The death of print media?

I was just thinking, how much time I seem to spend on the internet nowadays. Due to my new discovery of fashion blogs, I am like the cat who has caught the cream.

Sitting beside me is the new edition of my favourite, The Sunday Times Style magazine, it captures fashion and all the new trends at the moment in such a witty, intelligent way, that I love devouring it every Sunday.

But instead of getting stuck into the mag, I find myself trawling through the internet gazing at fashion blogs, Facebook/Twitter and "magazine" like websites...one I have just found called Queens of Vintage, http://www.queensofvintage.com/ (truly brilliant; find vintage fashion, style icons throughout the decades & lots more!)

The problem is, with websites that are so easily accessible and for no charge, the web poses as a major threat for the print media. The fact that websites can instantly provide readers with their specialised interests, in a lot more detail than magazines can, which in contrast are aimed at reaching a broad audience, and therefore cover broader topics, sets a tough standard for magazines to keep up with.

Likewise, with new technology like the Ipad, that allows people to read their daily newspaper, TheTimes online for instance on the net, will people feel the need to go out and seek a newspaper?

This is similar to that of magazines, however they often offer a digital alternative. As magazines today want to keep up with the times and not miss out on the internet market, they promote their print brand on the web. All our fave mags are online, from Cosmo to yep you've guessed it, The Sunday Times Style, they all offer a online version which links to the orginial print issue, with exclusive extras for fans to hone in on.

So perhaps the internet is taking over, but then even so the age- old print media is giving as good as it gets. ;)

Is this the beginnging of the end for print media? Or have they still got a long lease of life yet? Who knows, but all I can say is the internet is reigning supreme, getting stronger by the day. With viral campaigns, blogging, Vlogging i even heard of?! (blogging hauls to promote products) the internet is no longer a source of information, but can create a whole career from one simple blog or website.

I think people feel they have to commit themselves to remaining active with, say their Twitter account, keeping an eye on their blackberrys at all times to keep up with the times, and essentially nowadays- to stay on top of their careers.

But as much as I love the internet, I do still love a good book and sometimes wonder if it is all getting a tad crazy. Whilst were typing away on our laptops, are we missing the world right there in front of us go by? Will we miss writing with a pen, reading a book or newspapers and magazines?

One thing I do know, is that with a book I don't go all squinty eyed and get a headache. But maybe thats just a sign to say.... Emily you need an eye- check!

Advertising and Feminism: The Great Deception.

First and foremost, I love the topic. As a feminist fanatic myself, I enjoyed researching and exploring the journey from the mainstream beginngings of feminism of the 60s and the aspirational Cosmo girl, to today's empowered post feminist icon. After, and during writing my dissertation I realised how relevant my study was, the topic of "what is feminism today" constantly debated in women's magazines. Now, modern woman are not only confused of their role, but are confused with the identity of feminism. I found in my third chapter, there was a backlash against feminism in the 80s, which branded feminism as outdated and restricting. Basically feminism was now seen as unfashionable, to say you were a femininst was assioatated with being a man- hating hairy lesbian! I personally think this is sad, as while modern women distance themselves away from the label of feminism simply stating "equality has now been achieved", women who have freedom now forget that without the early feminists we as women today would not have the right to vote, to have equal pay, to be sexually liberated. To be a feminist should be seen as a positive thing, even if it is now seen as over. Perhaps modern women simply do not call themselves feminists as they feel they do not have the right. Alientated and distanced from the active movement of feminism in the sixties, many feel they cannot connect to the label of feminism.

So, how about the so called New Feminism of the 90s? Several books have surfaced discussing the new "power feminism" the modern take on feminism. Personally the "aspirational" post feminist figures of Katie Price as empowering for young women, just don't ring in true for me. How can posing for men, using your sexuality to essentially please men be empowering?
Many young women I know, see pole dancers and the like as "empowering strong figures" but perhaps unfashionably so, I just don't see how. In my study I argued the infamous influx of WonderBra advertisements which were portrayed as confident, assertive images of desirable women who were in control of their sexuality, were merely sexually objectifying images of women targeted at the male gaze. Not so different from the past sexual objects for men to look at that feminist fought so hard to resist. Now women, are openly welcoming the male gaze and sexual expolitation under the post feminist guise that they are "pleasing themselves" not men. Sexy is now cool, and it is a sign of your "sexual liberation" to show you are comfortable with your sexuality, to make an objection backwardly brands you as "uptight" and evidentbly an old fashioned feminist.

I discovered however what with the backlash of feminism, it ulitmately allows advertising and generally culture to provide sexist images under the guise that it is now "post feminist" as women are no longer exploited- but are actively choosing to be sexual objects. This is worrying as it represents a deeper and higher form of expolitation as women are actively choosing, there is no objection and advertisers can freely present sexist images, without critque.

Feminism has ulimately turned full circle. Whilst triumps of feminism include women now being heavyweights in their careers being just as successful as men and can choose their own lifestyle. Many young women today, the Katie Price's of the noughties, choose to regress back to the passive sexual objects for men's admiration.

If this is the "new feminism" I'd rather be part of the old one...

Oh wait, that means I'm a big hairy lesbian right?!

P.s as you can see I find this issue heats me up, and would love either to doo further studying in Women's Studies, anyone know what Uni's do it? Or would generally love to rant in articles as a journalist. X