I just don't think this is necessary, really. It makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. And if they were women, there would have been a HUGE reaction to this.

I just think this is objectifying them in the worst way, for no easily definable reason. What is the point in this, except to shock people into attention?

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(quoting from final paragraph of [www.ponystep.com] which is the Ponystep article just prior to the 'teen screengrabs')

"And the pioneering ground work of Calvin Klein through CK underwear? "The ten-cent theory is that Calvin Klein pioneered the objectification of men," Blanks summarises. "The one-cent version? He made it cool to look hot."

Ok, I read it. I looked at the pix on the site from the shoot, some of which disturbed me even more than the examples used in our Jezzie post. As a tribute to Calvin Klein I call this photoshoot an epic fail. Most of the time CK did a decent job pushing some boundaries and sparking dialog. The pony photoshoot crossed the line. Some of these guys have the expression that abused kids get - that sense that they know adult things long before they should. There is a pic of one of the boys on his knees, bent over, only his back and butt visible, with the word PONY written across his back. That isn't even subtle. The label on that pic was XX_CK_WET_DREAM.jpg. He looks bruised, hungry, and cold.

Tatiana, I agree. This is just icky and I hope these kids are just REALLY convincing as models and not actually as uncomfortable as they look. Something is definitely wrong there.

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But they're a bit young for my taste. Why even consider it homoerotic? I'm female. I like to see naked men. As I said, the age is the creepy part. Not nearly-nude people selling underwear.

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bigger question: which of these boys have EATING DISORDERS??

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How come no matter what images and archetypes come in and out of fashion in gay circles it's NEVER ME?! I'm not a bear, I'm not a twink, I'm not a waif, or a frat boy, or jock, or fauxhawked teenage hustler.

When does nerdy, bespectacled 40-yr-old become the New Gay Hot? Cos, I'm like all kinds of ready for that.

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I'm so creeped out it isn't even funny. :/

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I personally don't like these shots because I can't stand fashion photography done with a short lens and on-camera flash; I prefer more refined work a la Avedon. But that doesn't mean that no woman could ever find them titillating. When I was a teenager I might've liked them a lot.

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I know art can be risque and quite often is to be provocative and discussion-inducing.

But above?

That's just sleaze. Someone crossing the line simply to cross it.

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I suspect that if these were women, there WOULD be a larger number of complaints. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

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