What words will Wednesday welcome? Rant or Rave?
How about a bit of both? Well, mostly rant I suppose… more fun, right? Tonight’s topic is the almighty magazine. These rags have their lovers, their haters, and in-betweeners. I think I fall under “in-betweener.” Some days I love to leaf through a glossy and look at pretty pictures, items, and far off locations.
Some days I see them for the absolute printed and reprinted then shuffled and reprinted drivel they can be. I suppose it depends, firstly, on which magazine we’re talking about. I’ve compiled a graph of “best to worst” of some magazines I frequently get from the local libraries:
Soooo obviously (I think?) Cosmo is at the bottom, and Psych today is near the top. But for a real no-holds barred breakdown, I’ll give individual titles their own rant or rave. Continue if you dare…
People: While I rave about the “star watch” pages which allow me to bypass other forms of news but still get my oscar gown fix, I must rant about pretty much every other thing in this turd of a magazine.
Good Housekeeping: I currently subscribe. Rave. While the celebrity articles are boring, I like the organization and cleaning tips, and… I actually like the clothing articles. Wow, when did I get “old?”
Utne Reader: Docked points for its gratuitous pandering to lefties (I’m not talking about handedness people), I do enjoy a lot of their articles, and the cartoon style covers. Rave on, ravers!
Health, Shape, Self, Nat. Health, and similar: Kind of a toss-up, but rant wins because these are mags that I honestly feel rewrite the same 5 articles over and over each month with a different cheesy grin on the cover and expect us not to notice. Maybe in a waiting room.
Elle, Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar: Rave for the pretty clothes and male model eye candy. Rant because they tend to make me sick with smell of perfume and I’d rather read a fabulous style blog any day!
Cosmo: I barely even have to make fun of this one, because many before me have already done so! Ten sexy bras! Ten sexy lipsticks your man will love! Make his head spin! Repeat! hahahahaha. It’d be a rave for sheer cheese factor if it weren’t so boring.
Psychology today: While it seems to contain little to no actual science, its a major guilty pleasure of mine. I love to read about the pseudo-meaningful studies. I love to see what’s on the current mental health buzzer. Self indulgent navel gazing at its best. Raaaaaaave!
Rolling Stone: Mixed emotions here. I find the majority of articles way way boring, but I do learn about a lot of my new music downloads from here.
Vegetarian Times: While I could have really used this at age seven, to have some semblance of an idea of what to request in place of chicken or lasagna at family dinner, I now find it strangely… one step behind. Hey VT- impress me and I will RAVE! Here we are now, entertain us…
I should note, in closing, that my low standards for mag reading (as sampled above) is explained partially by the fact that I don’t buy magazines save for Good Housekeeping, I just check them out from the library and occasionally read through them.
When traveling, however.. I will buy ANYTHING to pass the time.
What magazines do you read? Which ones can you absolutely not stand? Do you still read paper mags or do you look at them online?
Meri
I used to have a subscription to Cat Fancy. That’s still cool, right?
No publication has done more to tart up the lowly ice cube than that rag, Cosmo. If you’ve read the tips you know what I mean. Guaranteed ice cube tip in every magazine followed up with some variation of “…and watch your man’s eyes roll back into his head”. Why? Is he dead because I misused some kitchen item/food product in the bedroom after reading this month’s tip list? Oh, and always absent from the tips list, “1. Love your partner.”
It’s obviously not necessary… because Cosmo is for FEMINISTS, silly! haha. Nice spotting you today- will have to hang out soon!
Yeah, the kind of feminists who endlessly fret about their partner’s gratification and consider their own needs as an afterthought. Word up, sisters!
Good to see you, too. Hard to miss me with all the honking and shouting.
ha- you mean it wasn’t my superkeen powers of observation? what honking? 🙂
People, US Weekly, etc can be addicting, but there is no way that I should sit down and be able to read an entire magazine in 15 minutes! And great way to put those Shapes, Fitness ones. They do write the same thing. My dad subscribes to the Smithsonian Magazines and I love it! Same with National Geographic. The articles get long, but always entertaining 🙂
and the photos are inCREDible!
good housekeeping is one of the most useful magazines around 🙂
I agree! And my boyfriend actually reads a lot of the articles haha!
I used to love Vogue, but I’m kinda over it now. Or if I do read it, I tend to get TEEN Vogue, the music and books and such are so much better.
Nylon is my favorite… period!
The rest of it, I don’t spend my money on, unless it’s super cheap used ones that I cut up after reading to make my collages!
I always save the fashion magazines for collages- they have the prettiest colors to cut out!
I love the gossip mags. I know they’re stupid and full of fluff, but I like being up on my celeb knowledge. I mostly look at it for the fashion though to be honest. And I love Psych Today too! All my psych profs (I have a psych degree) in college used to scoff at it and make fun of it, which was funny, but it’s an entertaining read as well!
I think if it were a “serious psychology magazine,” it wouldn’t be as enjoyable 🙂
I personally have subscriptions to Fitness, ESPN The Magazine, and Entertainment Weekly. Though, I’ll admit that I really only look at Fitness for the recipes. That’s not bad, right?
I’ve never read ESPN the magazine- do they cover a good variety of sports or is it more limited?
I’m subscribed and addicted to The Economist… weird, huh?
No, I actually find the Economist very interesting too!
I buy my magazines used at Half Price Books for .50! Use them to cut up for decoupage! Buy one new magazine a year, the Sept. Vogue. Cut it up and decoupage!
I’m a collage fiend too- use magazine cut ups to make greeting cards!
i used to be all over mags…ALL of them…elle, glamour, allure, lucky, cosmo. now, sadly, i don’t subscribeto any, nor do i read them with the passion i had years ago. i merely scan thru them if even that. before i would scour every page, look at all the pics, then go back and read all the articles, look up all the websites mentioned, read it again! i’d spend at least an hour going thru one cover to cover. now, it takes me days…weeks to go thru one.
my mom gets prevention magazine, and i’ve enjoyed it for the same readon you like good housekeeping…the recipes, random medical articles, organizational tips, etc. plus the small size is easy to take anywhere! i also won a free subscription to working mother which i’ve enjoyed so far…tips, kid friendly stuff.
gawd, never though i’d be saying that!!
rockoomph.blogspot.com
I laugh all of the time at how much my magazine choices have changed since being in my twenties- I read woman’s day, redbook, good housekeeping, better homes and gardens… I’m not sure I’m the key demographic though haha!
My great-aunt got me a subscription to Good Housekeeping when I was a college freshmen (5 1/2 years ago). At first, I didn’t know why I was getting it (she had forgotten to tell me) but after getting a couple issues, I decided to keep them for the organizing and cleaning tips and recipes.
Despite being 24, I still get American Girl magazine. The main audience is my target audience if and when I publish my stories and poems. Plus, I just like reading the crafts, recipes, and other items and articles they’ve come up with over the last 15 years 🙂
I have never gotten magazines like Cosmo and Glamour and Elle and Self. I guess as the girl who doesn’t care if she leaves the house without make-up on, who hates going clothes and shoes shopping unless necessary, and who doesn’t know how to flirt at age 24 (let alone date), the content of those magazines isn’t relateable to me. But GH, mainly targeted at married moms, is. Go figure.
I find it hilarious that I love a magazine (GH) that isn’t targeted to me, but I think they really cover a wide range of topics so they are a wider appeal!
That might be what I like about it 🙂
My favorites are Better Homes and Gardens (all publications), flea market style, and country living. I actually buy these and keep them for inspiration. I used to read self, fitness etc, but I also feel that they just say the same things over and over so I stopped buying them. I think I may be too old for Cosmo 😉
I like these ones too- I’ve never read flea market style though, sounds great! I bet you get a ton of your craft ideas from these then!
I love National Geographic. I remember reading 30-year-old issues at the cottage when I was a kid, and last year my parents bought me a subscription for Christmas. Every month, I’d open it up and read it to my husband “Oh, listen to THIS!” “Check out this picture!” “huh, guess what?”. It makes me feel smartish. Ha!
The pictures blow my mind!
What? No Us Weekly? Gotta love the “Stars, they’re just like us” and “Who wore it best” sections”. We also get Rolling Stone, which is such a confused magazine. The new music section is generally pretty decent like you said but every month they have the most ridiculous covers/main stories…. Justin Beiber, Pink, Kesha, (K$sha?). We also have Inked magazine which I got on a whim but is just like every other magazine except with tattoo related stuff. The worst magazines of all time are so called Men’s magazines…. Maxim, FHM, HotStuff? They pretty much created the modern day d-bag.
I’m pretty sure “Maxim” falls under the same category as cosmo. And I also think you’re right about the modern day d-bag. Have you ever seen Jezebel’s “recaps” of the gossip magazines of the week? It’s pretty entertaining, I enjoy it quite a bit. Let me know if you want to know and I’ll show you how to find it!
I will check it out! In the past Myche has sent me some good stuff from Jezebel, Gawker, etc.
yeah- jezzy’s isn’t as good as it used to be, but I still enjoy it- used to be a daily read for me 🙂
I think I feel exactly the same way as you do about them all.
oddly enough I don’t subscriptions anymore but when my teenager would sell them for school fund raisers we would. I’ve had and loved WaterColor Artist…RAVE
Vegetarian Times was okay, I read for the recipes…bon apetite okay…same…recipes…but the odd part was my husband gets Outdoors and I LOVE to read it for the workout and running articles.
I would probably love Runner’s World (I think it’s what it’s called) a few friends get it and are always going on and on about running tips they get and pass on.
I look at People at the checkout but never buy it.
tee hee.
xo
I used to read runner’s world in high school (was on the cross country running team) because my sister subscribed and it was always around. I never got much out of it, but I was never very serious about the running part anyway! I used to get a painting magazine too- can’t remember what it was called! I didn’t love it. I’m remembering all of the magazines I used to get… Guitar Player, Digital Photography (high school), In Style (college)… Tennis (grade school).
Cindy-Runner’s world is scary if you’re not a hardcore runner! Check out Woman’s Running for more of a down to earth running magazine!
Meri- You’d probably love Real Simple. It’s got organizing, recipes, house hold tips, and practical fashion.
PS This is one of the What’s Good At TJs wives. Russ won’t follow you but I will!
Thanks for coming by Sandy! I haven’t read real simple before- I think it looked too much like Martha Stewart living, which made me feel bad about myself haha, so I ignored it. I’ll check it out- one of the library branches carries it I know, or there’s always the web version.
Cheers!
i love the clean eating magazine and the food network magazine!! 🙂
I’ve never read either of those- will have to check em out!
lol sometimes I think Cosmo is writting from dudes, cuz its always “how to please him in bed” “10 things he will love in bed” “give sexy blow jobs” well, the 3rd one I just made it up but I’m sure there’s something like that in cosmo!
haha, I bet you’re right. What I don’t understand is who reads it?
*written from dudes
i meant to say!
I 100% agree about Health, Shape, Self, Fitness, etc. Repeat much??? Also, I am a fan of Better Homes and Gardens, but I despise OK Mag.
The only OK I ever read was in an airport once. I think I got bored 🙂
I totally get US Weekly. If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t know which stars buy coffee and chips. They’re just like me!
and they pick up their kids from school! They go to the farmer’s market! They eat! haha
I don’t read them at all. I guess I could get them at the library though. I just never want to subscribe.. I’m cheap! 🙂
I used to be a complete magazine addict and took in everything that was written in them. The occasional time I buy them I see how shallow a lot of the articles are. I now regularly buy Women’s Running and very occasionally Marie Clare as I think the standard of journalism is better than some of the other glossies.
I used to love SELF more than anything and then I read something about “happy” calories and restrictions and I hate that–not everyone can eat the same and it’s about time I don’t care what the darn glossies say 🙂
We have a subscription to Entertainment Weekly, which to me is fun and entertaining, but a few steps above a glossy mag like People. The only time I really ever buy mags from the stand is for plane rides or vacations, and I always get something super trashy…Us Weekly, Star, whatever.
I have also subscribed to Budget Travel, which I enjoyed, and a long time ago Vegetarian Times. There are so many recipes out there, though, I can’t imagine spending money on a magazine to get more!
I know- I almost get overwhelmed with all of the recipes out there… especially since I rarely follow actual recipes, usually I just experiment :0
haha, awesome. i picked up psychology today when i first started grad school in psychology. yup, no psychology to be found in that mag! but i guess if it inspires people to start thinking about life in deeper ways that’s more than most other magazines can say. there’s a magazine from the UK called “psychology” which i’ve found in certain book stores which is far superior. it’s still really accessible to people who aren’t in the field but is a lot more genuine. i highly recommend looking for it if you like psychology. i love love love “whole living” {which used to be called “body & soul”}. there are all sorts of stuff in there about each area of life and i’ve found it to be pretty inspiring. i also love paste magazine because it highlights all the amazing indie bands, books, and movies. i’ve had several friends featured in it too, so that was a huge winning factor overall. i enjoy shape or self {i can’t really tell them apart} from time to time to get me inspired to exercise or try new routines, but i totally agree that they are mostly the same 5 articles over and over.
I’ll have to check both of those out- they both sound right up my alley! thanks for the ideas!
Interesting…I have never read Psychology Today, I think I’ll have to check it out.
I love health magazines and Cooking Light, those would prob be the ones I read the most. But books > mags for me, for sure 😉
hahahaha Cosmo. Ohh Cosmo. I used to read it every month without fail in my teens, but yeah…it sucks quite a lot 😀 I love that it was at the bottom.
I also like Nylon- the paper and online version! And totally agree with you on cosmo. Pretty sure I read a headline recently on there that said “The Boobgasm exists!”
I also find that a lot of big schools have ‘zines that have some good music and style stuff on them. One of my faves is Teen Vogue, too! I still dress a little teen-ishly sometimes and the clothes featured are usually affordable.
hahahaha- the boobgasm quote has me laughing so hard. You really can’t make this stuff up- the magazine just parodies itself. wow. You are the second or third “adult” to mention teen vogue- I’m intrigued!
Making fun of Cosmo is the best! “Try putting champagne in your mouth first, the bubbles will really stimulate his penis.” Ahaha! I love reading it with my best friend, we get a lot of laughs.
xoxo
Em
no matter what ridiculous thing you try to make up to make fun of it… its probably actually been printed at some time haha
That one actually has!