So, last night I did indeed buy the January 2004 issues of Seventeen and YM, and it's official:
Yes, We Are Getting Stupider
I'm not going to post my whole article on what I found here now as it's extremely long, but here is a little clip, for those of you that are interested:
(I compared the Jan 2004 issue of Seventeen to its January 1989, September 1994 and January 1998 issues)
The most difference between the magazines was most glaring when one looked at their "school zone" section, which highlights fashions as worn by regular students at different school every month. This section did not exist in 1989. In 1994 & 1998 the schools profiled were very artsy high schools. In 2004 it was the University of Michigan, Anne Arbour (in keeping with their "college girls read us!" theme). While in both 1994 & 1998 the magazine focused on the Individualism and Diversity that their �school zone�Esection featured, providing lengthy descriptions on what makes that school unique, with sound bites like about how the school encompasses �freedom in body & mind�Ethe 2004 issue had sound bites like �I couldn�t live without my hairdryer. Here, wet hair freezes!�EWhile 1994 and 1998 highlighted the Unique nature of the school�s fashions, providing only descriptions like �one girl wore an awesome thrift store prom dress paired with combat boots�Ethe 2004 issue is full of labels. Polo Sport headbands are big. So are Von Dutch hats and Ugg boots. The label-conscious conformity promoted in the article was most evident on the last page �Ewhere one could learn how they too could dress like an Anne Arbour student!.. Included was a breakdown of the school�s most essential fashion items, how much they cost, and where one could buy them.
I'll post the rest of what I wrote on this page later.. Mainly, in 1989 the magazine was mostly writing, very few celebirites, and a lot of campaigning for relevant social issues (pollution, etc). In 1994 and 1998 there was less writing, but still way way more than in 2004. Feature articles in 1994 & 1998 included 5 page long article in rejection of "ideal body types" focusing primarily on a rejection of the "skinnyness rules" ideology, and a balanced look at sex (not everyone is doing it; don't do it until you're sure). There was practically no writing in the 2004 issue, feature articles were short and well.. kinda lame (2 pages on a drunk driving accident, the "Seventeen summary" to which was "If I hadn't been wearing my seat belt that night I wouldn't be alive today".... ie, nothing on 'hey, don't drink and drive, and this is what to do if your friends try to'). In 2004 evidentally everyone is having sex, but you know, if your condom breaks you should go to the doctor and you can get the morning after pill.
Anyways, it was really shocking to see how much stupider Seventeen (& YM, which I also looked at) is than it was before... when really, it was totally insipid back then too.
Back in Toronto. And totally bored. I should be writing my gender history paper right now... but... yah. It's also supposed to be my holidays, damnit. It's actually a really interesting project, I'm reading about parisian fashion in the 19th century. It a really great read, but I was hoping that it would get more into the psychology of fashion than it does. Plus there are not enough pictures. Also this break I want to sew some new clothes for myself and research whether or not pop culture has grown more oppressive and anti-feminist in the last decade. (I'm convinced it has, so my super-academic plan is to compare & contrast this months issues of Seventeen and YM with their Decemeber 1993 issues.
Oh yes, I am a nerd.
Anyway, I am also pissed off at so many of my friends right now, I'm trying to decide if that is because I am cranky because I am bored or if they are all asswipes. I am leaning towards the latter.
