'Adbusters' magazine- Woman on street and fashion model page analysis

Layout and design:

• The page featuring the fashion model is very minimalistic with little text.
• It uses layering between the images, the background itself is white with the photos layered on top.
• The photo of the street fades away on the page as though it is disintegrating.
• The photo of the fashion model is on a black background which has the effect of paint, the photo is heavily contrasted creating harsh lines on her face and hand. This highlights the unrealistic expectations society creates.
• The use of the paint affect may suggest that the modelling industry is fake, seemingly ‘perfect’ and unrealistic.
• The only text on this side of the double spread is on the photo of the model where it says ‘350 ppm’ in a paint style font.
• On the other side of the double spread the photo of the street continues covering most of the page, the background is once again white. The photo also continues the disintegrating effect.
• Disintegrating effect could suggest that the world is fading away- further supports the view the magazine is promoting on climate change.
• On this side the photo shows a woman sat on the ground with a cup, assumedly for change. In the background there is a road with cars going by.
• The use of cars in the background may be to emphasise the point about climate change the page carries out.
• Also on this page there is a quote from Justin Gillis.
• Background includes a recycling truck, may or may not be intentional, could be a more discrete way of embedding the idea of taking care of the planet to the audience.

Media language:

• Aside from the Justin Gillis quote there is very little text featured on the page.
• ‘350 ppm’- Assumedly pounds/pence per minute to suggest how much the model earns. Contrasts with the woman on the other page asking for change. Shows the unbalance of humanity and the earth creating global warming.
• ‘Conceivably providing a cushion of time for civilization to adjust’- Suggesting that we have time to improve and change the way we treat and look at the world. 
• Justin Gillis is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, is a consultant and author working on a book about how to solve global warming.
• The word ‘disintegration’ also appears in the quote further implying the destruction of the planet is caused by global warming and how it will cause everything to fade away.
• Listing- ‘Scientists fear climate effects so severe that they might destabilize governments, produce waves of refugees, precipitate the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals in Earth’s history, and melt the polar ice caps, causing the seas to rise high enough to flood most of the world’s coastal cities.’- Emphasises the effect of global warming and makes the audience more aware of the affects.
• Repetition of the word ‘rise’- Reflects how fast global warming is becoming more of an issue and how fast the consequences are occurring.
• Teddy bear on her jacket- Suggests innocence and vulnerability (semiotics- Roland Barthes), contrasts with the sharp and powerful photo of the model.
• Photo of the model shows her as ready and looking at the camera, woman on the street is seen as of guard and unprepared, may suggest that homelessness and financial instability can hit you at any point in your life when you may not expect it.

Representation:

• Model on the first page- Presented as perfect and unrealistic. It creates an image of how people should look even though it is impossible. The model is also white creating the idea that white woman are the most beautiful (bell hooks), however this contrasts with the woman on the opposite side.
• Woman on the street- Is once again white, there is a lack of representation of other ethnicities in the magazine. However, she is presented as less well-off and struggling.
• The magazine shows a range of classes but a lack of ethnicities.
• Stuart Hall- The model may be seen as beautiful, the audience may not see the page as going against the model industry but rather supporting it.
• Both people featured are women, possibly suggests that there is more of an expectation for woman within society.