Post 5

In analyzing magazines and how they affect culture, one powerful magazine I've examined is Vogue magazine.

Vogue was founded in September 1892 by Arthur Baldwin Turnure as a high-society, weekly journal aimed at both men and women of affluent, high socialite status (History of Vogue Magazine, n.d.).  In focusing on an elite audience, the magazine chronicled sports, plays, music, books, etiquettes, and fashion.  In 1909, Conde Montrose Nastbought the publication, and transformed Vogue entirely into a bi-weekly women’s fashion magazine.  As advertising manager of Collier’s Weekly, which was first in advertising revenue for magazines of its time, Nast was a self-proclaimed advertising and sales genius, and took Vogue overseas to Britain, Spain, Italy and France in 1916.  Vogue has experienced extensive development and change through historic events, including World War II and the Great Depression, in which American fashion began to emerge as its own category; and the sexual revolution of the 1960s, in which fashion became more contemporary, sexuality was freely discussed, and the ideal of beauty switched to a more androgynous feel (Weber, 2006).    

The current editor-in-chief of American Vogue since taking over in 1988 is Anna Wintour (Vogue Magazine, 2012), adapting Vogue’s editorial and stylistic elements in response to the changing culture and lifestyles of modern women by focusing on new and innovative ideas of fashion for a broader audience, as well as including charitable organizations into their agenda (History of Vogue Magazine, n.d.).  Her inaugural cover broke the tradition of representing a woman’s face alone by assigning greater attention to the model’s body, and thus her clothing, a statement in itself.  Vogue continues to be the leading powerhouse in women’s fashion and lifestyle magazines, being described as “the world’s most influential fashion magazine” (Weber, 2006), and even as “the style bible” (Fisher, 2009).  Vogue does not need to raise its voice, as it is the world that is eager to listen.  The name in itself carries weight and influence which stems from its innovative content, charitable and community acts, and from its editor herself. 

Vogue’s first-rate photography and content through the ages express the values and ideals of the era they are from, and document the shifts through time of society’s dreams, desires, and trends for glamour and beauty.  Vogue has retained its classic look, brand and message, yet has successfully marketed to the modern woman of its time.  It has clearly had to adapt to appeal to the current culture and trends, yet with its standing and influence it is setting the standards by which culture aspires toward.