Magazine:  Family Circle

Family Circle is portrayed as a magazine that is about the elements of a family.  The front cover of the February 2012 issue shows a home cooked meal.  The major topics on the front cover tell you how to organize your room, how to stay healthier and hearty winter meals.  These are all elements of a happy, healthier you.  As you page through the magazine, you read the letter to the editor.  She states about things that benefit the family and about rules of the house.  Each ad, as you page through, shows items which will help you clean your home or items that you should feed your family.  The families portrayed in the magazine are not all skinny or beautiful, but they portray normal every day families, such as you and I.  Some articles are about what families have done to help others or how they have helped themselves.  The magazine tries to instill in us, the values that make the typical American family.   This is done by decorating your home in a certain way or by shopping for certain items, which will make your meals for the entire week by using the leftovers from the night before.   There are also those articles about how to save money or clip coupons.  We are all for saving money and the experts tell us how to do it. 

In every issue is a short story.  The stories usually are about something that affect us in our lives, especially if we have children.  Most of these stories are fiction, but of course they all hit home and somehow relate to every one’s lives.   Then there are the articles of how to succeed in your marriage and make it stronger.  Interviews are done on couples and each view their sides and a therapist tells what will help them get through their dilemmas.   There is always a happy ending.  Not many stories in the magazine are unhappy.  If there is an unhappy story or event, it ends on a positive note. 

There are also ads depicted about the aging and it usually is advertising some type of medicine to help slow down Alzheimer’s disease or to help with menopause.  So, the magazine not only targets the younger families, but also the parents of these families. 

The clothing styles shown are for the younger set.  It does sometimes show different shaped people and what looks good on them.  Either they do make-overs or they have different articles of clothing that show off their best attributes.  Not very often does it show men.  The magazine is generally targeted for the feminine person of the household.  Of course, this does not stop my husband from picking up the magazine and getting some pointers on what is going on.  Comments are usually made, such as, “this is what they wear?” Or “that looks good…you should make that.” 

Usually the last page of the magazine is a short item that is of interest.  This month’s item was called “game day” which was a couple of quick recipes, I am guessing, for the super bowl.  It has the “women” making items for their “men” for the party.  I really enjoy this magazine, but it is definitely a type of sexist magazine.  But, every gender has them.  I normally don’t read Sports Illustrated, but will page through it and see it is geared for the masculine gender of the household!!!
The front page of the magazine was quite interesting in the fact that it was a hardy and eccentric meal.  It looks like the table is set for company and everything matches.  Nothing short of homemade is on this table. It shows that the role of a woman is to make sure that not only that things are homemade, but that everything  is beautiful and fits together.  Most women now work outside the home, but the magazine implies that this type of meal could still be done even if they do work full time.
The family below, suggests that the family is a unit.  Everyone is close and happy.  The grandparents live close or visit often and along with the dog, it is a typical American family  Picking up and reading this magazine inspires you to be like this family, even though it may be a fantasy. This magazine definitely tries to inspire women and try to make them think that if you cook and clean and do all of the right things, that your family will be the perfect American family.   

Fads and Trends

FADS

Tamagotchie

Tamagotchies were around when my children were little.  It definitely is a fad since you don't see them around too much anymore.  They were this little computer "egg" which hatched and you had to play with it and feed it electronically.  At the time, everyone had one.  I think I even had one.  It was very time consuming because if you didn't play with it or feed it, it died.  Then you had to restart the game and begin again.  Once other technology came out, this game was a thing of the past.  It was in black and white and there are such other more interesting things out there, that this kind of lost interest with everyone.

Bands

Rubic's cube.  This seems like it has been around forever. It is a fad, but every once in awhile it pops up again with some other type of design on it.  It was interesting when puzzles were first entered into our interests, trying to be the one who solved the color patterns.  It was a fad since computers are now the rage.  Why do something hands on when you can do it all on the computer.  You can even do puzzles online.  It is just a fad, since not everyone is interested in it. You see it more in second hand shops now than in stores.

The cube

Bandz are something that came out recently.  It mostly was a fad for the younger crowd, even though I see college students wearing them here and there.  These are rubber bands shaped as things (animals, cars) and you wear then on your wrists.  The more on your wrist the better!!!  They come in small packages that you can buy at the check out at the stores.  I don't see them around too much anymore.  I see them more in lower end toy stores and so forth.  They lasted for a few months out on the market.  Hence, this is a fad.

Parachute Pants

Fads are definitively something that everyone encounters in their lives.  Five that I can think of are above.  Each are something that seems so popular at the time and something that all of us want.  After a certain time period, they are not forgotten, but all seem ridiculous.

Parachute pants are something of the past.  In the 80's, everyone owned a pair.  You look at pictures of people who have worn them, and they are pretty ridiculous looking!!!  At the the time when they were "it,"  they were pretty cool.  I owed a pair and look back and can't believe I actually wore them.  This fad didn't last long.  Stars wore them (MC Hammer) and he, I believe, made us think they were the thing to wear.  They didn't last long and I don't even see them sold anywhere anymore. If you look at the picture, they do look pretty funny.

Beanie babies were almost a trend, I thought.  But, they died out, which now makes them a fad.  They are still in the stores, but you aren't as fascinated with the "TY" label anymore.  They used to be able to be sold for top dollar if you had the good ones.  McDonalds even took over and offered smaller versions in their happy meals.  Those even took top dollar to the highest bidder.  Now you see them at yardsales for fifty cents each or at the thrift stores.  You can still purchase them in the stores for about $7, but they are not the top dog anymore.


TRENDS

Ipads are a trend.  They are the new age and they keep coming out with bigger and better versions.  They are with the technology part of our society.  I am sure there will be an Ipad 10 out there soon. :)  I know of a lot of people who own them or want them.  They are a type of laptop but offer the convenience of a cell phone and laptop all in one.  They should stay as a trend since businesses, schools and the every day person uses it. 

Fake nails are definitely a trend.  Women want their nails to look nice in society.  Artificial is always the way to go.  This will always be around.  They are coming up with new ways, such as gel nails and so forth, but fake nails will always be there.  Price wise, it is pretty affordable.  It used to be pretty expensive to go when they first came out.  Now the every day person can afford these, plus they last pretty long if you take care of them.  So, if you go once a month to get them done, it is well worth it.  In fact, right now I have gel nails and they look great!!!

Computers and laptops.  These will be around forever.  They keep getting smaller and lighter in size.  Of course the screen keeps getting larger, but the components get smaller.  Every one has to have either a computer or laptop today to keep up with society.  The internet is used for everything - from paying your bills to doing classwork.  If you do not own one, you have to go to the library.  Without one of these, you are lost.

Fast food.  This will be around forever.  One place is always trying to outdo the others.  Quick and inexpensive...the average Joe can purchase almost anything.  This is a trend because it has been around for such a long time.  I do not think that it will ever leave this earth because of the convenience of it  The working family or the starving budget minded student always will use fast food.  Plus, these places also offer "healthy" choices along with the deep fried items on their menus.

What can I say about reality shows?!!!  Every day a new one pops up on the television .  Every one gets hooked.  Who doesn't watch XFactor or American Idol?  Then there are Real Houswives or some other type of reality show.  Every one  on this earth are busy bodies and wants to know what happens next.  Plus, reality shows makes the average person famous.  How else would these people be able to be stars and be known without being shown on these shows?  The audience votes them in sometimes and everyone is involved.  They are coming out with bigger, better ideas for the next reality shows.  These are definitely trends because almost all the shows out there are these type of shows.

 Trends are things that stay with us.  Computers, fast food, reality shows, getting your nails done are just a few trends in our lifetime.

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