Marge Simpson in Playboy at Schema : more than ethnic

Marge Simpson in Playboy

Disclaimer: The images below may appear graphic depending on your sensitivity to sexualizing cartoons. Also, this doesn't really have anything to do with ethnicity or being ethnic cool, but I just really wanted to share!

The Simpsons have chosen a very unique way of celebrating their 20th anniversary. Featured on the cover of Playboy's November 2009 issue is none other than Mrs. Marge Simpson.

Marge Simpson posing for Playboy. Wow. The notion is perplexing and I can't figure out if this is a good thing or a bad thing. However, some devout Christians are having a field day over the matter, saying that Marge was supposed to be the "cartoon matriarch of The Simpsons**" and thus, there are some people who are mortally shocked at the character's unabashed nudity.

Here is what American Family Association has to say:

"Pornography promotes a hedonistic lifestyle that is often highly addictive, harmful to marriages and influences anti-social and sometimes criminal behavior," AFA (American Family Association) says. "In the eyes of most women, pornography is degrading and highly offensive."**

**Excerpted from Belief Net News

The debate on pornography is a touchy subject and I do not intend to explore this idea whatsoever—at least not in this blog. However, it's interesting to hear other people's opinions. Perhaps you should take a look at the photos and judge for yourself...

Ok, in my opinion, this photo isn't so bad. I think there's an episode where Marge gets carried away with modelling and decides to get breast implants. The above photo reminds me of a scene where she accidentally exposes herself while on the cat walk.

To be honest though, I'm a little confused right now. If the above image was extracted from or inspired by an episode that had actually aired on national television, completely uncensored in its intention, why the uproar now? Moreover, it appears to me that Marge has deviated slightly from her matriarchal image since most networks have allowed increasing leniency on censorship.

This photo is actually kind of creepy. Her eyes are dilated, perhaps suggesting that the notion of displaying "erotic" portrayals of Marge Simpson is, in itself, a little wacky.

The sad thing is, despite every intuition I have against buying this Playboy issue (e.g. Playboy's deliberate targeting of a wider readership and the "just-plain-wrong" vibe that keeps nagging), I am excruciatingly tempted to just go out and grab one off the shelf. Out of dying curiosity, of course.

Sources:
Ghoststyle's Blog Thanks, Dougie!
Puggal Article
Belief Net News