Representation

 I want to challenge the common sterotype that a person's health is judged based off their appearance. Fat people are considered unhealthy while thin people are considered healthy.  Health has more to do than just what you look like. I would like for my project to show that there are people of various body weights that are considered healthy.

My first example is from a new Netflix show called Insatiable. In the show, the lead character who was once bullied because she was overweight plans to exact her revenge on all those who made fun of her.  I thought this show was interesting because it showed how the main character was treated differently when she lost wweight.  That says a lot about how society views healthy versus unhealthy people.  It's sad that many movies and TV shows depict thinner people as being better than those who are curvier.  Just because people are thin doesn't necessarily mean that they are healthy.

My second exmple is from the British drama series called Skins. In the show, the two main characters on Skins have suffered from anorexia.  This example is a great depiction of how thinner people are not necessarily healthy.  No one suspects anything is wrong with the main chacrter because she is thin.  But she slowly begins to reveal that she does not eat and struggles with her strggling self esteem.  I like that there is representation from both sides of the issue.  Society does shame people for being fatter and they are looked down upon while thinner people are not thought of as being unhealthy.  It is apparent in this example that health has to do with more than just the superficial.  This main chacter has mental health issues more than body weight issues, yet there are very few media examples taht deal with the topic of mental health.  It is not fair to say that someone is healthy based off just their looks.  There is more to someone's health than what meets the eye.

It took me a very long time to understand that the stereotype portrayed is not completly true.  It is misleading many kids, teenagers and young adults into thinking that they need to be thinner in order to be considered healthy.  In my magazine, I want to tackle this subject and address the fact that what we see in the media isn't always true.  I want my magazine to talk about what healthy habits are and how a person can judge for themselves if they are healthy or not.

Research, Research, Research!

Research

Food and Cooking Magazine

Content:
Food and Cooking Magazines tend to have recipes that are easy for the regular home cook to make while also considered to look professional or restaurant-worthy. Many of the receipes will embody the season or holiday that is approaching, such as Thanksgiving recipes for the November issue.  The magazine may also recommend local restaurants or dining experience to their readers.  Content may also cover nutrition and diets that are intended to inform reader to keep them healthy.  Another popular topic that many food magazines all seem to have is a travel and culture section that talks about food around the globe .

Production Techniques:
Food and Cooking Magazines tend to use close-up shots of the food items so the audience can focus on the images.  Images are clear and deep focus on the food item.  Many magazines utilize white/black backgroungs in order to draw attention to the bright colors of the food.  The color palette often used consists of warm hues to generate a mood of warmth and excitement over the dish.
The sub-headings tend to consists of topics of

Example #1:

This cover for Fine Cooking utilizes warm hues in order to create a sense of warmth and comfort with their audience.  The color combination of burgundy (background) and orange (sub-headings) are colors taht are generally associated with the autumn season, hence why the magazine chose these colors for their Fall issue of the magazine. The overall color theme used in the cover is cohesive.  The magazine uses an analogous color scheme to create an overall harmonious and cohesive message of comfort. The use of the white plate against the burgundy background draws the reader's attention to the food onthe plate. The deep focus of the image draws attention to the detail of the dish shown.

The sub-headings on the cover cater to the needs of Fine Cooking's target audience.  This magazine's intended audience is the general public and home cooks; not professional chefs.  Hence, the sub-headings are on topics that may interest the general public.  The word choices of 'easy', 'showstopper' and 'perfect' are positive and reassuring to make the reader feel that by listening to the advice in this magazine they will not only learn how to make easy receipes, but they will also look elegant and professional.


Example #2:

The color theme for Cooking Light magazine uses juxtaposing complementary colors which distinguishes the heading and sub-heading while also creating a sense of balance in the image.  The black (background) with the red and white (heading and sub-heading) draw the attention of the eye around the whole cover.  The black highlights the brightness of the other two colors, which makes them pop out to the reader.  The color red symbolizes desire passion but is also a color that stimulates the appetite.  The white balances out the red and the black, creating a harmonious overall tone for the cover.

The cover utilizes a variety of fonts.  The plain, bolded text is intended to jump out to the reader and grab the attention.  It also indicates what the major articles inside the magazine will be.  The fancier script is meant to bring a look of elegance to the overall magazine.  The plain, bold text conveys to the audience that the recipes and advice given in the magazine is simple and easy to understand, while the fancier script makes the reader think while the recipes may be easy to follow, they will also look sophisticated

Examples of Food and Cooking Magazines:
Cooking Light
Gourmet
Saveur
BBC Good Foods
Bon Apetite
Food and Wine
Fine Cooking
Naked Food Magazine