko:
Quote from: Legbiter on October 13, 2015, 06:19:43 AM
Then what's the point of Playboy? :huh: :wacko:
The articles, I guess. :P
QuoteIn August of last year, its website dispensed with nudity. As a result, Playboy executives said, the average age of its reader dropped from 47 to just over 30, and its web traffic jumped to about 16 million from about four million unique users per month.
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It may not work, but it is the smart move at this point.
There is no market for naked chicks in a magazine anymore, nor will there ever be again.
Quote from: Legbiter on October 13, 2015, 06:19:43 AM
Then what's the point of Playboy? :huh: :wacko:
There hasn't been any point to Playboy since free internet porn became widely available.
Quote from: Legbiter on October 13, 2015, 06:19:43 AM
Then what's the point of Playboy? :huh: :wacko:
Pay the Playboy Mansion's property taxes?
Playboy has always been above teh whole porn thing. A restructure of the magazine in this sense sort of makes sense. Although reading Playboy for the articles is a long-running joke, fact is they can position themselves in that market focusing on their articles, and fashion spreads etc. They've always had good pieces from well-known writers, they can focus on that more now.
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 12:31:42 PM
Playboy has always been above teh whole porn thing. A restructure of the magazine in this sense sort of makes sense. Although reading Playboy for the articles is a long-running joke, fact is they can position themselves in that market focusing on their articles, and fashion spreads etc. They've always had good pieces from well-known writers, they can focus on that more now.
Yeah, without the nudie shot it's essentially literary magazine.
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 12:31:42 PM
Playboy has always been above teh whole porn thing. A restructure of the magazine in this sense sort of makes sense. Although reading Playboy for the articles is a long-running joke, fact is they can position themselves in that market focusing on their articles, and fashion spreads etc. They've always had good pieces from well-known writers, they can focus on that more now.
They have always tried to present themselves as a lifestyle magazine than a porn magazine. In any case not a whole lot of people buy dirty magazines anymore.
They basically want to be a classier FHM.
Quote from: The Larch on October 13, 2015, 01:45:22 PM
They basically want to be a classier FHM.
Such a high hurdle to clear!
My theory is that Playboy has become a dating service for men who really, really love fake boobs.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 13, 2015, 01:53:37 PM
My theory is that Playboy has become a dating service for men who really, really love fake boobs.
Pity this transformation did not occur back when Cal was still single.
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 02:04:58 PM
Pity this transformation did not occur back when Cal was still single.
When he was single he didn't have the money to buy a chick with Playboy certified fake boobs. He probably still doesn't.
So now it is cosmo for men?
Quote from: alfred russel on October 13, 2015, 02:49:13 PM
So now it is cosmo for men?
Seems like there are already cosmos for men.
Woah, that's quite a shocker. Where am I going to find nude pictures now? :unsure:
Quote from: DGuller on October 13, 2015, 05:17:43 PM
Woah, that's quite a shocker. Where am I going to find nude pictures now? :unsure:
I think the article tells you want to do, Tim.
I will miss the centrefold though, in that they presented a historic look at women's figures over the years.
For Xmas a few years ago I bought myself received a copy of Playboy The Complete Centrefolds, featuring all the centrefolds from the beginning to 2007, and you can see how women got thinner along the way, breasts got faker, and pubic hair disappeared. Quite the transformation.
2/3 ain't bad.
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 05:39:26 PM
I will miss the centrefold though, in that they presented a historic look at women's figures over the years.
For Xmas a few years ago I bought myself received a copy of Playboy The Complete Centrefolds, featuring all the centrefolds from the beginning to 2007, and you can see how women got thinner along the way, breasts got faker, and pubic hair disappeared. Quite the transformation.
Americans have gotten significantly fatter since 1953. I am not sure this is providing an accurate historical portrayal.
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 06:14:54 PM
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 05:39:26 PM
I will miss the centrefold though, in that they presented a historic look at women's figures over the years.
For Xmas a few years ago I bought myself received a copy of Playboy The Complete Centrefolds, featuring all the centrefolds from the beginning to 2007, and you can see how women got thinner along the way, breasts got faker, and pubic hair disappeared. Quite the transformation.
Americans have gotten significantly fatter since 1953. I am not sure this is providing an accurate historical portrayal.
I used the wrong terms. I mean the ideal woman got skinnier, had larger, though somewhat artificial looking, boobs and the pubis of a 10 year old.
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 06:51:54 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 06:14:54 PM
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 05:39:26 PM
I will miss the centrefold though, in that they presented a historic look at women's figures over the years.
For Xmas a few years ago I bought myself received a copy of Playboy The Complete Centrefolds, featuring all the centrefolds from the beginning to 2007, and you can see how women got thinner along the way, breasts got faker, and pubic hair disappeared. Quite the transformation.
Americans have gotten significantly fatter since 1953. I am not sure this is providing an accurate historical portrayal.
I used the wrong terms. I mean the ideal woman got skinnier, had larger, though somewhat artificial looking, boobs and the pubis of a 10 year old.
Heterosexuals be fucked up. News at 11.
Quote from: Josephus on October 13, 2015, 06:51:54 PM
I used the wrong terms. I mean the ideal woman got skinnier, had larger, though somewhat artificial looking, boobs and the pubis of a 10 year old.
I guess. In the same way shaving my face gives me the facial hair of a ten year old.
They say it's due to modern times, respect for women, etc... but it's clearly down to the Internet and how plentiful porn is there. Pictures of naked women just don't sell like they used to. At least this artile has the right spin on it uNike others I've seen.
Not that things are too much better for general magazines
Quote from: Tyr on October 14, 2015, 01:21:47 AM
They say it's due to modern times, respect for women, etc... but it's clearly down to the Internet and how plentiful porn is there. Pictures of naked women just don't sell like they used to. At least this artile has the right spin on it uNike others I've seen.
Not that things are too much better for general magazines
They said that? That kind of flies against everything they have stood for. Besides the fact that back when showing images of nude women was a major crime women were not exactly respected.
Who knows what 'they' he is nattering on about.
Quote from: Tyr on October 14, 2015, 01:21:47 AM
They say it's due to modern times, respect for women, etc... but it's clearly down to the Internet and how plentiful porn is there. Pictures of naked women just don't sell like they used to. At least this artile has the right spin on it uNike others I've seen.
Not that things are too much better for general magazines
I don't think it is that - I think the whole concept is simply a relic of another time.
Playboy has never been "about" hardcore porn, but rather "about" selling a certain type of lifestyle in which male sexual hedonism was potrayed as sophisticated. The problem is that, while this made sense in the 50s and 60s, increasingly is doesn't.
There was a time when critiquing the playboy aesthetic was considered cutting-edge social criticism: women as luxury objects, like a fancy car or stereo system. Now, no-one would bother.
Yeah, Malthus hits it right on the button. Other racy magazine that came later were more about sex. Playboy promoted a fantasy jet setter lifestyle. Men who were rich, well read, and had a lovely girl on his arm. Think James Bond. Magazines like Hustler were more "sleazy". It was closer to the guy standing under the bleachers looking up women's skirts. The girls in playboy were supposed to be more classy, they originally had a "girl next door", look and the vagina wasn't photographed (this changed later). Girls in Hustler were less pretty but had the "Would do anything for cash" look. That was just the image that was portrayed of course. Most of the girls in both magazines would have done anything for the right price.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 14, 2015, 11:08:05 AM
Most of the girls in both magazines would have done anything for the right price.
I don't know. Alot of people who clearly did not need the money posed for Playboy. And plenty of people actually do aspire to be pin-ups. I don't think we can presume to read the minds of people we do not know.
But then I guess you did say "most" so I guess you covered your bases :P
Quote from: Syt on October 13, 2015, 04:49:06 AM
"Do you remember when MTV used to show music videos?" "Do you know remember when History Channel used to show history documentaries?" "Do you remember when Playboy used to show boobies?"
qft
Quote from: Rasputin on October 14, 2015, 11:16:05 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 13, 2015, 04:49:06 AM
"Do you remember when MTV used to show music videos?" "Do you know remember when History Channel used to show history documentaries?" "Do you remember when Playboy used to show boobies?"
qft
I should copyright those before Pepperidge Farm uses them.
Wait they are going to PG-13 not PG. They can still show boobies.
Quote from: Rasputin on October 14, 2015, 11:16:05 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 13, 2015, 04:49:06 AM
"Do you remember when MTV used to show music videos?" "Do you know remember when History Channel used to show history documentaries?" "Do you remember when Playboy used to show boobies?"
qft
Found out about your lawfirm, Sol Invictus.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 14, 2015, 11:08:05 AM
Yeah, Malthus hits it right on the button. Other racy magazine that came later were more about sex. Playboy promoted a fantasy jet setter lifestyle. Men who were rich, well read, and had a lovely girl on his arm. Think James Bond. Magazines like Hustler were more "sleazy". It was closer to the guy standing under the bleachers looking up women's skirts. The girls in playboy were supposed to be more classy, they originally had a "girl next door", look and the vagina wasn't photographed (this changed later). Girls in Hustler were less pretty but had the "Would do anything for cash" look. That was just the image that was portrayed of course. Most of the girls in both magazines would have done anything for the right price.
Yeah, but it wasn't really Hustler that gave Playboy problems, it was Penthouse. If Playmates were kind of slutty girls next door, then Hustler centerfolds were cheap trailer trash whores, but Penthouse Pets were very high class call girls. That sort of let Penthouse sell the raunch of Hustler but the sophisticated lifestyle elements of Playboy.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 13, 2015, 02:08:21 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2015, 02:04:58 PM
Pity this transformation did not occur back when Cal was still single.
When he was single he didn't have the money to buy a chick with Playboy certified fake boobs. He probably still doesn't.
:sleep:
I don't love fake boobs. I love big boobs. I'll take the fake ones if I have to though, I guess.
Quote from: dps on October 14, 2015, 07:30:02 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on October 14, 2015, 11:08:05 AM
Yeah, Malthus hits it right on the button. Other racy magazine that came later were more about sex. Playboy promoted a fantasy jet setter lifestyle. Men who were rich, well read, and had a lovely girl on his arm. Think James Bond. Magazines like Hustler were more "sleazy". It was closer to the guy standing under the bleachers looking up women's skirts. The girls in playboy were supposed to be more classy, they originally had a "girl next door", look and the vagina wasn't photographed (this changed later). Girls in Hustler were less pretty but had the "Would do anything for cash" look. That was just the image that was portrayed of course. Most of the girls in both magazines would have done anything for the right price.
Yeah, but it wasn't really Hustler that gave Playboy problems, it was Penthouse. If Playmates were kind of slutty girls next door, then Hustler centerfolds were cheap trailer trash whores, but Penthouse Pets were very high class call girls. That sort of let Penthouse sell the raunch of Hustler but the sophisticated lifestyle elements of Playboy.
Honestly I never really saw an issue of Penthouse. I know Hustler went full porn and produced videos and websites, so I guess they found a business model that worked for them.