ESPN: Bodies we want 2012

ESPN’s Body Issue is on the brink of release, and it’s already causing the usual PR bonanza: Articles outlining which athletes will be shown nude (or semi-nude), headlines about their admirable physiques, and blogger tyrades against the objectification of women and ESPN’s kowtow to the male gaze. Personally, I’m mostly enthusiastic; sure, the nude female form is a tired trope used to sell magazines, but for the most part the photos are tasteful, showcasing menand women who’ve accomplished extreme physical fitness for the sake of their sport. My only real worry is the potentially confusing body messages surrounding their “celebration of the athletic form”: I love their goal of admiration, but posing them as “Bodies We Want”? No, thanks.