Magazine
Textual Analysis: Miley Cirus Issue of 'Fashion' Magazine.
The main
attraction on the front cover of this magazine is the large, medium-long image
of Miley Cirus. The sultry, voyeuristic pose implies the sexual implications of
this magazine, and that this “fashion” magazine is specifically targeting
female audiences due to the issue having a female model representing women bang
in the centre of the cover and so also is representing women’s fashion. Also,
by using Miley Cirus as the model of this issue, they make the magazine
relatable to young girls as they will recognise the woman on the cover and
therefore subconsciously feel more connected to what the magazine is stating.
Firstly, the
bright blue eyes of the model is making eye contact with the reader initially
reigning in the admirer, along with the boldness of the eye make-up emphasising
the pale blue eyes which in turn matches the mast head of the cover, linking in
the model precisely to the issue. Also, the harsh, dark eyebrows and blood red
lipstick emphasises the voyeurism of this issue and suggests representations of
‘femme fetale’ which links to the theorist Steve Neale. According to Neale,
genre is developed through ‘repetition and difference’. Within the models
aesthetic, she is accompanied with red lips, red nails, finger biting, and an
extremely scandalous dress including many holes revealing much skin. This
creates a convention for sex appeal and confidence which is seen throughout the
cover. Not only does the dress imply confidence (and the many holes connotes a
‘web of lies’ through the clothing looking like a spiders web), but the
suggestive pose by Miley creates a voluptuous representation of women and that
now young girls should look this provocative to be ‘in fashion’ and to fit in
with society.
In addition, a
technical code is applied in this issue, with the colour red of Miley’s nails
and lipstick connects with the other red features of the magazine that is
highlighted in red, implying the other red text is important to the reader of
the magazine and the editors want this information to stand out to the reader.
Moreover,
Barthes theory is also applied in this magazine with again the colour red. For
the women reading, this colour red could be interpreted in many different ways,
with it either meaning confident and sultry, aggressive, or passionate, and so
this magazine will therefore be viewed in many different fashions, however it
is suggested that the editor of this magazine rather wanted the audience to
think of passion and voyeurism due to other connotations made through the image
of Miley.
Furthermore,
the contrast of the red, blue and black (all bold colours) against the white
background only emphasises the bold statement about women this magazine is
creating. This issue of ‘Fashion’ magazine is making a daring implication about
women proposing that this image of Miley Cirus is what you fantasise and wish
you could look like, and that by reading this issue you can then learn how to
draw people (mainly men) in just like this magazine drew you in as a reader. This
links to the theory of Stuart Hall. According to Hall, it’s not the denotation
that creates meaning, it’s the connotation. This issue is all down to
representation, and how today’s society now represents women with these sexual
implications, not even implicitly with the provocative medium-long shot but
even with denotations such as the text submitted around Miley, such as: “Why
you should want sex” or “Shocking is what I’m good at”.
