Exercise: Look at a magazine cover. What can you tell about the type of magazine it is; what kinds of articles it contains; who is likely to read it? Why?
-This is a fashion magazine that contains articles about weight-loss, fashion, and celebrities. Women are more likely to read it than men because it is catered more towards women's interests.
This exercise is likely to elicit responses which focus on:
The visual elements, such as figure, costume, colour, pose, typography. Layout
-There is only one person on the cover, Taylor Swift. She is wearing mainly neutral tones with a pop of red. She looks serious, which helps with the title that she is one of the stars of the future. The layout is simple, with only three article titles, it is not too busy.
Linguistic elements – the title, lexicon, use of ‘teasers’
-The VOGUE title is on top of Swift. The words "new style" is on top of her clothes, alluding to what type of fashions that are to come. They use teasers, such as "the 15 minute workout" which attracts people who are trying to get fit fast.
Lifestyle – what kind of lifestyle is ‘on offer’? How is it offered?
-The lifestyle being offered is a simple one, with tips on how to shop more for less and a quick "magic" workout.
Representation – how are people and places constructed and presented through these technical elements?
-Swift is being presented as a "star of the future" as well as a style icon with the teasers on and around her. She is also painted as a normal person with teasers that tell tips on how to achieve her look.
Mode of address – how is a particular audience being addressed by these elements? How is a potential reader encouraged to see her/himself as the addressee?
-The audience is being addressed by attracting them to quick workouts and better shopping. The reader is encouraged to see themselves as stylish and "cool" as these stars.
Rhetoric – what is the potential reader being persuaded to buy/accept? How?
-The reader is being persuaded to buy clothes that are stylish for this season for less. They are also being persuaded to workout by titling it "magic workout".