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?
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?
The article about Donald Trump gas lighting America
2) When was the original Teen Vogue magazine launched and what was its original content?
Teen Vogue was originally launched in 2003, and its content included: fashion and celebrity gossip.
3) How did editor Elaine Welteroth change Teen Vogue’s approach in 2015?
Welteroth decided it was more appropriate for the modernday teenage audience to be informed about things like politics and moving forward in life, i.e. things like college.
4) How many stories are published on Teen Vogue a day? What topics do they cover?
The team of editors will publish 50-70 stories a day. These will range from politics, to fashion, to lifestyle.
5) What influence did digital director Phillip Picardi have over the editorial direction?
6) What is Teen Vogue’s audience demographic and what does ‘woke’ refer to?
Teen Vogues demographic is ages 18-24 females, and the word "woke" refers to being socially conscious
7) What issues are most important to Teen Vogue readers?
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?
Gevinson suggests that the internet has changed the way audiences react to things, which links to "End of an Audience" as it shows the audience of the modern cultures doing more than just reading/viewing the media product as they are now trying to make change with things that are perhaps wrong.
9) What social and political issues have been covered successfully by Teen Vogue?
"Trump Gaslighting America"-Trump telling lies to put himself in a better position for the vote.
10) What do Teen Vogue readers think of the magazine and website?
Teen Vogue reader love the website as at a womens parade the editor, Elaine Welteroth had seen a sign taying that "Teen Vogue will save us all," therefore this reader is clearly portraying her love for the website.
Teen Vogue textual analysis and example articles
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?
Some key conventions i found were:
- the menu icon
- category bar along the top
- logo
- images
- social media references
- articles
- click bait titles
- continuous scrolling feeling
2) How does the page design encourage audience engagement?
The home page encourages audience interaction through social media, as well as through the titles which through the titles make it seem like the writer is talking to the audience, asking them a question of sorts and encouraging thoughts.
3) Where does advertising appear on the homepage?
4) What are the items in the top menu bar and what does this tell you about the content of Teen Vogue?
- News and Politics
- Fashion
- Entertainment
- Beauty
- Lifestyle
- Wellness
- Homecoming
5) How far does the homepage scroll down? How many stories appear on the homepage in total?
The homepage goes as far as 5 different categories, all with different things to offer, the first being the editors pick of sorts, displaying a range of different important stories, the next being the trending subheading, showing relevant topics their target audience may be stereo typically interested in. After that we are met with more stories, displayed in a list format, some of which include ones from the top of the homepage. Next is the Teen Vogue 21 under 21, which portray successful young women.
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?
- Tech
- Campus Life
- Careers
- Decorating Ideas
- Food
2) How is the Lifestyle section designed to encouragement audience engagement? Think about page design, images, text and more.
The titles if the articles have quite a personal tone to them, allowing audiences to feel more enticed to click them, pretty much click bait titles. These make it seem as the reader is having a conversation with the writer of the article. In addition to this, the use if GIFs to evoke a sense of humor, one of which being Rachel from friends with a turkey on her head. Also, because this page is formatted in a list, it entices the readers to continue scrolling in a way.
3) What do you notice about the way headlines are written in Teen Vogue?
4) What does the focus on education, university and ‘campus life’ tell you about the Teen Vogue audience demographics and psychographics?
This tell us that Teen Vogues audience is on the older side of the spectrum of teenagers, meaning that it focuses on more mature topics, like politics, and preparing for university. In addition, this tells us that the psycographics of the Teen Vogue readers would be: Aspirers/Reformers as TV readers want to change the world, and aspirers because of the themes the website focuses on, like beauty and fashion.
5) Choose three stories featured in the Lifestyle section – why do they fit the Teen Vogue brand?
- 7 Things you should do when applying to colleges - Teen Vogue readers are likley to be either in college or applying, therefore there is appeal straight away.
- 3 Reasons the XR should be your next phone - TV readers may be interested in new technology, meaning that not only will they know about the Iphone XR, but may be considering buying a new phone, therefore this article
- Starbucks is selling a "Snowy Cheese Latte" - T.V readers may go to Starbucks and may therefore be interested in a new flavour coffee that they are bringing out
Five key articles
Read the following five notable Teen Vogue features then answer the questions below for EACH feature.
For each article:
Trump Gaslighting America:
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
Lauren Duca is the writer of this article and it is about Trump telling lies to america, so much so that he begins to really believe the lies that he is telling.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
This article uses narrative to portray the binary opposition between republicans and democrats, clearly portrayed simply through the writers viewpoints. Also, the Propp's character types, as Trump is clearly portrayed as the villain, and the writer as the hero/donor of sorts as she gives us useful information.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant because it was the first of many articles that put Teen Vogue into the limelight for being a mature magazine/website aimed at young people, that talked about political issues, such as Trump etc.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
This article reflects the values of a modern day Teen Vogue due to the fact that it clearly has left wing ideologies, as it villainizes Trump and debunks a lot of the lies that he has told.
The New Face Of Teen Activism
The New Face Of Teen Activism
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
Alexis Manrodt is the writer of this article and it is about activism online and how it can be more impactful than initially thought out to be.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
This article portrays the internet as the donor to the people who are using it, this is due to the fact that the writer says that the internet provided a safe place for people to have open discussions and talk about feminist issues.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
This reflects the ideologies of Teen Vogue due to the fact that it is has feminist qualities and can be said to be quite gender fluid therefore supporting the LGBTQ community
Black Teens have been fighting for gun reform for years
Black Teens have been fighting for gun reform for years
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
Lincoln Anthony Blades is the writer of this article and it is about black teenagers, that were in some way or another affected by the Parkland Shooting in Florida nearly a year ago, and how they have been against societies like the NRA in trying to limit gun control.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
This article uses narrative to portray the people fighting as underdogs of sorts as they try fight for what they believe in, meaning that they know the journey to tighter gun laws will be tough but they are willing to take it in order to change the world.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant due to the fact that it features names like Oprah Winfrey supporting the cause of the teenagers as well as the Clooneys, who also donated money in support of these teens.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
This article reflects the left wing ideologies of Teen Vogue clearly, in that the democratic view on gun control is that it should be put in place, in more of an extent.
Netflix and Strong Female Leads
Netflix and Strong Female Leads
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
De Elizabeth is the writer of this article and it talks about female stars that are in Netflix originals.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
It is clear that the women featured in this article are portrayed as the heroes as they are all central protagonists in the article, as well as in their respected series.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant as perhaps 40 years ago we wouldn't be seeing as many strong female leads in mainstream media, now there is thousands, some of which being highlighted in this article.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
This article strongly reflects the strong feminist view of Teen Vogue, as being a woman is celebrated through the article talking about these successful women.
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