Analysis - 'more Magazine' - part b
I have analysed the aspect of structure on the 'more magazine' website, and i am now going to address how the website is connected to the user on a cultural level.
Culture - In my opinion this site represents women's culture of today very accurately. It is basically an online version of the magazine so both of the forms of media reflect each other. 'More Magazine' is mostly known for its open and relevant topics such as a 'Sex Confessions' page in every issue and often one-off specials on 'Sex tips', etc. This isn't promoting young women to sleep around or belittle the serious topic of sex, but it tries to address issues in a light-hearted way and answer both the readers in the magazine and the users on the website questions.
This also demonstrates how today's female culture is much more open to talk about sex and that it is not such a taboo subject anymore to share your sexual experiences. In some ways this is addressing the 'Public Sphere' as on the Message Board there are sections named 'Dating Stories, 'Sexy Confessions', and 'Men & Sex' (alongside the other topics such as beauty and fashion) where users can talk to other users about their experiences and ask for advice. The way these specific boards are put amongst the other boards addressing less intimate topics, such as celebrities, reflects how sex and men are just another ordinary issue that women deal with on a daily basis and aren't afraid to talk about it. http://www.moremagazine.co.uk/message_chat/messageboards.asp?forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3
The users however can also be anonymous, as on the message boards they don't have to use their real names if they don't want to. There are names such as 'cutiepie1' and 'coolcat20' which disguise the user's identity. Maybe this suggests that even though in our culture we are more open to talk about sex and intimate topics, we still feel more at ease sharing our true views if nobody knows our real identity. Hopefully in the future these sort of topics will have completely shed their taboo status and then people will feel more comfortable in discussing their views while using their real name. What do you think? Would you feel comfortable talking about these sorts of topics on this forum?
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6 comments:
I'd feel absolutely fine discussing these sort of topics on a forum. Those sort of topics you'd talk about with your friends etc - You wouldnt go up to a stranger and start speaking to them about it though, but online it seems to be OK!
Think that is definately because of what you suggested, the whole identity covering up thing. I think that if people need advice on topics they should be able to get it wherever they want, even if it is online.
Lauren,
You raise some interesting points here about how the website reflects changes is cultural attitudes. I think Megan's comments about the benefit in websites helping people with advice is relevant too.
All the best
Emma
Maybe the topic of sex is addressed because this is what "sells" so to speak. This is the sort of topic we as a society are known to want to discuss. I'm sure you'reright about online anonymity being something to do with the reason for it but when you look at magazines, these are also the topics that are discussed and people are happy to be seen buying them, although discussion could probably regarded as a step further.
I think I agree with Charlotte about how "sex sells". This topic has been on magazines for years and years now but still manages to a widely written about and read topic.
The fact that now it can be discussed with people of all ages and with different experieces with whom you usually would not get in contatc with, seems to be the new and apealing part.
Yeah i agree with the theory that 'sex sells' and this has been demonstrated for years through different forms of media. I think the 'more' website represents how it has become even more popular as there are numerous whole sections of it dedicated to that one topic, and it seems to be one of the most popular sections with the users as it has the most posts.
personally i think most people would b ok talking about thee issues on online forums if they wanted to, but I can also respect that people still may want to hide their full identity and therefre think the username is a good idea so their real name isn't posted all over the place.
And I agree that sex sells and people know people will be intrigued and want to read and also want to join in.
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