Thursday 12 December 2013

Naomi Wolf's Beauty Myth!


     Naomi Wolf, the American Feminist of 1991, says that the use of attractive women is often used to help see products on to other women. She also states that women have been conditioned into aspiring what is fashionable now and want to look like a model, by a male dominated society.
     Naomi Wolf creates a book entitled, 'The Beauty Myth' to tell everyone how a woman feels about themselves when magazines are feeding insecurities about not being thin.  Magazine companies and newspapers achieve this by having an almost nude, sexy0looking facial expression, a gorgeous female, thin and airbrushed models being used as a source to grab the reader's attention. In most cases when women are used, female readers usually pick out their own faults as they compare themselves with the models being used on the cover. These poses also suggest that female sexuality is replaced by the means of beauty, and showing that women are putting themselves in competition with each other and is often positioned against one another, yet women don't see their bodies as a source of pleasure.  
     For my magazine, I will be using images of females on my front cover, as well as my double page spread. They are represented as joyful, happy and attractive characters to attract my target audience of teenage girls because they want to be like the attractive individuals on the cover, therefore this attracts more people.  
     By using attractive women on my magazine I will be exploiting Naomi Wolf's theory that an attractive model is used to sell a product by leading women to think that if they buy the product, they will enhance their looks to look like the model on the cover.

Here are a few images of Naomi Wolf's book of the Beauty Myth:


Thursday 5 December 2013

Majorie Ferguson Theory: Romantical or Sexual!

     This facial expression is dreamy, heavy-lidded and unsmiling. It is overtly sensual or sexual. The clothing that is used on the model is often limited and props are sometimes used.
     Projected Mood: The mood that this look creates is dreamy and gives the sense that the model is 'available' and definitely 'available.'

     Here are a few examples of magazines that have used the romantic or sexual facial expression on the cover of the magazine:






      This facial expression would be good for a rock magazine, however my magazine is pop for teenaged girls therefore this wouldn't be appropriate for my magazine cover.




Majorie Ferguson Theory: Invitational!

     The invitational facial expression is when the focus is emphasised on the eyes. The model often uses a closed mouth with only a hint of a smile and their teeth are barely showing at times and their head is to one side, slightly. This expression creates a more suggestive mood and gives a sense of mischief or mystery, the use of contact is potential rather that creating a sexual promise.

Here are a few examples of a magazine using an Invitational facial expression on the cover of the magazine:



     I think this facial expression would be quite an intriguing facial expression to use and it will invite my target audience to buy my magazine. It will also look as though the model is looking at the audience and inviting them in and catching their attention by looking straight at the readers. It also suggests that the magazine is aimed directly at the readers.

Majorie Ferguson Theory: Chocolate Box!

      The Chocolate Box is when a model has a half or full-smile, their lips are together or can be slightly parted with teeth barely visible, they turn their face fully or three quarters towards the camera.
     Projected Mood: This facial expression creates warm, bath warmth with uniformity of their features which are smoothed to perfection which is a devoid of uniqueness or of individuality.

Here are some examples of Chocolate Box being used within some magazine covers:



     I think this would be quite an inviting facial expression and it would portray to my audience that the magazine is serious about the artist that is on the cover page and it also suggests that the article is interesting, therefore this would be a good facial expression for my model to use on the front cover.

Majorie Ferguson Theory: Super Smiler!

     The Super Smiler uses the full face and has a wide open smile with visible teeth. The model often looks happy and is giving of a good vibe. The head is slightly forward and the chin is back. The hair will often be wind swept or blown and this gives of a 'Look at me' approach.

Here are some examples of the Super Smiler look that has been used on some magazine covers:




     I think using this facial expression on my model will create a good and happy vibe. It will make the reader feel like the magazine will lift their spirits and it will make them more likely to enjoy reading the magazine with this facial expression. This facial expression makes the model look happy and glad to be on the front of the magazine and this will make the readers of my magazine feel like the magazine is good and interesting making it more likely that they will pick this magazine up as it is more vibrant and happy.