Summary Of A Semiotic Of The Magazine Cover: Teen Girl Magazine

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A semiotic of the Magazine Cover: Teen Girl magazine (comparison 1970s/80s and now). What does this say about changing social structures?

This essay will analyse the semiotic codes of the front covers of adolescent girl magazines: Comparisons will be made between examples from 40 years ago and now. What does this say about changing social structures? There will be an analysis and comparison of issue October 1972 (fig.1.) and issue March 2014 (fig.2.) of the Seventeen magazine covers. Furthermore, this essay will contain sociological analysis regarding associated changing trends with being a teenage girl and semiotic definitions of what is meant by the terms signifier and signified and how these can be related to magazines aimed at young women. …show more content…

It claims that it has helped generations of girls navigate the tricky terrain of adolescence, giving them the confidence they need to become strong, self-assured young women. (www.hearst.com,n.d) [Online] Adolescence is a phase of adventure and exploration that needs the guidance of positive influences, such as peers and authority figures. Puberty related changes in the body at earlier ages have implications for how youth cope with these changes especially for girls (www.education.com,n.d) [Online] Today many girls are beginning the process younger than ever before (www.smithsonianmag.com,n.d.) [Online]. Early developing girls are especially at risk from poor body image, higher levels of depression, and substance abuse. Knowing that young girls begin physically developing at an earlier age compared with 40 years ago, psychologically being a teenager still means the same, self-searching and strong emotions (Wang, …show more content…

The aim is to make their young audience desire what the magazine has to offer and sell them a certain appearance and lifestyle. (ref) Referring to hyperreality, media such as advertising and magazines create a vision of lifestyle, the buyer believes that what he/she sees on the cover of a magazine can help him/her live a lifestyle perhaps as the celebrity represented on the cover lives. The front cover models and images inside the magazine are iconic signs which represent the better self which every women desires to become (Bignell,2002 p68) The signifiers in the 1972 October issue cover is that the model figure Ingrid Boulting, South African ballerina and model represented as very tidy, immaculately dressed, wearing formal clothing. Hair is neatly styled and combed, she is sun kissed with healthy looking skin and minimal make-up. When observing this cover, it does not reflect particular emotion. In comparison with 2014 March issue cover the model figure Selena Gomez, American actress and singer looks playful, full of excitement with a smile on her face and mouth slightly opened. An obvious sign that can be

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