While you sitting comfortably in the classroom today, please take a look at the following assignment that is due at the end of class tomorrow.We have looked at bias and at adverstising. Now combine the two specifically in exploring the topic of race / women / and the media. On Monday, explore the following magazines on this link, noting the story topics. Do you note any common themes? What are physical images?
http://www.blacknews.com/directory/black_african_american_magazines.shtml
On Tuesday, organize your notes into a succinct reflective response of approximately 300 words. Please post on the blog.
Joe Castrechino
ReplyDeleteThe website blackmagazines.com is a website with many magazines for everyone but only have black people in it. There are many famous people in the magazines who are movie actors or musical artists etc. There are magazines for only females and some for only males but most of them are for both genders. The images in these magazines are of the famous people and some of there vehicles ort houses or other belongings. They also have pictures of them and their spouses or like their children and family members. They would mostly talk about the famous peoples lives and what is happening in there career and how the critics think they are doing. They also have clothing magazines for only African Americans. There are musical magazines and time magazines and business magazines and many more all for African Americans. I’m sure that most people look at these magazines not just the African Americans, and that all magazines should be for everyone not just a certain race or gender. I don’t understand why everyone always has to be diverse. I think that the world shouldn’t be diverse like didn’t we just get done with all of this in the mid 1900’s??? And now people keep blaming others and there are so many problems; like killings, fighting and arguing for no reason.
Joe Castrechino
ReplyDeleteThe website blackmagazines.com is a website with many magazines for everyone but only have black people in it. There are many famous people in the magazines who are movie actors or musical artists etc. There are magazines for only females and some for only males but most of them are for both genders. The images in these magazines are of the famous people and some of there vehicles ort houses or other belongings. They also have pictures of them and their spouses or like their children and family members. They would mostly talk about the famous peoples lives and what is happening in there career and how the critics think they are doing. They also have clothing magazines for only African Americans. There are musical magazines and time magazines and business magazines and many more all for African Americans. I’m sure that most people look at these magazines not just the African Americans, and that all magazines should be for everyone not just a certain race or gender. I don’t understand why everyone always has to be diverse. I think that the world shouldn’t be diverse like didn’t we just get done with all of this in the mid 1900’s??? And now people keep blaming others and there are so many problems; like killings, fighting and arguing for no reason.
I have looked at some of the magazines on the website, and every magazine main focus is black people. Some of them are not something that I would want to read. There are many different kinds of magazines, and some are appropriate, some aren’t for some people. I also notice that the magazine themes are very catchy. They aren’t just regular magazines; they seem more interesting than others, which kind of caught my eye. Every magazine seems more realistic which makes it more interesting. When there is more color on a magazine it also catches my eyes even more because black and white can be interesting, but it wouldn’t be the first thing that I look at. On some of the magazines I also see that regardless there will always be some kind of drama on the cover, and I think it’s that way only so that someone will pick up the magazine, and read it more. Regardless there is always going to be some kind of drama or gossip in the magazine because that can be more interesting than other topics. Magazines also put celebrities in the spotlight to shine when they have achieved something, such as sports, new albums, and new marriage, anything that will start a great article. I think the biggest thing is to get the readers attention, and that is all in the cover. If the cover of the magazine looks interesting then a person will seek more of the magazine. If it looks boring they might not even pick it up. I also notice that all the magazines that are interesting rare not all sexual, or gossip, there is actual some nice things to read about. Every magazine has its own thing, and main objective to talk about.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the majority of these magazines are bias because they portray one image of the African American, female in particular. These magazines influence foreigners to think that all black women are only good for their looks and sexual pleasure. They don’t emphasize the fact that most, if not all of the video vixens are in college pursuing a professional degree. Why they degrade themselves by being apart of music video? I don’t know. But I do know that sex sells and African American women are being exposed the most. I also find to be very ironic that most of the music producers and magazine editors of black magazines are white. And they allow African Americans to degrade themselves and their culture. But if that black rapper said something degrading about a white girl, all hell would break loose. One example that comes to mind is the whole Kanye West and Taylor Swift Beyonce incident. If Taylor had been Raven Simone or somebody, Kanye wouldn’t have had such a hard time. However no matter who it was Kanye was wrong.
ReplyDeleteDionna Austin
ReplyDeleteI have viewed the magazines and I noticed that they are full of black people. Many of them show famous black people who have accomplished a lot in their lives. It may show them and their beautiful families. Some magazines are not just plain normal. They may be a little inappropriate to some individuals as to it might show a black female being a little too reveal or an R&B artist being a little to "sexy." It does not bother everybody but the magazines may not be suitable for all ages. But they are very catchy, the magazines may catch you with a crazy quote that might say " Beyonce Cheated On Jay-Z." The magazines may grab someone's attention by showing an artist wonderful 6 pack stomach all oiled up.
After looking at all the magazine on this website the common theme was black celebrities. After looking at a few of the magazines they didn't seem to have much information that is relevant to the world. They just focus on individual people and gossip. It didn't draw much interest from me except for a few of the magazines like the hip hop weekly. A lot of the magazines contained the celebrities and their possessions like their cars or their house. They are photographed a lot of the time with their families and look happy. Although for a few of the magazines some celebrities are being looked down upon so the picture is relevant to that. Also, for example, in the hip hop weekly magazine a music artist would try and look tough to portray an image of being "hard". The magazines are similar in many ways but all have different reasons of being written as well. They each have different points to get across but all focus mainly on black people and gossip.
ReplyDeleteWell I think that this site has provided some magazines that have real substance. However it is quite obvious that on the other end of the spectrum, many of these magazines have played into African American stereotypes as a means of advertising. For example a common theme found in these magazines include materialistic things such as, cars, clothing, and celebrity status. Also many of the music magazines focused only hip hop music. Although it is obvious that these magazines are made for African Americans, hip hop is not the only genre of choice for the entire race. On the website there was also a large amount of magazines that focused on the resurrection of the African American; in terms of rising up from poverty, ignorance, and discrimination. I personally found these magazines more stimulating.
ReplyDelete