Representations and ideologies in lifestyle magazines I had a look through the December 2000 edition of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. I am going to compare these two magazines looking at representations and the ideologies presented in these magazines the values of lifestyle, by using examples to illustrate my opinions. In both magazines they use gold. Gold can have many different associated meanings. It can be a signifier of wealth and power. It can have connotations of class and sophistication. When we compare the use of this sign in building up a representation the magazines contents one can see differences. In Vogue the gold is shiny more realistically shown, rich and a matt gold used. This helps construct a meaning that can easily be associated …show more content…
Cosmopolitan has many contents reviews on the cover. It is a foretaste of the magazine you are going to read. Vogue doesn’t have to reach his audience in this way, they have already their solid audience. The difference in their audiences is that the audience of Vogue is older then of Cosmopolitan. Vogue is a higher level, a next stage after Cosmopolitan. Cosmopolitan has to find new readers for these kinds of lifestyle magazines. After these people have gone through this part of life from 15 until 25 they reach a new level, where people usually have found their partners and are settling down. They are not anymore looking for parties and looking for a new partner what Cosmopolitan is trying to represent. They are now also reading other magazines such as Vogue. Vogue therefore doesn’t have to convince people anymore to buy a lifestyle magazine, they have now to convince people reading their magazine, because Vogue now representing the wishes of the audiences in this particular age. This has all to do with ideologies. The ideology is materialism represented to us, by using perfect images that people enjoy and that create an ideal of lifestyle. The ideology of Vogue is that the magazine is representing a sophisticated lifestyle. Very important is fashion, exclusivity, reaching a higher class and beauty. In Cosmopolitan the main aspects are that women have to be independent, out for fun, party, out to succeed at all costs, enjoy sex and to be successful. Using signs and symbols in the magazine represents this lifestyle. The color pink is found on every single page in Cosmopolitan. The color gold and black is mostly found in
Much of society’s perception of women today, according to Kenon Breazeale in the piece, “In Spite of Women: Esquire Magazine and the Construction of the Male Consumer”, is based upon the attempts to construct women as consumers. Breazeale claims that much of society’s one-dimensional view of women has everything to do with how consumerism has been viewed primarily as a feminine attribute. Using an in-depth analysis of the early years of Esquire Magazine, Breazeale uses an academic, stoic tone in an effort to remain impartial, although it is rather apparent that she feels strongly against the magazine and all it stood for during this time period. Breazeale effectively convinces the audience that society’s perception of women today has been significantly swayed by their constant portrayal as consumers through an in-depth look at Esquire Magazine and how it not only portrayed women as extravagant, unintelligent spenders, but simply as objects of male desire.
Advertising is form of communicating and using methods into getting the buyers to purchase a product. Cosmopolitan has done a good job in determining what readers and listeners want and need. Cosmopolitan is a magazine directed toward young people who have low self- confidence and low self-esteem and also who care about health and appearance. As Fowles said, “By giving form to people’s deep-lying desires and picturing states of being that individuals privately yearn for.” (Fowles, 137). All advertisers know who and what readers wish or long for.
In the documentary film, Page One: Inside The New York Times, the inner world of journalism is revealed through journalists David Carr and Brian Stelter as the newspaper company The New York Times, struggles to keep alive within a new wave of news journalism. The film is dedicated to reveal the true inner mechanics of what modern day new journalists face on a daily basis and leaves the audience almost in a state of shock. It broadcasts news journalism as yes, an old school method of news generation, but it also highlights an important component that reveals the importance behind this “old school” methodology. We often think that progression always correlates with positive products, but the documentary insists that within the case of modern journalism, the new wave method is actually a detriment that can reap negative consequences.
The advertisements in Life magazine create a certain deception of women in the early 1950’s and give a message about class. Women are portrayed in a flattering way and are shown to be content with their lives. However, the magazine advertisements, in their sexist nature, give off the message that women are meant to be secluded from anything that is not related to domestic work, creating the female housewife stereotype. Constantly women are shown in advertisements relating to appliances, cleaning, and being a good wife. Class in Life magazine is also shown by the possession of materialistic objects, like cars. It gives off the message that by owning these objects one is essentially living the dream.
Some may be living the so called "American dream" and are financially comfortable, while others are extremely poor. However, what we primarily see in the media is the lifestyle of the extreme rich and famous. Wealth and fame can be seen anywhere on television, in the news and in magazines. This lifestyle may be unrealistic to many, but Americans are fascinated with money and lavish lifestyles.”
Veblen’s work was, and continues to be, quite controversial; however, his dissections of human behavior as it relates to social structure and consumption were far from inaccurate. Interestingly enough, it seems that his theories have even become increasingly accurate over time, as proved by the way conspicuous consumption and “Veblan effects,” have both played a significant role in changing not only the luxury fashion industry as a whole, but also in changing the image and symbolic nature of the luxury good.
First of all, I am going to look at the covers of my chosen magazines
Have you ever looked through a magazine and found it to be really interesting? That is because you are part of its target audience. You are part of a group of people that the magazine is trying to appeal to. There is a reason Sports Illustrated is more of a man’s magazine and Family Circle is more of a woman’s magazine. The people that run that magazine put certain things in those magazines to attract their audience. More commonly, men are interested in sports and anything to do with sports. In Sports Illustrated, the reader would find sports, and that is it. The reader would not find an article titled “How working women balance their careers and home lives.” An article such as that would be found in a magazine like Family Circle, as it is targeted more towards women who have a family. For the purpose of this audience visual analysis, I will be discussing the October 8th, 2012 issue of People magazine. Looking at this issue and reading through the magazine, it is evident that the publishers do have a target audience in mind. This visual analysis will discuss who its target audience is and how the reader can tell. Also, the essay will discuss how the magazine makes the advertisements relevant to its audience.
When flipping through Vogue, a well-known high fashion magazine, one can see that almost all the advertisement scream wealth and status. The magazine’s beautiful models as well as its expensive brands are major characteristics of the famous magazine. Members of the middle class skim through the magazine thinking, “Wow, if only I could look like this!” In Gregory Mantsios’ article “Class in America,” he says, “We are, on occasion, presented...
Luxury goods are not the necessities but are very much desirable to people which is supported by a share of money income. They are not easily available and affordable for everyone but due to the coming up of competition in market this has been changed. Nowadays, every individual wants to raise their self high and wants to be different from everyone. Since, the times have changed luxury goods have become more affordable for middle class consumers. Whenever we open our social media accounts such as Instagram, snapchats or news on internet or be it the reality shows, it is full of rich people showing off their dresses, bags, accessories etc. Such news put an impact on our inner thinking about our need to look and feel good through rich possessions. Several manufactured goods have become luxury goods as they are designer, durable and better quality. These goods are considered as luxury goods by the consumers because they play a role of status and class for those who showcase or owns them. These items are not necessarily better than less expensive substitutes are purchased with the main purpose of showcasing their wealth. These kinds of goods are object of socio-economic phenomenon which includes watches, jewelleries, designer clothes and accessories, large
hats and boots, plus capes your new must have. It is the largest as it
Maclean’s is a Canadian news magazine established in 1905 by John Bayne Maclean. Distributed weekly, it is Canada’s only national current affairs magazine; it covers such matters as politics, international affairs, social issues, business and culture. On average, the magazine circulates 366,394 issues per week and has a readership of 2,753,000. 51% of readers are men and 49% are women, with an average age of 45 years old.
In Chinese culture, rich people always wear ‘jewelry and gold’ to reveal his/her high social status. Currently, Chinese economy is experiencing meteoric growth. More and more Chinese families have enough disposable funds to support their extra daily consumptions except dishes (Bergsten.2008). At the same time, Luxury goods companies is increasingly focusing on marketing the Chinese market because of huge consumer groups. It is also be noticed that consumption customer base was twenty-five or younger.
Most photos and titles draw in the male gaze, with female bodies half-naked paired with ‘Ladies love this!’. Pairing these particular items together creates an atmosphere which reinforces male expectations and norms to their audience. GQ, while appearing as a harmless fashion magazine, sends out a number of subconscious messages to their viewers of what it means to be a well-respected, successful male in today’s world. Gentlemen Quarterly, like many other magazines, implements the gender binary into its readers through its advertisements and articles.
Individuals also learn to adopt materialistic values through social learning from family members, peers, and the materialistic messages that they are frequently bombarded with in television programs advertisements (Kasser et al., 2004). The materialistic lifestyle, According to Kasser (2002), is a process of acquiring material goods beyond the necessities to meet human needs. It is of high importance to the individuals to attain financial success, impressive possessions, an attractive image, and a replicable status. Materialistic people tend to use money as a mean of self-enhancement (Kasser et al, 2004). Similarly, Belk (1985) explains materialism as the importance a consumer places on the acquisition and ownership of possessions (Belk 1985) and the view that there is a ris...