1. I have chosen to compare two magazines, both of which are relatively similar. I have chosen
Harper’s Bazaar and Fabulous. I decided that the covers I would chose would all feature the
same person, Kim Kardashian. I thought that using the same person would be more
interesting as I would be able to compare and contrast the way each magazine portrayed Kim
and in what way.

2. Harpers Bazaar

3. The magazine cover features several demanding words, such as
‘now’. This could imply that the target audience is middle class
women who to them, money isn’t as big of an object therefore
they can buy new, more expensive clothes and shoes more often.
The caption ‘LOOK YOUNGER INSTANTLY’ shows how the
magazine is aiming at older women who are in a bid to look some
what younger.
Again, the phrase ‘UPDATE YOUR LOOK’ is an aim to middle age
women who feel as if they need to get with the fashion or update
their look, possibly to look younger.
The cover features Kim in a dress
which compliments her figure but
doesn’t reveal anything. This shows
her off as a more lady of more class
rather than a sex symbol. This is
more appropriate to be seen on
the shelves of a shop, such as a
supermarket, as it isn’t revealing or
degrading to women. Kim is
smiling, rather than pouting,
making it seem that she is
genuinely happy to be there. It
makes her seem more real-life and
natural, rather than a model being
there for a photo shoot. Although,
her stance is rather posed, she
looks more casual.
The colour scheme of
the issue is black and
white on red which
simple yet very
effective. The more
important the topic,
the bigger and bolder
the subheading/title,
such as the magazine
name and the caption
‘Big Fashion Issue’.
Although the target audience is middle class women, the magazine
does feature a small section for those whom are not of middle class.
The caption reads ‘CHIC AT EVERY PRICE’, this could give ideas for
those who want to look fashionable and wearing nice things but
don’t want to or cannot afford to spend a lot of money.

4. The magazine article featured in Kim’s spread tells the readers all
about Kim and what she's doing. It also includes a part about her
upbringing. Although, her and her siblings had a privileged
childhood, she claims her parents raised her until the age of 18
and then when the reached ‘adulthood’, they all had to fend for
themselves. Harpers Bazaar may have included this to show the
audience that even though she grew up in a world around
expensive cars where money wasn’t an object, her parents still
treat her like any parent would. This could be a bid from the
magazine to those whom have a bad impression of Kim
Kardashian to realize that she is a real person who does real
person stuff.
In the interview, Kim always speaks about her diet and
her body. Just like a normal women, she has had
struggles with her weight. Harpers bazaar may have
added this so normal, everyday women can relate to
her.
A segment in the
insert about Kim is
where she speaks
to actor Elizabeth
Taylor, who she
brands as her idol.
This shows that
just as any normal
person does, Kim
has an idol,
someone she
aspires to be like.

6. Fabulous magazine is the free magazine that comes with weekly British newspaper, The Sun on Sunday. Although, the newspaper itself target
audience is middle aged men, the magazine focuses on younger female readers, the 15 plus range, featuring cover stars such as the Kardashian
sisters, One Direction, The Wanted, Cara Delvigne and Justin Bieber in a bid to grab attention from those in their teens and early twenties. Every
issue has a different cover star, usually one that has been in the news for something in the past weeks prior to their magazine appearance. The
current readers information of the newspaper is 34.4% (2310000) ABC1 and 65.6% (4937000) C2DE.
The Fabulous logo is very girly and feminine, due to it being pink. The title itself, is again very feminine, being called ‘Fabulous’, it is used in an
italic font which highlights that the target audience is female.

7. The magazine cover features Kim and Kourtney Kardashian,
both in black. The fact that the sisters are wearing black
could represent a number of things, including power,
classiness, sophistication, style, elegance, wealth and
mystery. Kim is in a long, black, leg cut, sparkly dress; the
glitter and sparkles on the dress could be associating Kim
with sparkling jewels, such as a crown or possibly a diamond,
both of which are important and classy. This could imply that
the magazine are describing her as important and jewel-like.
Kourtney on the other hand, is wearing a short, playsuit
outfit. The outfit that she is wearing is plain, yet has various
meshed cuttings. This could be symbolic as it represents
authority over Kim, as Kourtney is older and it is suggesting
that she has more dominance. It could also imply that
Kourtney is sensitive and prefers to keep her life private,
rather than going in to the detail in the public eye. Plain black
also represents a sense of free-will and independence.
The caption describing the girls, ‘Handbags at dawn!’, gives
the audience a sense of a fight or a brawl. The fact that the
caption says dawn and the background of the girls is at
sundown may remind the readers of a classic, cowboy style
hoedown. Another thing suggesting this, is that the cover
picture is of the girls fighting over a handbag. The could imply
that although the girls are close, they may feel slight
competition towards each other to say who will effectively
come out as the ‘top dog’ as such.
The cover is simple, with only one picture and very little
words. With this being the case, the audience is almost
forced to focus on the sisters.

8. Fabulous has spelt the words crazy and cool with a ‘K’ rather
than a ‘C’, the reason for this is due to girls first and last names
beginning with a K.
Similar to Harpers Bazaar,
Fabulous magazine has
included a quote in a
possible bid to make the
readers understand the
sisters and realize that they
can relate to the family.
Another picture in the feature, which suggests some possible competition and
family-rivalry, is this one. The girls, again at sundown, are having an arm
wrestle.
The magazine features a section on ‘body confidence’, the actual
caption itself is in pink, to highlight that it is feminine. The word ‘body’
is in italics, which could be seen as girly and effeminate but the word
‘confidence’ is in capital letters, as if its shouting at you. Its as if it’s an
instruction, like you MUST have confidence. This is a good thing putting
it along with the Kardashian sisters as both of them are known for their
bodies, Kourtney and how she lost her baby weight so fast and Kim for
having a curvy body. Although Kim is seen to have an envious body, she
is constantly under fire and getting pressured by the media for the way
she looks; many females don’t have confidence with their bodies and
putting it out there in such a almost vicious like way, could help people
gain the confidence that everyone should have.