Teen Vogue: background reading
Read this Guardian feature from 2017 on Teen Vogue and answer the following questions.
1) What was the article that announced Teen Vogue as a more serious, political website – with 1.3m hits and counting?
"donald trump is gas-lighting America" - Lauren Duca
2) When was the original Teen Vogue magazine launched and what was its original content?
It was launched in 2004, Teen Vogue used to focus on the standard cocktail of fashion must-haves and celebrity worship.
3) How did editor Elaine Welteroth change Teen Vogue’s approach in 2015?
the team, including then beauty editor Welteroth, engineered a shift. That issue featured three unknown black models on the cover, seemingly breaking all the rules (that you should have a famous person; and that having no Caucasian faces on the cover is a commercial risk).
4) How many stories are published on Teen Vogue a day? What topics do they cover?
between 50 and 70 a day, they cover fashion, entertainment and current affairs.
5) What influence did digital director Phillip Picardi have over the editorial direction?
his influence was diversifying the backgrounds of the people in our newsroom.
6) What is Teen Vogue’s audience demographic and what does ‘woke’ refer to?
the demographic is 18-24 and woke means a slang term, as “a byword for social awareness.”
7) What issues are most important to Teen Vogue readers?
“Identity is big. We want to help make them feel better about themselves, whether that’s giving beauty tips, or empowering them with political information to have smarter conversations and feel they can stand up for themselves.” Career advice “is an evergreen topic”; above all, “young people are craving something real, craving authenticity”.
8) What does Tavi Gevinson suggest regarding the internet and ‘accountability culture’ with regards to modern audiences? Can you link this to our work on Clay Shirky?
She believes the internet has created an “accountability culture”, where the relationship with readers is closer and more transparent, and says brands have had to respond to that. “It is in their best interest to subvert expectations of teen girl magazines,” Gevinson says. “The general response to Teen Vogue’s shift seems to be shock and praise, because they are a Condé publication whose main concern is making money. And being political and feminist are considered risky, PR-wise.”
9) What social and political issues have been covered successfully by Teen Vogue?
10) What do Teen Vogue readers think of the magazine and website?
teen vogue readers thoroughly enjoy reading the magazine where they see many of the topics they care about being expressed.
Homepage analysis
Go to the Teen Vogue homepage and answer the following:
1) What website key conventions can you find on the Teen Vogue homepage?
- Task/menu bar at the top of the homepage
- Consistent colour scheme throughout the homepage
- Most relevant/popular stories are at the top of the homepage
2) How does the page design encourage audience engagement?
Trending sections and a layout targeting younger audiences.
3) Where does advertising appear on the homepage?
It's clearly labelled as 'Sponsored'
4) What are the items in the top menu bar and what does this tell you about the content of Teen Vogue?
Their content is very widely ranged.
5) How far does the homepage scroll down? How many stories appear on the homepage in total?
Scrolls for a very long time.
Lifestyle section
Now analyse the Lifestyle section of Teen Vogue and answer the following:
1) What are the items in the top menu bar for the Lifestyle section?
The menu bar for the lifestyle section includes tech, campus life, careers, decorating ideas and food.
The menu bar for the lifestyle section includes tech, campus life, careers, decorating ideas and food.
2) How is the Lifestyle section designed to encouragement audience engagement? Think about page design, images, text and more.
There are a lot of images relating to the text which could intrigue the audience and the style in which the articles are places are very formal and easy to engage with.
There are a lot of images relating to the text which could intrigue the audience and the style in which the articles are places are very formal and easy to engage with.
3) What do you notice about the way headlines are written in Teen Vogue?
The headlines are more about the reader and more based on the images shown. Furthermore the headlines also include sub headings which could catch the readers attention to read the article.
The headlines are more about the reader and more based on the images shown. Furthermore the headlines also include sub headings which could catch the readers attention to read the article.
4) What does the focus on education, university and ‘campus life’ tell you about the Teen Vogue audience demographics and psychographics?
This tells me that the audience demographics are not just teens and are also people who are older studying in university etc. The demographic is widely diverse and it is based more around educated individuals
This tells me that the audience demographics are not just teens and are also people who are older studying in university etc. The demographic is widely diverse and it is based more around educated individuals
5) Choose three stories featured in the Lifestyle section – why do they fit the Teen Vogue brand?
Clean Up Your Beauty Routine In 4 Easy Steps
Clean Up Your Beauty Routine In 4 Easy Steps
9 Holiday Decor Items Under $50 to Spruce Up Your Dorm for the Season
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas's Wedding Weekend Welcomed Guests With an Elaborate Gift
Five key articles
Read the following five notable Teen Vogue features then answer the questions below for EACH feature.
For each article:
Donald trump Is Gaslighting America.
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The Writer is Lauren Duca and the article is about the impact of Donald Trump becoming the president and how he has impacted America as a country
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
The article uses narrative to enhance Donald Trumps views and his manipulation and lies
3) Why is this article significant?
The article is significant as it is about politics and about Americas society right now presenting the truth and the consequences of Donald Trumps presidency
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
The article appeals to all demographics of Teen Vogue readers as it focuses on politics which is seen as something that the readers need to be more awake and 'woke' about
How to break away from the gender binary.
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
Writer: Samantha Riedel
This article is about how gender should not be stated at birth as sex characteristics should not be associated with gender expression. Things like body shaming and using pronouns to describe gender should be subverted as a result as it is found that one in every hundred babies are said to be different from being classed as male or female.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
The article uses narrative through Todorov's theory as there is a disequilibrium set up about gender and the way people see this which disrupts the equilibrium.
3) Why is this article significant?
ng issues to do with gender and creating a new outlook towards it.
ng issues to do with gender and creating a new outlook towards it.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
This reflects the ideologies of modern teen vogue as it takes a new approach to gender which means that it is creating a voice for the 'z' generation and creating this movement so that it can be made easier. This is what teen vogue aim to create a platform as the editor describes for everyone so they feel part of society.
The New Face Of Teen Activism
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Alexis Manrodt and the article is about social activism and the role of the internet and the media on the issue.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
It helps us understand that the goal of Teen Vogue is to create a better world for our generation.
3) Why is this article significant?
The significance of this article is that it is based on the future of the readership and how the internet can influence a lot of things.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
It reinforces how Teen Vogue is a 'woke' brand and influences change.
Black Teens Have Been Fighting For Gun Reforms For Years
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Lincoln Anthony Blades and the article is about gun control and how teens have been fighting an ongoing battle for gun reform.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
The article talks about how students have would out of class, rallys and how they have been trying to fix this issue for a very long time. This can engage the reader as they can link it to the amount of mass shootings there have been in America.
3) Why is this article significant?
This is significant as there has been a lot of stories in the news about gun violence for example school shootings and how teenage voices can impact a change on this.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Talks about how teenagers can stand up to this and create change. It also highlights issues and how people may be affected.
Netflix and Strong Female Leads
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is De Elizabeth and the article is about how Netflix has changed gender stereotypes and the way we view women.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
The article talks about general stereotypes of women and how media has changed this linking to the idea of feminism and the feminist movement.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant as it could help raise awareness on how people view women as stereotypes could have a huge impact on someone and a community. Furthermore, stereotypes are usually invalid now as things are now changing due to society and changes in the world.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
It helps make young females feel strong and independent in their own skin empowering the to become something great.
No comments:
Post a Comment