Answer the following questions as quickly as you can.
- Where does the word ‘magazine’ come from? What does it mean? How does it relate to what we know as a magazine?
- What are the major components of the magazine you have been given? Categorise the sections that it falls into.
- Why do magazines exist in different forms? I.e. glossy, weekly etc.
- Using your magazine as an example, what do you identify as the common features of a front cover?
- What kinds of advertising does your magazine include? Give examples and explain why these products.
- How far is your magazine trying to promote a particular way of being female / male? Identify the female / male roles it is addressing and whether or not it reaffirms or challenges these notions of femininity or masculinity. Give concrete examples here.
- Why are there so few ‘alternative’ and minority women’s magazines?
Now brainstorm these exam type questions:
- How significant is the relationship between the magazine publishers and the advertising business? Support your answer with examples.
- Using one specific example, spell out how it targets its ideal reader.
- ‘Women’s magazines are useful in helping girls and women to learn what it means to be female.’ How far do you agree with this statement?