Now in its second season, television show

“Glee” has become a cultural phenomenon, dominating iTunes, merchandising and magazine covers.

A recent cover that caught my eye was the November issue of GQ with cast members Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron with less than wholesome results.

As a long-time reader of GQ, I contest that the magazine has a history of presenting sex in a more tasteful manner, than say the stereotypical, over-sexed schoolboy fantasy that Agron portrays in Christian Louboutin heels no less.

One photo that is particularly alarming in the series is one where Michele is photographed spread-eagled in a locker room.

That’s right, I forgot that gynecology examinations are routine in high school locker rooms, silly me.

I understand that all of the cast members that were photographed are over 18 (and closer to 30 in Montieth’s case), but that does not give them carte blanche to display their nether regions to anyone with a camera.

The fact is, I adore “Glee” – I even camped out overnight for tickets to see the cast perform live (yes, I’m one of those). The fact that I love the show and have a problem with the images should say something.

When the images leaked earlier this week, the Parents Television Council wasted no time voicing their opinion.

“Many children who flocked to ‘High School Musical’ have grown into ‘Glee’ fans,” PTC President Tim Winter told the Washington Post.

Just because Agron and Michele are adults does not mean they should spread eagle in Victoria’s Secret underwear for the general public. (Funny that Montieth is fully clothed in every photo.)

There is a way to be sexy without being vulgar.

This spread (no pun intended) lacked class.

Although Glee has increasingly become over-sexed (see the dry-humping in “Push It” and “Toxic”), I don’t believe the creative direction taken was necessary.

Terry Richardson, the photographer and “creative director” behind the shoot, is notorious for doing tasteless, oversexed photos with no creative merit.

In March of this year, Richardson was accused of sexually exploiting his models by Danish model Rie Rasmussen, The Guardian reported.

“I don’t think I’m a sex addict, but I do have issues,” Richardson told The Guardian. “Maybe it’s the psychological thing that I was a shy kid, and now I’m this powerful guy with his boner, dominating all these girls.”

I think I’ve made my point.

Does every pin-up photo shoot have to have an artistic or wholesome message?

No.

I know GQ isn’t Good Housekeeping, but it’s not Penthouse either, not yet anyways.

Shelley Holmgren is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-7942 or at