As any magazine subscriber or grocery store visitor knows, different celebrities are featured on the cover of various tabloids each week. This is no exception for Glamour Magazine’s November 2009 issue, as Scarlett Johansson demanded attention as the chosen cover girl. However, we were surprised to see Scarlett Johansson in a somewhat compromising scene. Scarlett was featured wearing only a shirt, with the words “Sex and Love” displayed across her body as an attracting element. Personally, we had respected Scarlett Johansson as both an actress and a role model for young women. Therefore, we were disappointed that she had been featured on the cover in a sensual way. Often times, individuals purchase magazines based on the people that cover them. For many of us, it is not very difficult to be persuaded to buy a magazine that we would not usually purchase if our favorite actress or musician graces the cover. When we saw Scarlett Johansson on the cover of November’s magazine, we did not think it would be controversial among an older population, but we worried about younger consumers. We were immediately concerned about younger teenagers and pre-teens that may idolize the celebrity, locate the magazine as a result, and find her posing in a more sensual manner. We worried about the possible conclusions that these younger individuals would make based on the cover image, and the effect that one celebrity could have on them in terms of their views on sexuality.
Historically, Glamour Magazine has been focused around beauty tips and fashion, so we felt that it was unnecessary for Scarlett to be represented sensually. The cover could be viewed as an advertisement for sex, which could directly affect the views of consumers, especially younger populations. Our society is constantly dominated by sexual messages from various media outlets. This truth is further proven by this magazine cover, as Scarlett Johansson is represented as a sexual figure on a magazine that originally included make up and fashion trends. If this is so, what positive celebrity role models do teenagers truly have? If many of these individuals are displayed in sexual terms, what are the effects on those that idolize them?
I agree with this completely. There are some women out there that just don't seem like they would be involved in such pictures, but they surprise us everyday.
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