Representation Of Social Groups

In Music Magazines

By Selina Argyrou.

WomenFrom lots of research, I have found that women are usually objectified

and sexualized in magazines, especially the music magazine,

Blender. This magazine has celebrities who are half naked and posed in a

sexual way to get a reaction from the audience and to attract a male (and female) audience to want to pick up

the magazine.

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However, other music magazines such as Billboard challenges this as

the celebrity Miley Cyrus here is presented as powerful and sexy

whilst still wearing all her clothes. This shows that there are two

extremes of how music magazines approach the stereotype of women.

For my own magazine, I will be taking ideas from Billboard as I believe that my magazine would be just as successful as

Blender without having to objectify women or have the posed in a sexual way.

Men 2When looking males in music magazines, I have found that they are all presented as professional, powerful and intimidating.

Compared to how females are represented, the males are more credited in music magazines.

There are usually older men shown on the magazines such as Q, Rolling Stones and Music, as they do most of the styles of music featured in the magazine itself.

AgeWhen looking at age in music

magazines such as Mojo, we can see that they tend to use older

celebrities on the front cover. This is because Mojo specialises on music

genres like classical rock.

However, with more mainstream music and on magazines such as

Spin, they use younger people who would appeal to their target

audience more.

Furthermore, magazines such as Mojo and Guitarist use older males

who are posed naturally and casually. However, the photo of Bon Iver on the Spin front cover has been

carefully planned out to make him look cool and presentable to a

younger audience. For my own magazine, I would be looking at Spin. Although I do not want smoking in my

magazine, I want my magazine to appeal to a younger audience. I want my magazine to be

fresh, cool, reflecting the type of music I include in my magazine.

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Ethnicity

Ethnicity as a whole, has been presented as equal throughout music magazines.

However, some ethnicities can sometimes be criticized. For example, on XXL, the

black ethnicity are represented as thugs and dangerous. They are not wearing a

shirt and have lots of chains and tattoos. However, on Q magazine, the black

ethnicity is represented as the complete opposite- powerful, respectful and he

wears a formal shirt and glasses.

For my own magazine, all ethnicities shall be accepted as equal and would be represented as powerful and strong

people, not as anything less.

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Disability

One social representation that is not found in music magazines today is disability.

It could be argued that there isn't any musicians who are “good” or “known” to actually be featured in a magazine.

It could also be that the music industry is seen as fun, exciting and is not interested in pressing controversial issues.

However, it could be that music magazines are trying to promote their magazines and only include people in them

that are seen as “socially acceptable”

Whatever the reason is, disability is something no music magazine have tried to include yet and although I may not be

including someone with a disability in my own magazine, I think it would be something unique a music magazine could

one day address.

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