writing an essay

[lostbean]

i am writing an essay for women's studies about women's magazines. particularly, one issue of cosmo. i don't normally read these magazines. though i was surprised with somethings in there. i was just wondering if anyone else had some opinions. if you read them can you tell me the appeal? what do you find the most interesting about them?

Comments

[memnet]

I read Cosmo when I was a young woman, but it's been years since I picked one up. I am not sure I correctly remember what was in them since it was so long ago that I read one; I seem to remember things like make up tips, hair styling tips, relationship tips, lol. Essentially, if I'm remembering correctly, Cosmo is nothing more than a "how to get and keep a man" magazine. I do remember reading an article in Cosmo about getting a tattoo, which I found rather entertaining (since I remember reading it after all these years I must have enjoyed it). So I guess the whole thing wasn't always devoted to getting and keeping a man, lol. There is one thing that has always bugged me about Cosmo...the cover always shows a woman wearing a plunging neckline garment; don't know if they still do that as I haven't even seen or at least paid attention to the magazine sitting on sales racks in stores.

[lostbean]

cosmo is a conflicting magazine. like there is an overload of vapid pointless articles one moment and then something that is actually pretty good to know right next "oh, my god look at what this celeb is wearing!"

[cayennefool]

Ugh, I used to read InStyle. My then-gymmate got me a subscription as a gift or something of that nature. It was disappointing in that it stressed looks and fashion over anything substantial. I thought it was very much a parade of celebrities and their outfits that cost $3,000. Basically, it was a magazine designed to glorify the empty and vane and make you feel ugly. Tons of articles on clothing, some on supposed beauty, but all of it very short on instructions and specifics. They were more like checklists of things to buy. So put "blatant consumerism" somewhere on my list of complaints.

I guess I'm saying I hated it because there wasn't anything you could take away from the magazine that was useful or educational or worthwhile.

[lostbean]

this issue of cosmo is odd. i mocked most of it in the beginning. some of it was surprising though. there were some facts in there that are interesting and need to know. hmm...this one is a noodle scratcher. i am finding it hard to say everything that i want to say.