Aspirational Fiction

Should be the name of a new genre, devoted to glossy mags. I just went through the May issues of Elle (US Edition) and Harper’s Bazaar and I am amazed at the lack of diversity (in bodies, racial, etc) and the fact that they only seem to peddle unattainable products, way out of price range for the vast majority of people.

I always thought that the purpose of magazines was to offer us a slice of reality, but I sincerely do not know a single person who remotely lives or looks like the images depicted in them (even those who are very wealthy just do not look like that). I know I am not saying anything new but it was a long time since I had a physical copy of a current issue of these publications in my hands and I am pretty much speechless. At least they should be sincere and brand it as aspirational fiction (i.e. what people in advertising wish we aspired to). Because they sure seemed unreal to me.


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