Analysis of Easy Living August 2008

The magazine cover that I'm analysing is the 'Easy Living' magazine from August 2008.

Q1: Explain 2 ways the extract fits the genre of lifestyle magazines. Use examples from the extract.

One way that this magazine fits the genre of lifestyle magazines is that it uses a direct mode of address. The word 'you' is used a lot in cover lines such as 'What your friends really think of you.' and 'the marriage crime you don't even know you're committing.'
Another way in which this magazine fits the lifestyle genre is that it uses a conventional mix of contents: celebrities, fashion, relationships, friendships, sex, food and beauty. The cover lines include: 'what your friends really think of you', 'loose, sexy hair', '23 pages of deliciously simple recipes and outdoor entertaining ideas' and Kylie Minogue 40 and Fabulous.'



Q2: Explain how each of the following is used in the extract to create effect:
-layout
-typography
-colour
-language
    Use examples from the extract

The layout of the magazine is asymmetrically balanced because the main image is slightly off to the left, and the cover lines on the left are a lot smaller than the one of the right. Another way in which this magazine is asymmetrical is because the cover lines on the right are completely black whilst the ones on the left are black and white. The magazine is also balanced by colour, because the colours on the cover lines are fairly dull and basic, as well as the main image being fairly dull in colour. However, our eyes are drawn to the vibrant colours of the masthead and the categories above the cover lines.

The typography on this magazine is mainly sans-serif with small amounts of serif fonts, examples of the serif fonts would be on the main coverlines (such as 'subtle, glowing make-up') and the category boxes. This implies that the magazine is fairly informal, but it's not totally informal, which means that the reader is more inclined to trust it. The use of italics is also significant because it makes the word 'really' stand out in the cover line that the italics are used ('what your friends really think of you'). This draws your attention to the word 'really' because it emphasises the 'truth' about your friends thoughts. The colours used on the text include black, white and pink. The white represents purity and cleanliness, the black represents mystery and elegance and the pink represents harmony and spirituality.

The colour in the magazine's main image include grey in the background and cream on the clothing. The grey represents conservativeness and formality whilst the cream implies calmness, elegance and purity. The colours of the boxes around the content categories are purple, green, blue and red. The purple represents mystery and elegance, the green connotes nature and new beginnings, the blue represents calmness and responsibility and the red represents passion and love. All of the colours represent their respective categories, for example: purple represents emotion and green represents food. All of the colours of the category boxes are bright and vivid so they stand out and the reader is more drawn to those colours.

The language in this magazine includes an exclamation. Although this often represents a commandment, in this case it's used in a joyful outburst in the cover line 'Summer's Here!' The language is also fairly informal, making the magazine seem like a 'friend' to the reader and the reader will trust the magazine more It also uses commas, generally before a second adjective, to make the cover lines seem more detailed and that there is thought put into the magazine, rather than it just being quickly thrown together. Another language technique used is brackets, which act as if the magazine is telling a secret to the audience, and that also draws the audience in.



Q3: Discuss how people and lifestyles are represented in the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer. Use examples from the extract.

This magazine would appear to be representing middle aged, middle-class women. The idea that it is for middle aged women is displayed by the cover lines: 'Kylie Minogue, 40 and fabulous.' and 'The marriage crime you don't even know you're committing.' The second cover line implies this because, stereotypically, a middle-aged person is more likely to be married than a young adult. This magazine is saying that, stereotypically, this type of person is going to be interested with food ('23 deliciously simple recipes and outdoor entertaining ideas'), focusing on emotions and friendships ('what your friends really think about you'), staying good-looking ('Subtle, glowing make-up') and having an easy life ('Chic clothes with the hard work taken out'). This magazine corresponds well with the stereotype of women being focused on food, relationship, fashion and beauty. However, there are issues surrounding this representation. It is saying that, now that these women are getting older, they should look good, but it's going to have to be easier for them because they're too old to be doing hard work. The title, 'Easy Living', also suggests this. The magazine is also implying that all women are worrying about what their friends actually think about them and also that all women want to make really good food. Inside the contents page, everything is very neat and organised, this is stereotyping that all women need things to be clean and tidy, which is a sexist generalisation of them. In the editor's letter, the stereotyping issues continue further with 'How to look good on holiday' as the first clause. It also shows a variety of swimwear and a woman's handbag. This could be extending the implication that women are focused with fashion or that middle-aged women should still try and look great. All 3 pages of the extract have used models of middle-aged women that all middle-aged women should aspire to be like. It has shown the idea of the 'ideal' middle-aged woman. This, along with being told about how they could improve the lifestyle, may make the reader feel insecure due to not being like the ideal model. This magazine shows the women how they should be instead of how they are, this may be why people buy them every month - because now they want the magazine's ideas to help them improve their lifestyle.

Year ten half-term 5 Practice questions

For my practice questions, I am using the May 2010 edition of 'Gloria' magazine.

1. On the magazine cover there is a direct mode of address - the model is looking at the audience and the word 'your' is used multiple times. This makes it seems like the magazine is speaking to you personally as if it holds all the answers for your life to be a success. It also uses an aspirational tone with coverlines like 'A secret behind your sound health' and 'chic candles for your home decor'. These are aspirational because a person will want to be/do these things and this affects their lifestyle.

2. The layout of this magazine is symmetrically balanced with content and colour, almost like a mirror line is drawn down the middle. It is not exactly symmetrical due to a difference in coverlines and the way the model is standing, however, the symmetry is effective because it makes it aesthetically pleasing and simple to read because it is as if the page is split up into three separate columns.
This magazine uses a mix of serif and sans-serif fonts, but mainly serif. This connotes that the target audience will be fairly informal, but still keeping some sort of formality.
The colours of this magazine include Grey, black, red, pink and purple with a small amount of yellow. The grey suggests formality whilst the black suggests mystery and elegance, the red connotes passion and love. The pinks and purples represent creativity, wealth and purity and the yellow connotes happiness and hope.
The language of this magazine is fairly simple and straight-forward, without the use of any punctuation. This does not make the magazine feel instructive, nor does it make it seem useless. It portrays the magazine as 'calm' and 'friendly'. This makes people more inclined to listen to its advice.

3. This magazine is represented as being for young adult, presumably white females that, from the look of the model's clothing, appear to have decent amounts of money. It shows the stereotype of them being really into fashion, as well as mentioning health and their sexual life. One issue with this representation is that not every young female is obsessed with how they look and dress. It also shows that they are all interested in decoration, which is another issue with the represented stereotype. Not all young women are going to be spending most of their time thinking about how they can make everything look nice and where they can place 'chic candles' to make their house look nicer.

Easter Homework

1. Name 2 conventions that have been used and why

A direct mode of address has been used to make the reader feel more associated with the magazine and make the reader feel like the magazine is talking to them personally and making the reader trust the magazine more.

A model has been used on the front cover to give the reader something to aspire to, as the model on the front is usually someone inspirational. The model also normally looks towards the reader, adding to the effect of direct address. They also generally represent the type of person the magazine is for. However, it could be a beautiful female for females, or a good looking man, so it doesn't represent the people reading it, but stereotypically influences the type of reader, because a young woman could represent that sort of person, or a good looking man could be on the front to attract the women.

2. Typography  - The font is a mixture of serif and sans-serif fonts, which suggests that it is a chatty magazine, but still maintains its formality. There is a mixture of red, white and black fonts, red represents love and passion, white represents purity and cleanliness and black represents mystery and elegance.

   Layout - The layout is balanced by position because the content is bigger and a lot more noticeable on the left third, because that is the noticeable part of the magazine when they are stacked on shelves. However, that's balanced out by the model being more to the right.

   Colour Choice - As well as the colours used for the text, there are greys, there are greens and browns used in the background, and blues, yellows (blond hair) and silvers on the model. The green represents nature and abundance, the brown represents wholesomeness and dependability, the blue represents calmness and responsibility, the yellow represents happiness and hope, and the grey / silver represents Formality and conservation. This suggests that the reader will see this magazine as a good magazine that's full of information and you can trust.

   Language choice - The language is fairly chatty and informal, for example: 'wow decorating' and '26 go-anywhere dresses'. This makes the magazine seem more friendly and trustable. There is also alliteration like 'gift guide' and rhyming such as 'white lights'. This makes the magazine seem more light - hearted in my opinion. There are also questions, suggesting that this magazine will be the answer to your questions.

3. The immediate misrepresentation with this magazine is that it shows middle-aged women as all loving to decorate 'wow decorating', cook '5 ways with turkey' and the law 'Vicky Price on speeding points'. It also talks about how they aren't young any more 'the sexy, low-key option'. This is suggesting that the women can still try and look good but they have gotten to the age where they can't be a sexual in the way they dress.

Hip Hop Honeys PPT

Album analysis 2.

Album analysis 1.

Representation for pride magazine

Black	Women	20-30	Prosperous
‘What black men really think about black women’	Main image	Main image in that age range	Mix of serif and sans-serif fonts
Emeli Sande – aspirational black woman	Masthead: Pride (women having pride)	Serious news for a slightly older audience	Clothing on main image looks prosperous
Main image – black woman	Pink masthead	Section on careers	Section on careers and money
‘Get a Brazilian’	Lots of references to women	‘The rise of the far right’	Successful woman for main image