Cosmo

 Popular culture despises the old and worships the new.  The frightening aspects of popular culture is that the modern generation is so consumed with what is in front of them that they cannot connect with the distant past and nearing future.  One of the greatest marketing tools today has developed for decades is the magazine.

Particularly, Cosmopolitan, one of the leading female magazines in popular fashions and trends has greatly influenced the females of today.  Readers of this magazine are exposed to an array of information that encourages women to act out and dress up in the style of the season.  Fashion trends and make-up techniques are arranged in step-by-step instructions on how women should piece themselves together. Interviews each month tell the stories of celebrities, athletes, models, actresses, and real women (victims of trauma overcoming adversity).  Horoscopes give hope to finding new romance.  Relationship advice explains how to deal with issues with friends, boyfriends, and friends with benefits.  Sex advice reveals the ‘techniques of the pro’s’ with all of the how to’s in the sack to please any man.

Magazines were initially intended to advertise and share propaganda.  The growth of the industry allowed for much more information to be shared with readers.  We see magazines informing readers on everything from gardening, cooking, parenting, to sports and more.  Development in the fields associated with reporting capture the eyes of the viewers.  Photography especially has catapulted magazines to a new level.  Images of beauty, pleasure, and good times are enticing propaganda for any product.

Cosmopolitan magazine has taken many of the techniques of reporting to promote the modern day popular notions of sexuality.  Clothes are ranked by what’s hot and what’s not.  The new looks are inspired to “get his eye”.  Looking great to attract great looking men.  The horoscopes that are given for the reader share not only for themselves but for significant other and how to turn on your man that month.

Often times the front cover announces boldly, font, color and all, the newest sex tips to take to the bedroom.  The fact of the matter is, and what is left out of there, is what to do when you are not in the bedroom.  Sex is what sells but it doesn’t seal the deal.  There is much more to relationships other than physical pleasure.  When young women are focused solely on sex they miss out on what is important in maintaining relationships.  Things like honesty, trust, and communication are thrown out of the window.

Growth and development of the individual is quite an important aspect of personal development.  Straying from the sex tips, readers of Cosmo may flock to the mall compelled to invest in the latest fashions.  However, that only brings content for the season, or until next months issue.  It seems that all too often we are lead by the images between the pages to seek happiness through material possessions and there is all to little in regards to spiritual and mental development.

The media is a very powerful and important tool to be utilized today.  Not all of the images are provocative, however, not all are suitable for the general public.  While things are flashy, attractive and sexy, we must recall the young women and girls for whom we are role models.  When elementary students are already exploring their sexuality or the fact that they can have sex, it is really important that we give the right example and information.  Judging what is right and what is wrong is not something that I personally can decide.  I bring attention to this because I feel that it is an exploitation of the act of procreation. Without understanding the undertakings of childbearing and childrearing, the youth are at a disadvantage to enter into a predicament they may not fully understand.