A vexing question for our times

Why is it that some celebrities under the age of eighteen can be universally acknowledged as sexy, whereas if that adjective is assigned to other underage but physically mature stars, people start leveling accusations of perversion and lechery? Why was it so shocking for Britney Spears to start flaunting her sexuality, but everyone instantly accepted Anna Kournikova as a sex object? Spears is about six months younger that Kournikova, but a Lexis-Nexis search reveals that Kournikova entered the pop culture zeitgeist as a calender-worthy subject when she was younger than Spears. [Maybe this is because Spears started her career as a Mouseketeer, and it’s more difficult for Americans to accept former child stars in risqué stiuations?–ed. Yeah, that explains the careers of Alyssa Milano and Drew Barrymore real well.] I ask because of the Olsen Twins. They’re on the cover of the Rolling Stone in September. Their ever-closer 18th birthday has prompted some, er, obsessive web sites as well. The actual story suggests the diverse reactions the Olsens generate:

What’s entertaining is to watch people’s faces as the girls head to a favorite breakfast place, the annoyingly named but tasty Urth Caffe. They all do a triple take. What registers first is: Hmm, twins. Next: Pretty twins! And finally: Are they…? As the two enter the cafe, a pair of college-age guys give them the up-and-down. “God, they are hot,” one breathes. “I’ll take the one on the left, you take the other,” says his pal. They stay rooted to the spot, of course. In the meantime, an eight-year-old girl, who has the stunned look of Wile E. Coyote after the anvil lands on his head, approaches for an autograph. “Of course!” they say in chorus. As they chat with their trembling admirer, the two do not even notice their older fans, who watch them, mouths slightly open, hands dangling at their sides.

The wildly divergent reactions to the Olsens are on full display in the comments sections of posts by Matthew Yglesias , Atrios, and Tampa Tantrum — though, to be fair, much of the vitriol is devoted to whether Rolling Stone is now officially lame (click here for more reaction). I fear that this issue could split the country. Before this happens, I hope the blogosphere, using its collective, distributed nodes of intelligence, can determine why it’s OK to admire the shapeliness of some 18-year olds but not others. [You’re a sick, sick man–ed. No, really, I’m just curious. After watching the video that accompanied the Rolling Stone story, I can honestly say the Olsen twins don’t really bake my cake. On this issue, loyal blog readers should be fully aware of where my preferences lie — and if those links aren’t enough, click here, here, to see the kind of celebrities I admire in that way. And besides, I’m not the one advertising for groupies!!] UPDATE: The Onion provides some additional news and commentary on the Olsens.