The phrase 'female orientated' refers to something that is targeted via certain conventions and
stereotypes that appeal to certain gender types.
stereotypes that appeal to certain gender types.
The target audience for 'Cosmopolitan' is stereotypically women. We know this because there is usually a female model posed in a very aspirational pose. This is then solidified by the feminine colour scheme. The topics within the magazine are also very important in defining of an audience. The topics of this particular magazine are very feminine, sexual topics and also female fashion.
The title of this magazine is very well established in the female magazine world. The conventions of the masthead are what inform the audience of the name without actually reading it. The masthead of this magazine is made up of a very soft, curved edged, circular font. This is usually subconsciously received as appealing to feminine types. The masthead is overlaps the model on this particular cover suggesting that the title of the magazine is very important, this is unusual with magazines containing celebrity models because they tend to make the celebrity the centre selling point. The use of this overlapping may represent the fact that Cosmopolitan doesn't in fact rely on the celebrity guest but its title to sell to the audience. This reinforces the importance of cosmopolitan in the print industry.
Main Image
The model in the main image is Angelina Jolie. This actress is well known and very looked up to in the feminine world because of her appearance and success. Females aspire to be like her. The model, in terms of an idol, appeals to the feminine audience because they aspire to look the same and view the model as an ideal. The use of a famous model promotes the magazine via relation (The fact that the A list celebrity wants to be on the cover shows the importance of the magazine title). This helps to sell the magazine.
The body language of 'Angelina' is very powerful. She is posed with her face directly facing the camera. This presents the actress as powerful. She is almost making direct eye contact with the camera lens (creating the effect of eye contact). This links the reader with the model making the reader more interested in the magazine.
The facial expression is also important. This model is known for her beauty. The models left eyebrow is slightly raised. This inflammation creates an idea of superiority. This makes the audience, indirectly, feel insubordinate. In hand creating a desire to be equal to such a beautiful woman. This feeling attracts the audience to purchase the magazine.
All of these aspects, including model selection and her representation link to Katz and Blumer's
theory of 'Use and gratification'. The specific use of this magazine cover is personal identity. This means the audience wish to distinguish as similar to the model.
Colour scheme
The body language of 'Angelina' is very powerful. She is posed with her face directly facing the camera. This presents the actress as powerful. She is almost making direct eye contact with the camera lens (creating the effect of eye contact). This links the reader with the model making the reader more interested in the magazine.
The facial expression is also important. This model is known for her beauty. The models left eyebrow is slightly raised. This inflammation creates an idea of superiority. This makes the audience, indirectly, feel insubordinate. In hand creating a desire to be equal to such a beautiful woman. This feeling attracts the audience to purchase the magazine.
All of these aspects, including model selection and her representation link to Katz and Blumer's
theory of 'Use and gratification'. The specific use of this magazine cover is personal identity. This means the audience wish to distinguish as similar to the model.
Colour scheme
The colour scheme on this particular magazine is very female orientated. The use soft, pink and purple, pastel like colours appeal to feminine audiences because we are socially programmed to believe these softer colours are stereotypically pleasing to female audiences (we subconsciously read this when viewing these colours on a magazine).
A connotation of the colour pink is beauty. In todays society beauty is perceived to be very important. Linking this colour to the magazine title links the magazine with beauty. This targets the female audience by linking the magazine to beauty.
A connotation of the light purple on this magazine is passion. Woman are stereotypically passionate and find the idea of passion attractive. Link the magazine to this passion makes the magazine desirable.
A connotation of the colour pink is beauty. In todays society beauty is perceived to be very important. Linking this colour to the magazine title links the magazine with beauty. This targets the female audience by linking the magazine to beauty.
A connotation of the light purple on this magazine is passion. Woman are stereotypically passionate and find the idea of passion attractive. Link the magazine to this passion makes the magazine desirable.
Cover lines
The cover lines on this are based on topics archetypically related to women. These topics are fashion ('621 beauty and fashion buys'), self image ('learn to love your body') and relationships ('can you cure a violent man').
The topic of fashion is usually associated with women because of society. Even though this stereotype is now almost void, using stereotypes such as these on magazine covers helps to sell because of the 'use and gratification' of personal identity. Women will see read the topic wanting to apply the subject matter to their own appearance.
The topic of self image is largely associated with women due to the ideology within media today. The extreme ideology of female appearance is "thin is beautiful". This idea is used everywhere in modern media and this makes women, stereotypically, want to adjust their image.
The topic of relationships is linked to women because of their tendency to discuss relationships more. It is believed that women talk a lot more than men. This magazine has used this to make itself appealing to their audience. By discussing relationships within the magazine, women are targeted.
The topic of fashion is usually associated with women because of society. Even though this stereotype is now almost void, using stereotypes such as these on magazine covers helps to sell because of the 'use and gratification' of personal identity. Women will see read the topic wanting to apply the subject matter to their own appearance.
The topic of self image is largely associated with women due to the ideology within media today. The extreme ideology of female appearance is "thin is beautiful". This idea is used everywhere in modern media and this makes women, stereotypically, want to adjust their image.
The topic of relationships is linked to women because of their tendency to discuss relationships more. It is believed that women talk a lot more than men. This magazine has used this to make itself appealing to their audience. By discussing relationships within the magazine, women are targeted.
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