Cory Smith Media: October 2014

Thursday 23 October 2014

Naomi Wolf - The Beauty Myth (1991)

Marjorie Fegusons Use of Facial Expressions

In 1980 Marjorie Ferguson coined four terms for four different poses for magazine covers.

They are called: Chocolate Box,Invitational, Super Smiler and Romantic or Sexual.

Chocolate Box:

This is a half or full smile with lips together but can be slightly parted as long as teeth are just barely visible. the face is either full to the camera or three quarters of the way. The mood of the artist is that they're portraying warmth.

Invitational:
Emphasis on the eyes. The mouth is shut or with only a hint of a smile. The head is to one side or looking back on the camera. The projected mood is suggesting mystery with the hint potential contact rather than sexual promise.

Super-Smiler

Full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward with the chin thrown back. The hair is often wind-blown. The projected mood is a demanding, 'look-at-me' approach.

Romantic or Sexual
The classification is devised to include male and female models. the models are portrayed as overtly sensual or sexual. They're projected as 'available'

Monday 20 October 2014

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Blumler and Katz - The Four Needs Theory

Blumler and Katz suggested that people read magazines to satisfy their needs:

Escape from everyday life;
Surveillance and information;
Personal relationships;
Personal identity.

This theory can be applied to my music magazine.

The music magazine will offer escape from everyday life as the reader will get involved with the stories and dramas of the cover star and forget about their own for a short period of time. It will offer surveillance as it will provide information to the reader and allow them to find out information about the artist's lives and about upcoming events that will interest them. It will offer personal relationships as they will feel like they can build relationships with the cover star as they feel like they're sharing information with one another. It also allows relationships to be built between readers as they will build an interaction on social media and share opinions on a new album. My magazine will fin ally allow personal identities to be created as they can relate themselves to a genre of music if they buy that magazine as they can then allow themselves to say they're a 'pop' fan.