Ralph E. Hanson, Second Edition
HomeWeblogChaptersCh. 1: Living in a Media WorldCh. 2: The Media Business: Consolidation, Globalization, and the Long TailCh. 3: Mass Communication Effects: How Society and Media InteractCh. 4: Books: The Birth of the Mass MediaCh. 5: Magazines: The Power of Words and ImagesCh. 6: Newspapers: Reflection of a Democratic SocietyCh. 7: Sound: Music and Talk Across MediaCh. 8: Movies: Mass-Producing EntertainmentCh. 9: Television: Broadcast, Cable and BeyondCh. 10: The Internet: Mass Communication Gets PersonalCh. 11: Advertising: Selling a MessageCh. 12: Public Relations: Manufacturing the NewsCh. 13: Media Law: Free Speech and FairnessCh. 14: Media Ethics: Truthfulness, Fairness, and Standards of DecencyCh. 15: Global Media: Communication Around the WorldAbout the BookAbout the AuthorHelp
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Chapter 5: Magazines

Exercises

1. In Chapter 5, we discussed the importance of covers in selling magazines. The next time you are standing in line at the grocery store, walking by a newsstand, or browsing at the local bookstore, stand back and take a look at the magazine selection as a whole. What do the magazine covers have in common? Of those that appeal to you most, what characteristics do they possess? How often have you been lured to pick up and purchase a magazine based on a coverline or glossy picture? Do you ignore the covers and go straight to the content?


2. Pick three of your favorite magazines and visit their Web sites. Are the same characteristics found in the print edition found in the electronic edition? Aside from being on the Internet as opposed to a newsstand, what are the major differences? In your opinion, could any of your favorite magazines make the move to an exclusively online presence? Why or why not?

3. Fashion and beauty magazines' usage of the size zero model with perfect skin and hair, wearing the hottest fashions, have been blamed for setting an unrealistic physical appearance that has led many women, young and old, down the path of eating disorders.

•  Consider the Source: Who is making the claim that magazines are to blame for setting unrealistic standards of physical appearance or leading to eating disorders?

•  Analyze & Reflect: What magazines are portraying this unrealistic image? Is it a norm within the entire magazine industry or limited to a select few? How can magazines more effectively represent the average woman in their publications?

•  Examine: Is there really a connection between magazines and social problems such as eating disorders? Who should be held responsible? Do other media portray women unrealistically? What can women do about this? Is this issue represented in one of the Seven Truths?

•  Conclude: After you have an idea of the “ideal” woman being portrayed, the next time you are walking through the mall or to class, look around at the people, especially the women, around you. Are they representative of the “ideal” woman found in magazines? Have you ever known anyone with an eating disorder? In overcoming and dealing with their problem, did they ever mention what drove them to the problem? Did the media portrayal of men's and/or women's body image play a role?