Who doesn't like sex? Porn for the masses, or sleazy crap?
Written: May 30 '03
Product Rating:
Trendiness:
Pros: Naked Women, sex, pornography
Cons: Bad porn, lousy articles, no real humor
The Bottom Line: Porn is good. . Playboy should be read for the articles. The Spice Channel should be watched for the sex. Penthouse should be skipped.
***Warning *** This review discusses an adult subject and is not suitable for children, or those who may be offended by such things ***Warning ***
Now that I have that little disclaimer out of the way let me begin by saying that I am not opposed to pornography. In fact I heartily endorse Playboy Magazine (see my review for details). In addition I am a big fan of pornography in general. Have I told you about my great respect for De Sade? However, Penthouse is near the bottom of the porn food chain. I would rate it just above those cheap Hustler Spin Off magazines (Barely Legal, for instance. Exactly what group is that magazine aimed at? Pedophiles I suppose. I mean really, what strange people buy a magazine called Barely Legal?)
Penthouse has built its reputation by being "dirtier" than Playboy. Granted, Playboy markets itself as the classy mens magazine, and it isn't hard these days to be dirtier than Heff's little magazine. It features photos in which women's genitalia are actually visible, and often the focus of the picture. In recent year Penthouse has led the way (along with Larry Flint's Hustler Magazine, and its spin offs) in featuring hard core pornography (for the uninitiated that means visible views of actual penetration). . Penthouse has also attempted to feature some serious articles and fiction. Unfortunately none of it quite measures up.
Playboy has featured stories by James Jones, Ray Bradbury, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. You will not see names like this in the pages of Penthouse magazine. Heck, you'd never see a John Grisham or a Stephen King published in the pages of this rag.
The articles seem to be written by second rate journalists who couldn't get a job with a decent magazine. The fiction is so constrained by Penthouse rules (three sex scenes per story required, I'm not kidding here read their entry in Writer's Market), that nothing very good ever appears in its pages. The columns are amateurish at best.
The attempts at humor are often doltish. I have never read a joke in the pages of Penthouse that actually made me chuckle. Whereas Playboy features great humor, Penthouse is a place where tasteless jokes go to die.
The letters section of Penthouse is famous (or infamous depending on your point of view). These letters tend to be sophomoric, and unerotic. There was a time when an aspiring writer couldearn extra cash writing letters for this magazine. Unfortunately, now days Penthouse receives so many "real" letters that they no longer accept "fake" ones from writers. Oh well.
During the seventies Penthouse relied on cheesy, soft focus techniques for their photos. Now they rely on hardcore sex. Penthouse has taken to showing penetration in its pages, which is an interesting statement about about changing social mores. I, for one, welcome this change. It has also begun showing "golden showers" (one person urinating on another), which isn't even a statement, but merely a purile attempt at sales. Extreme kinkiness like this is better left to fetish magazines. Mainstream porn can do without it.
Overall Penthouse is not a very good magazine. If you want something to read it's useless. If you want porn there are better places to find it.
I recommend Playboy for great fiction, great articles, and fascinating columns. I especially like Asa Barber's column. For good porn, see many other magazines. Or, alternatively, check out the Spice channel on satellite television.
Again, let me say that I am in favor of pornography (just ask my wife, she'll tell you), but I find Penthouse to be one of the least interesting porn magazines out there.
By the by, we all know what purpose pornography serves. It is a healthy purpose. We're all adults here, so no rude comments about my taste in magazines, please.
Penthouse Magazine is a world recognized magazine for men. Each publication includes: photos, articles, info on celebrities, technology, autos and mor...More at Abbey Discount Magazine Subscriptions
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