For example, the cover of the September 2010 issue of Vanity Fair has a picture of Lady Gaga plastered on the cover. In the past, Lady Gaga has certainly been on the covers of virtually every pop-culture magazine in circulation.
It is true, that Vanity Fair is similar to these other girly magazines in many ways. Like many others, Vanity Fair markets itself to the fashion-obsessed, as well as the pop-culture-obsessed reader. It targets primarily women (and most likely the gay community). Its target audience is moderately wealthy, and obsessed with what is "in."
There is something about the magazine that does make it stand out from Vogue or Cosmo, however. It has the ability to appeal to a more worldly, fashionista. Once you flip through the seemingly thousands of fashion advertisements, you can find a few articles of substance. There does seem to be a trend, for the most part, when it comes to the length and placement of the articles.
The majority of the articles in Vanity Fair are rather short. They may take up a quarter or half of a page. The shorter articles, in the earlier pages of the magazine are of little consequence or importance to most. They cover topics such as makeup, popular music, restaurants, clothing collections, and other fashion-related topics. One of the short articles even turns the topic of sports into a fashion piece.
There are also a few medium-length articles as you venture further into the issue. These articles cover topics with slightly more to them. One of these articles gives an overview of the different neighborhoods one can choose to inhabit in NYC. In another, actor James Franco writes about researching his latest movie role. In a third medium-length article, an insider tells secrets about financial news and bad C.E.O.'s. These articles, typically about one page long, offer a little more to the reader.
There are also a handful of longer, feature length articles. These articles span anywhere from two and a half to ten pages in length and can be found towards the back of the issue. The cover story, about Lady Gaga, and a few other fashion-related articles, hold true to the typical girly magazine article. There are a few, however, that would not be found in these other magazines. There are two multiple-page articles concerning politics. There is also a multiple-page article about an accountant who scammed a handful of well-respected people out of millions of dollars. These articles contain a little more substance. They cover "real" issues, and can draw in a certain type of reader. They are for the reader who likes to be up-to-date with fashion, food, and music, but also has a head on her (or maybe his) shoulders. These are for people who actually like to read.
There are also a few write-in sections in this issue of Vanity Fair. The first section is actually a poll. The subject of the poll focuses on what we are still willing to spend our money on amidst this economic crisis. The results of the poll are split up by age group. The questions use reference to sports, popular television shows, and the like. Due to the references chosen, I would say that the poll is geared more toward the younger age groups. Older people may not understand these references as well. There is also an actual write-in section where readers can submit their thoughts on previous issues of the magazine. In this issue, people responded mostly to an article about Elizabeth Taylor and then men in her life. This makes sense considering Elizabeth Taylor is a very well-known fashion and pop-culture icon. There were also letter in response to an article about Sean Penn leaving Hollywood for Haiti. The article that these responses were about seems to be geared toward the section of the magazine's audience that actually likes to read.
The audience that Vanity Fair is trying to compel is an easy one to guess. The magazine, in whole, is a fashion magazine. Who is typically concerned more with fashion? Women. And how can I tell that these women are for the most part moderately wealthy? Because people without a lot of money cannot afford the items that are being advertised. I am sure, however, that there are some women who buy the magazine who are not wealthy. These women must just wish that they could buy these things. I also know that the magazine, in part, is geared toward the more intellectual fashionista because of some of the articles in the back portion of the magazine. Articles about financials and politics entice a reader who knows about more than just fashion and pop-culture.
It is true, that Vanity Fair is similar to these other girly magazines in many ways. Like many others, Vanity Fair markets itself to the fashion-obsessed, as well as the pop-culture-obsessed reader. It targets primarily women (and most likely the gay community). Its target audience is moderately wealthy, and obsessed with what is "in."
There is something about the magazine that does make it stand out from Vogue or Cosmo, however. It has the ability to appeal to a more worldly, fashionista. Once you flip through the seemingly thousands of fashion advertisements, you can find a few articles of substance. There does seem to be a trend, for the most part, when it comes to the length and placement of the articles.
The majority of the articles in Vanity Fair are rather short. They may take up a quarter or half of a page. The shorter articles, in the earlier pages of the magazine are of little consequence or importance to most. They cover topics such as makeup, popular music, restaurants, clothing collections, and other fashion-related topics. One of the short articles even turns the topic of sports into a fashion piece.
There are also a few medium-length articles as you venture further into the issue. These articles cover topics with slightly more to them. One of these articles gives an overview of the different neighborhoods one can choose to inhabit in NYC. In another, actor James Franco writes about researching his latest movie role. In a third medium-length article, an insider tells secrets about financial news and bad C.E.O.'s. These articles, typically about one page long, offer a little more to the reader.
There are also a handful of longer, feature length articles. These articles span anywhere from two and a half to ten pages in length and can be found towards the back of the issue. The cover story, about Lady Gaga, and a few other fashion-related articles, hold true to the typical girly magazine article. There are a few, however, that would not be found in these other magazines. There are two multiple-page articles concerning politics. There is also a multiple-page article about an accountant who scammed a handful of well-respected people out of millions of dollars. These articles contain a little more substance. They cover "real" issues, and can draw in a certain type of reader. They are for the reader who likes to be up-to-date with fashion, food, and music, but also has a head on her (or maybe his) shoulders. These are for people who actually like to read.
There are also a few write-in sections in this issue of Vanity Fair. The first section is actually a poll. The subject of the poll focuses on what we are still willing to spend our money on amidst this economic crisis. The results of the poll are split up by age group. The questions use reference to sports, popular television shows, and the like. Due to the references chosen, I would say that the poll is geared more toward the younger age groups. Older people may not understand these references as well. There is also an actual write-in section where readers can submit their thoughts on previous issues of the magazine. In this issue, people responded mostly to an article about Elizabeth Taylor and then men in her life. This makes sense considering Elizabeth Taylor is a very well-known fashion and pop-culture icon. There were also letter in response to an article about Sean Penn leaving Hollywood for Haiti. The article that these responses were about seems to be geared toward the section of the magazine's audience that actually likes to read.
The audience that Vanity Fair is trying to compel is an easy one to guess. The magazine, in whole, is a fashion magazine. Who is typically concerned more with fashion? Women. And how can I tell that these women are for the most part moderately wealthy? Because people without a lot of money cannot afford the items that are being advertised. I am sure, however, that there are some women who buy the magazine who are not wealthy. These women must just wish that they could buy these things. I also know that the magazine, in part, is geared toward the more intellectual fashionista because of some of the articles in the back portion of the magazine. Articles about financials and politics entice a reader who knows about more than just fashion and pop-culture.
Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair.
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