chapter 5 magazines: the power of words and images
TRANSCRIPT
Early Magazines
• What is a magazine? A publication of lasting interest targeted at a specific audience. A collection of articles.
• 1704: Daniel Defoe founds The Review. Commonly considered the first magazine.
• 1740: Competition between Ben Franklin and Andrew Bradford to launch first American magazine. Bradford wins by three days.
The Saturday Evening Post
• First published in 1821• Contained essays, poetry, obituaries, and a
column called “The Ladies’ Friend”• First truly national medium• Post remained important until the coming of
television
Birth of Photojournalism
• Photographer Mathew Brady first became famous for portraits, Civil War photography team.
• By 1864, Harper’s Weekly was reproducing his team’s photos.
• Promoted idea that photographs could be published documents preserving history.
Types of Magazines
• Consumer magazinesPublications targeting an audience of like-minded consumers
• Trade magazinesMagazines published for people who work in an industry or business
• Literary magazinesPublications that focus on serious essays and short fiction
Literary and Commentary Magazines
• Atlantic, New Republic, NationSerious publications with progressive orientation published since the 1800s.
• National ReviewConservative response to New Republic and Nation by William F. Buckley.
• CrisisPublished by NAACP to give voice to African Americans.
The Muckrakers
• Progressive investigative journalists writing in the late 1800s, early 1900s
• McClure’sPopular reform-oriented muckraking magazine featuring work by Lincoln Steffens and Ida Tarbell.
Henry Luce & Birth of Time Life
• Luce developed idea of Time magazine in early 1920s to present the week’s news in context.
• Followed by Fortune covering business• Life magazine presented the news through
photos, featured work of Margaret Bourke-White.
Godey’s Lady’s Book
• Sarah Josepha Hale was editor from 1837 to 1877
• Defined what women’s magazines would become
• Gave women a voice, professionalized magazine writing
Women’s Magazines
• Service magazines“Seven Sisters” and others, how to do things better. Health, cooking, employment, fashion
• FBL – Fashion, beauty, lifestyleVogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar
• CosmopolitanGlobal magazine for young women, focus on unmarried women
Men’s Magazines
• 1933: EsquireLiterature, pinups, and fashion for an intelligent readership.
• 1953: PlayboyPictures and a lifestyle. First issue featured a nude Marilyn Monroe centerfold.
• 1993: Maxim“Lad” magazine featuring sex, sports, and humor. Meeting the needs of the “inner guy.”
Magazines and Body Image
• Critics charge that magazines and ads present excessively thin models.
• Dove reacted in 2005 with “Campaign for Real Beauty” featuring models of a variety of sizes.
• Magazines now occasionally featuring “realistic-looking” women in photos.
• Controversy over the “Photoshopping” of a Kelly Clarkson cover for Self.
Advertising vs. Editorial Control
• Conflict between advertising and editorial departments.
• SynergyMagazines, models, and sponsors work together to match ads with stories about models and the products they endorse.
• Blurring of ads and editorial contentAds can be made to look like magazine content.
Dick Stolley’s Cover Rules
• Young is better than old• Pretty is better than ugly• Rich is better than poor• Music is better than movies• Movies are better than television• Nothing is better than a dead celebrity
Covers and Race
• American magazines rarely feature non-whites on cover.
• In 2002, less than 20 percent of magazine covers featured people of color.
• As of 2009, Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue has featured only two women of color on the cover.
• But may be changing; teen music magazines often have non-whites on covers.