I just thought I'd post something inspiring. Not just for the sake of giving me some inspiration, but also for the sake of giving someone somthing pleasant to read.
Every artist was first an amateur.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Which, in turn, I come to the conclusion that every mathmatician and scientist was an amateur. Meaning, if they mastered those subjects, so can I!
:)
Happy weekend!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Cultural Analysis of Cosmopolitan
It is one of the most popular magazines of our time (for females at least). It can be bought at almost every grocery store, will the assurance that it will fill you in areas ranging from the seasons top trends to how to snag a guy. You can't go wrong. But, have you always wondered what type of magazine it is? The cultural significance it has upon society today, how is it influencing society today? Who is the magazine aiming primarily towards, me or a college graduate? And especially, what are the gender roles within the magazine, if any?
If you feel so inclined to read further, I have analyzed the magazine and delved into the answers to the questions.
First, we know that the magazine is directed toward a female audience. The reasoning behind this can be supported by the fact that the cover states, "What He's Dying to Hear During a Date" "Gut Feelings You Should Never Ignore" and "What's in Style Now". Honestly, I highly doubt a male would pick up this magazine because he belives in gut feelings, whats in style now, or even what "He" is dying to hear during a date (unless, however, this magazine was directed toward a different audience. If so, then it would be plausible). But anyway, now it should be clear how easy it is to label something as gender specific. Yet, that would just be gracing the surface. Cosmo is not only directed toward females, but specifically females who may just fit this criteria: Successful, young (Above 21), intelligent, stylish, and independent. Reason to back this assertion is that first, and foremost, the magazine includes various advertisements for alcohol, and encourages types of drinks. Thus, it is safe to say that it is targeting an audience above 21. Another way to demonstrate how this is targeting my stated criteria is the type of clothing featured in the magazine. It is not your average 17 magazine “deals and snags” types of clothing, but clothes that takes well paid people to buy. It touts $600 handbags, $200 blouses, and shoes whose prices would make you weep if you read. The magazine clearly aims towards females who can afford these types of luxuries. Thus, they must be educated and well paid. Another support for my criteria is the independent factor. The female featured in this magazine is always her own person. There is no cooking for a family, buying a family car, how to care for kids, and so forth. Cosmopolitan is absolutely independent of factors that affect married women. Also, most married women are not particularly interested in the how to’s of catching the right guy.
If anything, the one phrase Cosmo would use to describe women is, “in charge” which also plays into the answer to “what is feminine”. The magazine lets women know they can have anything they want, all they need to be is cunning, smart, and know what they want; exactly. From ways to control dieting, to how to make a guy fall for you, or run after you, Cosmo delivers; which brings us to gender roles. Cosmo does and does not play into gender roles. It plays into gender roles in the sense that women must dress and appear a certain way. Follow trends, dress girly, shoes are important, makeup is imperative, and hairstyles are a must. It lets women know “this is what a woman should look like”. As much as it covers the women’s role when it comes to appearance, it discourages gender roles in terms of a societal factor. Like I said, women are independent, in charge, intelligent, and successful. It does not stress anything about home life, family, kids, cooking, and so forth. It lets a women know there is world out there that does not have to include a home and family. It lets the world know that women are just as powerful as men.
When it comes to sexuality, the magazine covers a theme of heteronormativity. The support for this is that the magazine will always cover topics on male and female based relationships, but never male-male, or female-female. It basically caters to the female audience who is interested in guys. There is also the factor of visual images. The magazine extensively pictures men and women together in relationship-type embraces. The images relate to the language used in the article they are paired with by relating the type of expression and embrace with the writing. For example, there is a article titled, “The Guy Report”, and above there is a woman hugging a guy and both are smiling. This relates to the article because it is about relationships, and how to improve them. The two in the picture can be seen as being in a relationship.
Overall, this is my analysis of cosmopolitans cultural influence. Although it may be directed toward a specific audience, it is not a particularly good or bad thing. There are various magazines that cater toward certain groups of people, and cosmopolitan is directed toward a certain female audience, which does influence our culture today.
If you feel so inclined to read further, I have analyzed the magazine and delved into the answers to the questions.
First, we know that the magazine is directed toward a female audience. The reasoning behind this can be supported by the fact that the cover states, "What He's Dying to Hear During a Date" "Gut Feelings You Should Never Ignore" and "What's in Style Now". Honestly, I highly doubt a male would pick up this magazine because he belives in gut feelings, whats in style now, or even what "He" is dying to hear during a date (unless, however, this magazine was directed toward a different audience. If so, then it would be plausible). But anyway, now it should be clear how easy it is to label something as gender specific. Yet, that would just be gracing the surface. Cosmo is not only directed toward females, but specifically females who may just fit this criteria: Successful, young (Above 21), intelligent, stylish, and independent. Reason to back this assertion is that first, and foremost, the magazine includes various advertisements for alcohol, and encourages types of drinks. Thus, it is safe to say that it is targeting an audience above 21. Another way to demonstrate how this is targeting my stated criteria is the type of clothing featured in the magazine. It is not your average 17 magazine “deals and snags” types of clothing, but clothes that takes well paid people to buy. It touts $600 handbags, $200 blouses, and shoes whose prices would make you weep if you read. The magazine clearly aims towards females who can afford these types of luxuries. Thus, they must be educated and well paid. Another support for my criteria is the independent factor. The female featured in this magazine is always her own person. There is no cooking for a family, buying a family car, how to care for kids, and so forth. Cosmopolitan is absolutely independent of factors that affect married women. Also, most married women are not particularly interested in the how to’s of catching the right guy.
If anything, the one phrase Cosmo would use to describe women is, “in charge” which also plays into the answer to “what is feminine”. The magazine lets women know they can have anything they want, all they need to be is cunning, smart, and know what they want; exactly. From ways to control dieting, to how to make a guy fall for you, or run after you, Cosmo delivers; which brings us to gender roles. Cosmo does and does not play into gender roles. It plays into gender roles in the sense that women must dress and appear a certain way. Follow trends, dress girly, shoes are important, makeup is imperative, and hairstyles are a must. It lets women know “this is what a woman should look like”. As much as it covers the women’s role when it comes to appearance, it discourages gender roles in terms of a societal factor. Like I said, women are independent, in charge, intelligent, and successful. It does not stress anything about home life, family, kids, cooking, and so forth. It lets a women know there is world out there that does not have to include a home and family. It lets the world know that women are just as powerful as men.
When it comes to sexuality, the magazine covers a theme of heteronormativity. The support for this is that the magazine will always cover topics on male and female based relationships, but never male-male, or female-female. It basically caters to the female audience who is interested in guys. There is also the factor of visual images. The magazine extensively pictures men and women together in relationship-type embraces. The images relate to the language used in the article they are paired with by relating the type of expression and embrace with the writing. For example, there is a article titled, “The Guy Report”, and above there is a woman hugging a guy and both are smiling. This relates to the article because it is about relationships, and how to improve them. The two in the picture can be seen as being in a relationship.
Overall, this is my analysis of cosmopolitans cultural influence. Although it may be directed toward a specific audience, it is not a particularly good or bad thing. There are various magazines that cater toward certain groups of people, and cosmopolitan is directed toward a certain female audience, which does influence our culture today.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Random Post 1- Enlightened
I can honestly, and confidently say that this week has been one of the most hectic weeks of this semester (And, we are only on the 3rd week...). Normally, I base everything on optimism. If I'm optimistic, everything is going to be alright, right? There is always that bright spot on the sphere of life, even when its spinning out of control. Yet, what most disappoints me is that this week, I seem to have utterly forgotten how to be optimistic. Upon suffering unbearably through hours, upon hours of mathmatics, I truly felt as if life was being sucked out of me slowly and the light that continuously brightens my life has dimmed considerably. Literally, I could feel the pain rush though my mind as the convoluted word problems and alien functions hauntingly riddiculed me as I stared at them blankly. I can't wholly understand why, but I have this fear of math. It's the intimidating shadow that I can't seem to face up to. It not only intimidates me, but it reminds me of an abyss. Many of my most (maybe even all) of my most difficult academic trials have been mainly in math. When I begin solving problems, (or at least attempting painfully to solve them) I feel as if I've been pushed into that abyss, and I'm falling into the dark depths, my hands unable to grasp the sides to stop my plunge. Yet, as I say all this, I can also say that I feel ashamed that I am openly declaring what I call a blantant sign of defeat. But, as much as it may seem as a declaration of defeat to me (and possibly you), it is not. It is what will strengthen my perseverence and tenacity to succeed. Yes, I may have stated my fears clearly, I may have deeply written about my difficulty, and there just might be a hint of loathing for the numerical world, but all in all, there is also the retrospection this peice of writting has given me. In retrospect how I percieve math and how I feel it affects me, I have been enlightened. The possibility of being defeated only makes me want to fight back harder. I shall not, will not, and absolutily cannot fail. I will grab onto those walls of the abyss and I will climb out. I will overcome the shadow I call my nightmare, and in the end, it will not be the one to riddicule me, because I will be the one who will riddicule it for assuming it can take over my life.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Journal 1: About Me
My first thoughts that arose while reading the journal prompt for this assignment consisted primarily of "what should I write?" and "what can I say about myself?". The questions that I have asked myself should be fairly simplistic to answer, correct? Well, turns out, no. Of course, I can say I am a current student at the University of Arizona, I'm majoring in Economics (although the intelligence of this decision is still in question), and I have hobbies like biking and reading. But in all honestly, this is my automatic answer to the age old question to "who are you". As people, from what I have noticed, we all tend to collect a base of automated answers to common questions. But ultimatly, this clearly does not tell you the audience enough about myself. At minimum, it barley glazes the surface. Thus, I will make more of an effort to delve deeper into myself in order to provide a adequate and informable paragraph or two about myself.
First, I'm not sure if it was obvious or not (depending on my perception versus your perception of my own writing) of the previous paragraph, but I love writing. As Anais Nin said, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." Her quote not only applies to my own view or writing, but it can easily correlate with this journal entry. I am aware of my own life, my far off dreams, difficult reaching goals, the moments that provided elated smiles and those moments that gave way to the unhappiness that many of us continuously flee from. Yet, writing about myself allows me to re-live every moment while thinking about it and laying it on paper (or in this case, a computer screen). Another thing that may have been noted from what has already been writing is I am a quote lover who finds inspiration in the words of other (or at least unitl I can become famous enough to formulate intelligent and inspirational saying that attract others).
Besides being a fan of writing, a inspiration seeker in quotes, and a somewhat seemingly egoistical person (I'm hoping this is only my inference of myself, not yours) I tend to be a very fast paced person. "Fast paced" being a euphemism for "impatient". Thus, I have the opinion that I would much better "fit in" in a big city, as oppose to Tucson. I've never truly been a fan of the copius amount of cacti (to say the least) that grace the flat, dry, and brown landscape of the desert. But for those who find something spectacular about it, more power to you.
Now that I have described my passion for writing, my solace in quotes, my impatience, and my abhorrance for the desert in which we reside, I also have a love for dark chocolate, coffee, and tea. It is always a intelligent choice to pair one of those with a book. Besides enjoying writing, I also will never turn away from reading a good book. The spectrum that much of my reading falls into goes from books by Thomas Friedman (he writes about many issues facing the world today) to books by Hemmingway and Charlotte Bronte.
Overall, while this may not exactly be a complete work of writing in regard to myself, it does offer more of an accurate presentation to the type of person I am. It describes some of my favorite hobbies, my personality, and likes/dislikes. While it would be very entertaining to continue writing about myself (this does have a hint of narcissism, right?) I have quite a substancial amount of other homework to complete.
First, I'm not sure if it was obvious or not (depending on my perception versus your perception of my own writing) of the previous paragraph, but I love writing. As Anais Nin said, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." Her quote not only applies to my own view or writing, but it can easily correlate with this journal entry. I am aware of my own life, my far off dreams, difficult reaching goals, the moments that provided elated smiles and those moments that gave way to the unhappiness that many of us continuously flee from. Yet, writing about myself allows me to re-live every moment while thinking about it and laying it on paper (or in this case, a computer screen). Another thing that may have been noted from what has already been writing is I am a quote lover who finds inspiration in the words of other (or at least unitl I can become famous enough to formulate intelligent and inspirational saying that attract others).
Besides being a fan of writing, a inspiration seeker in quotes, and a somewhat seemingly egoistical person (I'm hoping this is only my inference of myself, not yours) I tend to be a very fast paced person. "Fast paced" being a euphemism for "impatient". Thus, I have the opinion that I would much better "fit in" in a big city, as oppose to Tucson. I've never truly been a fan of the copius amount of cacti (to say the least) that grace the flat, dry, and brown landscape of the desert. But for those who find something spectacular about it, more power to you.
Now that I have described my passion for writing, my solace in quotes, my impatience, and my abhorrance for the desert in which we reside, I also have a love for dark chocolate, coffee, and tea. It is always a intelligent choice to pair one of those with a book. Besides enjoying writing, I also will never turn away from reading a good book. The spectrum that much of my reading falls into goes from books by Thomas Friedman (he writes about many issues facing the world today) to books by Hemmingway and Charlotte Bronte.
Overall, while this may not exactly be a complete work of writing in regard to myself, it does offer more of an accurate presentation to the type of person I am. It describes some of my favorite hobbies, my personality, and likes/dislikes. While it would be very entertaining to continue writing about myself (this does have a hint of narcissism, right?) I have quite a substancial amount of other homework to complete.
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