Teenage skater’s photograph explodes in controversy

[The Straight Story]

Teenage skater’s photograph explodes in controversy


A close shot of 17-year-old Canadian figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond performing a high kick at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships has turned controversial.

Globe and Mail Public Editor Sylvia Stead declared it “not acceptable.” The skater herself sent a Twitter post that she liked it. Read the reaction here.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2013/03/18/teenager_skaters_photograph_explodes_in_controversy.html

[Chipper Chat]

1. I read your last sentence as:

"Read the erection here."

[The Magistrate]

2. So the Editor, Sir, Does Not Watch Women's Or Couples Figure Skating...

Just about every routine will include a few moments like that one pictured.

[bigtree]

3. I can't believe this made it to the front page

. . . with that tacky leather midriff jacket she's wearing.

joking . . . she's fine.

[sharp_stick]

4. Absolutely right

and that damned hat, who in their right mind would consider that not a complete clash?

[The Straight Story]

6. Yeah the hat I found odd as well

It was like a gilligan's island throwback.

[LittleBlue]

5. It's actually a good photograph

I wouldn't think anything of it until reading the reaction.

Whoever got upset by this must really be mad at the Olympics coverage, where gymnasts younger than her hold leg-splitting poses for long periods.

[TeeYiYi]

7. At first I thought meh...

...but on further review, I've decided the cropping and composition are tacky.



TYY

[Rex]

8. FFS!

Fuck the fake news reporters and their jealousy! I bet NONE of them could do a high kick like that! AND on skates!

FUCK THEM. I deem the Globe rag as an unacceptable source of news.

[JPZenger]

10. A little uncomfortable

the angle of the photo of the 17 year old is a bit much.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

16. Really?

I guess high school cheer leading should be banned then.

[duffyduff]

33. Yep. People around here can't grasp that it is a very poor, tasteless shot of a MINOR.

n/t

[MineralMan]

9. Silliness. Everyone in the audience saw the same thing.

Dancers and skates kick their legs. When they do, their covered crotches are exposed.

Some folks have dirty, dirty minds, it seems.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. I am sure that

Christina Yamaguchi would approve. The American Taliban not so much, Whats next.. banning ice skaters in "too short and sexy " outfits? Meh...leave the damn sport alone!

[Whisp]

12. I don't know.

At first I thought, what's the big deal, skaters do skating stuff and high kicks are normal.

but on further thought, I don't this photo was picked for the skater's limberness - it was picked for the sexuality part and the controversy.

Pretty low, if you ask me.

[AsahinaKimi]

13. SO you are saying the photographer picked his/her moment?

Blame the photographer not the skater.

[Whisp]

18. o heavens no, I'm not blaming the skater. Sorry I wasn't clear.

The photograhper or his/her boss picked this particular photo (probably out of many shot with high speed shots), on purpose.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. Oh, Jesus Christ. Something about "in the eye of the beholder"?

[TeeYiYi]

22. An art director has choices...

...when it comes to composition and image placement. This art director chose 'in your face' dramatic shock content; a reflection on his abilities as an art director and the reputation of the publication in general. There is nothing artistic about this art director's choice. I'd be willing to bet that he had other shots to choose from; a shot that would have better reflected the overall talent of the athlete..



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http://shannonparker.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c917253ef0120a8db50ef970b-pi


TYY

[justiceischeap]

24. I think the issue is she's a minor. nt

[TeeYiYi]

29. I think the issue...

... is that the photo has no redemptive artistic value. It's a crotch shot.



TYY

[justiceischeap]

32. Well of course, but it's a crotch shot of a minor.

I think, for the most part, the Editor would have been okay with a crotch shot of an adult.

[TeeYiYi]

40. It's a crotch shot, first and foremost...

...regardless of age. The art director went with the more provocative image as a guaranteed revenue generator.



TYY

[redqueen]

35. Boom. nt

[PotatoChip]

25. I see what you mean. Those shots are stunning. n/t

[tblue]

15. Yeah. Slap a burka on her!

Some folks have nothing better to do than worry about that?

[struggle4progress]

17. I love the smile: she's havin some fun there!

[NaturalHigh]

19. Other than the "Village People" hat, who cares?

[tk2kewl]

20. is the concern over this photo "benevolent sexism" or just prudish twisted minds...

seeing evil where it aint?

[Demo_Chris]

21. Silliness.

Dance, gynmastics, skating, cheer... all of these spots and more involve displays of flexibility and balance. And Figure Skaters might well be some of the best trained and hardest working athletes on the planet.

[Myrina]

23. Personally, if it were me ...

I'd be horrified that the entire country was looking at my crotch and I'd be mortified trying to recall if I had a wax prior to the competition.

But I'm an attention-phobe and would never go into a sport/profession where people looked at me, to begin with.

[juajen]

44. They should have chosen another shot, but not because what she did was

wrong. She was doing what she was supposed to be; that is, showing amazing skill and gracefulness. The article was in poor taste with that photo front and center. They had plenty of other photos. But, perhaps, they have no freakin' taste!

[treestar]

26. If she's just in the midst of a normal skating move

What's the controversy? People can be so ridiculous.

[MineralMan]

27. WARNING! Beware of Exploding Photographs!

If you see one, leave the area immediately and call authorities for proper disposal!

[Apophis]

28. Fauxrage.

It's the "in" thing now on the interwebs.

[Deep13]

30. We must not admit that 17-yr-olds have naughty bits! nt

[juajen]

45. Therein lies the problem. They are not "naughty", for God's sake.

[HappyMe]

31. She looks so happy and proud!

I don't see the issue with this. Skaters, ballet, gymnasts all train hard and are amazing athletes. Why suck the joy out of this skater's moment.

[petronius]

42. That's what I take from the image - it's the expression on her face that

makes the image, and I suspect is why it was chosen. The examples TYY gave above are beautiful and artistic images, this one is perhaps less artistic but more joyful.

Sexualizing/objectifying athletes of any age is disgusting and offensive, much more so when they're minors. But I don't think that's what's happening here...

[tridim]

34. Had the same issue come up in HS yearbook class.

We had a great picture of a cheerleader doing a high kick thing, half the class thought it was borderline obscene.

Our adviser had us ask her if it was okay to print, she said yes. I was happy because it was a nice pic.

People really should stop freaking out over skin, it's pretty childish.

[jmg257]

36. Wait - the editor of the paper that used the photo says it's 'not acceptable'???

"Globe and Mail Public Editor Sylvia Stead declared it “not acceptable.”

Globe Photo Editor Dennis Owen amplified that sentiment.
I would not have done it myself,” Owen told Maurie Sherman, KISS 92.5’s senior producer of the Roz & Mocha Show.

“It’s not our policy to run photos like that.”

But...they did!?!

"The Globe’s picture appeared on its front page Monday, the Star’s picture appeared online only on Sunday and the Reuters’ photograph moved on its wire Sunday but as a full-length picture of a high kick."

So what the hell? Are the just drumming up a faux, and self-conceived, controversy interest in their own paper?

[Marrah_G]

37. The picture is fine

I'm sure the teen doesn't appreciate numerous articles causing people to focus in on her crotch. I doubt most people would have ever had that cross their minds unless directed to it.

[HappyMe]

41. Yes, thank you.

Now, after all this unnecessary bs, people have taken her big moment away from her.

[union_maid]

38. It's not a sexual shot

If the editor found that his naughty parts were getting uncomfortably warm looking at the picture he should probably get help.

[Comrade Grumpy]

46. The editor was a she, but I suppose your point still holds.

[union_maid]

47. Oh, sorry, my bad

Should have paid attention to that. I still maintain it's not a sexual shot, but the reason for the editor's statement was more like over-sensitivity or a case of bluenose (probably the former) than being somewhat of a perv.

[talkingmime]

43. I don't see anything wrong with that. She's fully covered.

[marions ghost]

48. Disgusting

[backscatter712]

49. The fundies are poutraged! n/t