Cosmo, Sports Ill.,& Playboy Essay, Research Paper

Word of mouth often spreads exaggerations and misconceptions. As a responsible consumer society, it is important for us to weed out fact from fantasy and make educated decisions about the products and media (in this case magazines) that we expose ourselves to. I, myself, found that the preconceptions I held about Playboy were largely inaccurate, and upon closer speculation of magazines I’ve seen before, Cosmo and the Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated I have realized certain errors in my way of thinking.

Though not exactly a “family magazine”, Playboy is not the hard-core pornography magazine that it is unfairly recognized as by ignorant millions. Pictures of nude models do not fill every page, and when they do appear, they are not positioned or accesorized in any kind of sultry or overly seductive manner. Usually upright, with a pleasant and sometimes coy smile, their countenances and gestures resemble women who are confident and clothed. This is more than can be said about the models of Cosmo who parade as article illustrations “somewhat” clothed, yet with ravenous, come-hither looks that are by far more seductive and erotic than the those in Playboy.

Playboy also, surprisingly, differs in the content of its articles and jokes. Lengthy and abundant, these passages contain quite interesting, and even practical, information on topics that vary from the psychology of sex to entertainment news. The jokes, which usually refer to some aspect of sexuality are mild enough to be tasteful. Compare this to the articles in Cosmo: most are how-to guides on proper make-up application, appropriate fashion for the particular season, and the ever-popular art of man-hunting/keeping/”breaking-up-ing”. In short there is hardly anything substantial or informative past a superficial layer or appearance and consumption that the magazine helps nurture in its readers.

And what about the Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition? More a pictorial than a sports magazine, it is almost a wonder why it’s shelved with current news on golf and basketball. Beautiful models monopolize the pages, and the sparse articles are difficult to find. They have nothing to do with the illustrations that they are matched with, and from them alone it becomes evident that this magazine is not purchased for the words. Produced to sell based on sex appeal, it can be categorized as a mild form of pornography.

The advertisements are the connecting forces that tie all three magazines together, as they are, for the most part, similar in content and technique. Though the magazines don’t produce the ads (merely make deals with advertising companies) they serve to remind us that all three magazines are a part of the vast consumer world and thus cater to what we, the consumers want. Thus, these magazines are, in a way, reflections of our own thoughts and preferences and perhaps even give us an insight into psychological differences of the genders, as, Cosmo, with it’s “buy and beautify” message is clearly targeted at women, while Playboy and Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition, by their very titles, are geared primarily toward male readers.

As intelligent consumers, we must think before we purchase and before we criticize, however, as these magazines can help us to understand the negative images of women in our society and the sexual deprivation and depravity of our culture. Thus, instead of sources of blame, these magazines can be looked upon as instruments of change.