Magazine editors must think we're all just naïve, mouth breathing, purse-toting, Forrest Gumps that are either too distracted by our engagement bling or celebrity obsessions to pay attention to what's going on.
Take the publication Real Simple, for example. Generally, I love it. Three nights ago, I saw the 2010 edition of Real Simple Weddings, which was $13.95, but I purchased it because it came with a year subscription to the magazine. Then, I noticed something. Aren't those the same bridal party dresses in the 2009 edition?
But that wasn't all that was the same. Essentially, I was taken -- despite the year subscription I got with the magazine. The cake pictures were the same. Wedding dress pictures? Same. Reception ideas? Same. I supposed the editors thought no one would notice as long as they changed up picture sizes and the order in which they fell on the page (see more examples at bottom of blog). It's a tragedy and makes me afraid to see what will be coming in the mailbox month to month.
And don't even get me started on the Vanity Fair controversy.
I see the value of featuring Evan Rachel Wood for True Blood and Across the Universe, Kristin Stewart and Anna Kendrick for moving past the Twilight Saga, and Amanda Seyfried for Mama Mia! and Dear John. (See this link or this link for more about the others). However, Joanna Douglas, who writes for Shine (a fashion spin-off of Yahoo!), couldn't be more correct about this issue. First, she writes, some of these "fresh faces" were featured in 2008.
The other controversy? There's no diversity! All you have are a bunch of pasty white girls who look like they haven't eaten since 2002. Hell, these chicks are even wearing the same colors. What message does that send to our youth? As a communications teacher this sends a message of assimilating with the "popular culture" and catering to stereotypes. I wonder if they're all of the same social class, sexuality and religion as well...
Douglas writes: "Young Hollywood is predominantly Caucasian, we can think of a slew of non-white, non-rail thin actors who made a splash this year (Gabourey Sidibe from "Precious" anyone?). In the accompanying article, Vanity Fair writer Evgenia Peretz calls out the young cover stars by their best attributes: "downy-soft cheeks," "button nose," "patrician looks and celebrated pedigree," "dewy, wide-eyed loveliness," "Ivory-soap-girl features." Roles for black, Asian, and Latin actors are scarce in Hollywood, but surely Sidibe, Zoe Saldana of "Avatar" and "Star Trek," and Freida Pinto of "Slumdog Millionaire" are having their moment. Vanity Fair may have been looking for the most promising batch of talent for their issue, but they should have been looking for a diverse group of women as well."
People in the magazine biz should get a clue. We like magazines. We aren't all the same pale girl vying for a Cullen's (or a guy like him) attention. We aren't stupid. We pay attention. They should, too.
Examples: Real Simple Doubles Up
1 comments:
I normally like Real Simple, but that pisses me off.
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