Lucy Liu in Maxim

[angel nympho]

This month, I was sooo happy to get my Maxim when I saw that Lucy Liu was on the cover. I was especially happy when I opened the magazine and saw the several pages on the inside dedicated to her. It's awesome that a magazine with such an attitude can recognize beauty regardless of race. Personally, I never really thought she was all that pretty, but when I looked at the pictures, I can definately see why they put her on the cover. Her pictures (very typical of Maxim: scantily clad) were absolutely gorgeous.

Anyway, the thing that caught my attention was the interview. LOL... I was like "RIGHT ON!" when I read this:

Have you ever gone out with a guy and discovered he was only into Asian women?
That he had yellow fever? Oh, my God, yeah.  I could tear my hair out.  It's to the point now where if a guy has dated another Asian, I won't go out with him.
It's that strict a policy?
It's that strict!  They have to be a virgin when it comes to Asian women.  Because once you go Asian, you can't turn back. [smiles coquettishly] 'Cause we're so lovely.

Haha, right on, Lucy... I feel the same way...


But I'll hafta say... Kelly Hu's cover was betterrrrr....

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Aug 23 2002, 09:11 PM
This month, I was sooo happy to get my Maxim when I saw that Lucy Liu was on the cover.  
Angel, are you saying that you subscribe to Maxim? If so, why? I'd be genuinely intersted to know what you get out of a magazine that has, as you put it, "such an attitude."

I don't want to make too much of this because I probably shouldn't take Maxim very seriously — the magazine certainly doesn't seem to take itself very seriously — but I get very dismayed by its ueber-sophomoric tone. Its governing precepts seem to be instant gratification and putting down anything that even hints at being "unmanly." At least Playboy keeps up a pretense of considerate sophistication. I really have to roll my eyes at articles about how to cheat on your girlfriend, etc. But since Maxim seems to do this with its tongue in its cheek, it's hard to criticize.

The most memorable part of the Lucy Liu interview for me was:

We'll only admit to watching Ally McBeal for the kiss between you and Calista Flockhart.  Why wasn't that a weekly occurrence?

That absolutely would have changed the show a bit.  But once the girl-kiss thing happened, it was kind of like going to a nude beach.  There's nothing left to the imagination.  I think it's best to titillate and then walk away.  You don't dull the senses.  

We have no idea what you mean.  

The interviewer instantly goes on to the next question.

Well, I know exactly what she meant. But I suppose that it would be unfashionable for Maxim to suggest that a steady stream of constant sensationalism is anything other than something to devour voraciously. Party on, dudes! Or maybe I'm just showing my age.

Also, I don't think that "recognizing beauty regardless of race" is such a hard thing to do. After all, even Playboy published a tome called Playboy's Asian Beauties, and attractive Asian women as love interests and sexpots have been popping up in the media since the early 1950s. It's recognizing equality regardless of race that really impresses me. As you say, Kelly Hu already made the cover of Maxim. Why should Lucy Liu's appearance be so surprising?

Disclaimer: Please don't take my comments too seriously or as being too critical. If you enjoy reading Maxim, that's fine, and I don't want to discourage you from doing so. It's just that there's something about the magazine that rubs me the wrong way.

[angel nympho]

I wasnt at all suprised by her appearance... Just after reading her interview, I was really happy to see some of the comments that were made... especially in a magazine that's soooo overly patriotic at times. I was just happy to see a gorgeous Asian woman on the cover of a magazine that wasn't particularly dedicated to "Asian beauties."

And yeah, i subscribe to Maxim. Both Maxim and Stuff, actually. I really like the editors and the writer's writing style. It's humorous and informative at the same time... and I subscribe as a way to keep myself inspired to write insightful, yet comedic articles. A good journalist keeps all their options open. :)

Besides, hot chicks and lots of cool stuff.. what more could you ask for????



<!--EDIT|angel nympho|Aug 24 2002, 11:48 AM-->

[achtungbaby]

Originally posted by Shuriken@Aug 23 2002, 08:19 PM
At least Playboy keeps up a pretense of considerate sophistication.

This is precisely why I hate Playboy. Historically, they've had some fantastic, thought-provoking interviews -- that have nothing to do with sex, and consequently, are pretty useless, since the overwhelming majority of their readers don't read them ("I read it for the articles!").

It's the total image conveyed: the debonair, yuppie Playboy Man, distinguished and articulate in his tastes -- as mad-dog horny as every other blue-collar Joe -- but as you said, has the "pretense of sophistication." So instead of a centerfold's bare naked body, we get her dressed with a fake pearl necklace.

Maxim is trash and everyone knows it, from the editors and writers and women who pose, to the eager young men who consume them. My friend read it for the first time recently and said, "That magazine is hilarious, it's Glamour for men." I would agree, although I would argue that one is just a tad more self-aware than the other.

Originally posted by Shuriken@Aug 23 2002, 08:19 PM
Well, I know exactly what she meant. &nbsp;But I suppose that it would be unfashionable for Maxim to suggest that a steady stream of constant sensationalism is anything other than something to devour voraciously. &nbsp;Party on, dudes! &nbsp;Or maybe I'm just showing my age.

Come on, it was a joke!

Originally posted by Shuriken@Aug 23 2002, 08:19 PM
Also, I don't think that "recognizing beauty regardless of race" is such a hard thing to do.

I'm actually surprised that Maxim doesn't have more Asian women on its covers, because it caters more to white men, which is one of the reasons why I don't read it as much, that and because their formulaic sex articles seemed to get a little bland and repetitive, in danger of becoming just like Glamour's I guess.

Originally posted by Shuriken@Aug 23 2002, 08:19 PM
Please don't take my comments too seriously or as being too critical...it's just that there's something about the magazine that rubs me the wrong way.

Ditto on Playboy.

[deez nuts]

Not to hate on Lucy, but I don't see why she's all that. Even in the magazine she didn't seem all that. I see hotter looking Asian women walking down Manhattan or Flushing. Oh well props to her, she got the job done. Z.Z.Y was better in Asian FHM.

An old high school classmate said he dated Lucy in high school since she went to the same high school as us. I didn't even know that.

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by achtungbaby@Aug 24 2002, 03:45 PM
Ditto on Playboy.
I'd just like to make it clear that I wasn't writing to champion Playboy. I was just mentioning another men's magazine in contrast to Maxim. I suppose that I could have cited G.Q. or Esquire instead (though I think that Esquire also has a strong sophomoric streak). I have a lot of qualms with Playboy, too, but my point was that Hugh Hefner's rag doesn't seem constantly bent on putting other people down, the way that Maxim does.

Incidentally, in 1999, Playboy published a survey of the 100 sexiest female celebrities of the previous 100 years. The list included Marilyn Monroe, Halle Berry, Rita Hayworth — stretching all the way back to Evelyn Nesbitt at the turn of the century. One hundred years, one hundred women, and not a single Asian made the list — no Anna May Wong, no Joan Chen, no Gong Li. What was especially infuriating (to me, anyway) about this omission was that the list included a few blonde women I never even heard of before (probably up-and-coming Playmates). So, this is one reason — among others (the magazine's portrayal of women as upscale accessories for men being another) — why I'm not a big Playboy booster.

[kasia]

i read maxim b/c it's entertaining. it's kinda like reading mad magazine.

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by Chasiubao_Boy@Aug 24 2002, 04:03 PM
Not to hate on Lucy, but I don't see why she's all that. Even in the magazine she didn't seem all that. I see hotter looking Asian women walking down Manhattan or Flushing. Oh well props to her, she got the job done. Z.Z.Y was better in Asian FHM.

An old high school classmate said he dated Lucy in high school since she went to the same high school as us. I didn't even know that.
the reason why she's "all that" enough to be on the cover of a magazine is because she's more mainstream than a lot of the better looking (or whoever you think is hot) asian ladies. there's an awful lot of good looking asians out there, but a lot of times, you hafta be asian or in the asian scene to know who they are. honestly, ive seen pretty girls walking down the street than on the cover of ANY magazine, but they dont get slapped onto covers.

[deez nuts]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Aug 25 2002, 05:26 PM
Originally posted by Chasiubao_Boy@Aug 24 2002, 04:03 PM
Not to hate on Lucy, but I don't see why she's all that. &nbsp;Even in the magazine she didn't seem all that. &nbsp;I see hotter looking Asian women walking down Manhattan or Flushing. &nbsp;Oh well props to her, she got the job done. &nbsp; Z.Z.Y was better in Asian FHM.

An old high school classmate said he dated Lucy in high school since she went to the same high school as us. &nbsp;I didn't even know that.
the reason why she's "all that" enough to be on the cover of a magazine is because she's more mainstream than a lot of the better looking (or whoever you think is hot) asian ladies. there's an awful lot of good looking asians out there, but a lot of times, you hafta be asian or in the asian scene to know who they are. honestly, ive seen pretty girls walking down the street than on the cover of ANY magazine, but they dont get slapped onto covers.
Yeah I agree. But it still saddens me to know that the other prettier Asian women aren't getting as much exposure as Lucy. <sniff><sniff> :(

[angel nympho]

i hear ya. i guess first, we gotta convince the world that they are real people!!!!!!!

damn i cant wait until im a maxim girl. lOl, juuuust kidding... sorta. i'd write a column for em, though.

[DaBestSpooner]

is it me or do men's magazines in america really suck.

the men's fashion mags are totally unrealistic and the clothes are not stylish

I prefer british and japanese mags, they're a lot more realistic when it comes to fashion and usually use "real" men as well as "real" women

[Saiko]

I wouldn't know, Spooner. I don't see a lot of Japanese mags around here, and only a few British ones.
I subscribe to Cosmopolitan and sometimes buy Maxim. My friend and I were saying that every man should subscribe to Cosmo. Some of the stuff in it is a little dumb, but useful. I didn't buy this month's Maxim yet, but I saw the cover. I never thought that Lucy Liu was amazingly pretty, but she looked pretty good on the cover.

[angel nympho]

^-- I always leave Cosmos out for the guys who come over to read. They LOVE it.. I have a huge collection of Maxim, Cosmo, and Stuff, but they ALWAYS drop the boy mags to read the girl ones. They say that it's got hotter girls in it. I guess that's kinda true... but they also said that it tells them EXACTLY what girls want.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Aug 26 2002, 03:45 PM
but they also said that it tells them EXACTLY what girls want.
do they? i always assumed they contain some distorted and exaggerated fabrication of what real girls really want.

so would the women around here say that Cosmo and other magazines like it are pretty accurate on what women really want? if so maybe i should read them once in a while.



<!--EDIT|SunWuKung|Aug 26 2002, 06:25 PM-->

[angel nympho]

It gives you a good idea, at least. Cosmo talks a lot about sex but also adds in stuff about romance and shit like that... so guys seem to learn that.. gee, duh, GIRLS LIKE ROMANCE! guys i know like to read the little "ohh my boyfriend is sooooooo awesome because..." stories.. to get good ideas. LOL

[kasia]

this may sound retarded, but i think maxim gives a better portrayal of what women want...or at least they have better insight than cosmo as to how things really are.



<!--EDIT|kasia|Aug 28 2002, 08:04 PM-->

[johnny]

Lucy Liu kinda looks like my EX

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by kasia@Aug 28 2002, 08:04 PM
this may sound retarded, but i think maxim gives a better portrayal of what women want...or at least they have better insight than cosmo as to how things really are.
Yeah, I'm more of a Maxim girl than a Cosmo girl, but I don't know how it applies to (shhh...) *whispers* white girls.... Oh yeah, and older ladies.

[achtungbaby]

Originally posted by SunWuKung@Aug 26 2002, 04:23 PM
so would the women around here say that Cosmo and other magazines like it are pretty accurate on what women really want? if so maybe i should read them once in a while.
I thought I read somewhere that reading Cosmopolitan kills massive amounts of brain cells.

[Saiko]

Originally posted by achtungbaby@Aug 28 2002, 03:33 PM
I thought I read somewhere that reading Cosmopolitan kills massive amounts of brain cells.
So that explains it.
But yeah. Guys, subscribe to Cosmo. Quick.