Genre Theory Billboard magazine

Neale said
that; defining
genre is as a
set of
expectations
however for
this particular
front cover for
the Billboard
magazine this
cannot
necessarily be
applied.
Despite the
fact that it
does contain
several
features of a
pop music
magazine for
example the
main image
contains a
pop star
Beyonc
which
according to
Maslows
hierarchy of
needs offers
the audience
a set of safety
needs. This is
due to the idea
that Beyonc
is a
recognisable
artist which
makes the
audience feel
comfortable
with buying
into a
magazine
which
includes
someone that
they recognise.
Other features that the magazine does include which is typical of a pop
magazine is the use of pull quotes which according to Richard Dyers Utopian
Theory solves the social tension of dishonesty and replaces it with the utopian
solution of transparency. This is as it makes the audience feel as if they are
hearing what Beyonc has to say directly so automatically perceive it as being
true. However the use of the costume code subverts the general expectation of a
pop magazine. This is as according to The Male Gaze theory women are
presented in the media in a way in which appeals to the heterosexual male and
this is normally the way in which pop magazines are presented especially
through the clothes that the model wears. Despite this in this magazine Beyonc
is dressed very modestly she is in a high neck line top with her hand covering
her chest. This shows that this particular cover for this magazine is subverting
the usual ideologies of a pop magazine.
Despite this Stephan Neal e said genres are instances of repetition and
difference, difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre. This is
shown in the colour scheme of the Billboard magazine; this is as greyscale is not
a typical convention of a magazine as it almost makes Beyonc look very
simplistic and natural which also subverts the male gaze theory as she is not
being presented for the view of the heterosexual male but instead showing the

simplicity of her beauty. Despite these points this magazine is still very popular
as it has been around for over 120 years. This shows how the media have to
develop and break normal gender boundaries in order to grow and continue to be
current.