Every person has a dream job.
Some want to run multi-billion dollar businesses. Others want to start non profit organizations and try to change the world for the better. Most simply want long-term job security.
After graduation, I want to write for Playboy.
It may not be a trip to the moon, but for me, a writing position with the premiere entertainment magazine in the world affords the ultimate career destination.
I'm not even talking about the Playboy mansion; I simply want a byline in the magazine.
All right, stop. I can already see the cringe in your brow upon reading this. Don't give me that look.
There's nothing wrong with Playboy. My forehead isn't labeled 'Pervert,' and Playboy models aren't sexual slaves and bimbos.
I know what some of you may think right now: I'm a sexist pig and Playboy exploits women in order to achieve financial gain.
Don't jump to the wrong conclusions.
Yes, Playboy uses the nude female body as a means to attract readers. No, that doesn't mean Hugh Hefner and company exploit women.
The magazine features women, providing adult entertainment with an erotic appeal, and in doing so, tastefully reveals the entirety of women (and sometimes men) in their natural state.
Playboy photographers and editors carefully choose attractive photo locations and shoots, consistently casting beautiful light on the female form in new and exciting ways.
And have you ever looked past the cover and the photos of the magazine? Or did you fail to give the magazine a chance because it showcases the nude female body?
Sadly, many people are too shallow and sexually repressed to explore nudity and sexuality in an open, free exchange of ideas.
They miss the point of Playboy: to heighten intellectual stimulation by accentuating it with visual inspirations.
Furthermore, few people recognize Playboy for its full literary value. They fail to see past the beauty on the front-cover picture, so they either skim through the pages by eyeing only the photo spreads or refuse to open the magazine at all, missing the best part - the writing.
From candid artist and celebrity interviews, to witty and socially pressing columns and forums, the magazine provides readers with a diverse selection of arts and entertainment news, as well as providing investigative journalism at its best.
Hip and edgy fiction excerpts from our nation's greatest literary talents, hard-hitting investigative reports rarely explored by other media outlets and a truthful, conversational style make reading Playboy both worthwhile and comfortable for most readers.
Playboy tackles issues other magazines are too afraid to come near. It deals with violence and sexuality, as well as gender roles, in a free and open manner.
Rather than succumbing to censorship and societal pressure from conservative voices, Playboy continues to lead the way in open sexual education, providing sexual advice ranging from how to best deal with sexually transmitted diseases, to simple but straight suggestions on how to improve your intimate relations with your significant other.
Playboy hides nothing. Instead, the magazine puts everything out on the table for its readers.
That's why I proudly display the new issue of the magazine every month on my coffee table at home.
Playboy isn't for everyone. Minors should be kept from the magazine until maturing into adults, and the contents certainly cater more toward a male readership.
No doubt, the nude photos erotically heighten the layout of every Playboy, making it the most visually appealing periodical on the market. But the magazine's wit and style account for as much of its popularity.
So next time you see a Playboy, don't judge the book by its cover, or in this case, a magazine. Remember, it's what's on the inside that counts.
Ty Thompson is a journalism senior. He was not paid by Playboy to write this but wishes he was. Reach him at: tyler.w.thompson@asu.edu.
