Teen People - More than cute guys on parade
Written: Oct 25 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: entertaining
Cons: numerous ads
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| teddiec's Full Review: Teen People Magazine |
Teen People is an entertainment magazine for young people. It doesn't attempt to be cerebral, nor would I expect it to be-yet I've seen quite a lot of negative reviews about this magazine for that very reason. It's fun, light reading with the focus on younger celebrities, trends, and forms of entertainment like books, movies and music that appeal to a younger reader. To say Teen People is a bad entertainment magazine because it isn't intellectually driven seems akin to saying that an apple is bad because it doesn't taste like an orange....
There are better ways to educate our children, but for entertainment this is a fine magazine. How do I know? Well, although I've been known to read TP when I've seen it laying around the house, my opinion seems less relevent than that of it's target reader-a real live pizza scarfing, phone hoarding, bathroom bogarting 15-yr. old. Introducing...my kid.
Having bought this magazine for you more often than the other teen publications, I assume it's your favorite?
"Yes."
What other magazines do you read?
"Oh, lots....YM, Cosmogirl, um...Ok, I have read J14 before, but I don't really like it, Seventeen."
What is it about Teen People that makes you like it the most?
"Well, it like...has the best stuff in it. It's somewhere between J14 and Seventeen, you know?"
No, I'm sorry I don't. Could you elaborate?
"Mo-om" (with two syllables and an eyeroll). " Well, J14 is kind like..for younger teens, I guess. It's more like "Teen" or something only not as bad--and Seventeen has a lot of stuff but isn't really as fun. I'll probably like it better when I'm older maybe." I used to like Cosmogirl best, but it seems like they talk down to teens."
Talk down?
"Yeah, you know. Kinda like old people trying to talk young." (irrepressible giggle)
Ok, in your own words, tell me some of your favorite things about Teen People
"Let's see, ok....I love "star tracks", and they almost always have a really good cover story on someone I like, plus another story usually about a music group in "In the Spotlight". I like the stories about real people too, I mean, you know-not famous or anything. Oh, and there's always this thing, "Star Woes" where celebrities tell their most embarrassing moments."
I've noticed there are quite a few advertisements in this magazine, how do you feel about that?
"I don't care, I guess I don't pay that much attention except to the ones that about stuff I'd like to try. Makeup and stuff."
How do you feel about the implication that the models in these ads, and frequently the celebrities spotlighted in this magazine are society's "ideal"?
<Wrinkles nose-translated: you're weird, Mom>
"Well, I guess everyone thinks they'd like to look like that some times, but not everyone does so...it's no big deal. Sometimes I might look at one and say 'ugh, I hate her!', but I don't mean it. I'm just kidding. It doesn't bother me or anything. Some of them look kinda sick anyway, real skinny!"
"Are we done yet? I have to make a phone call....."
Ok, scoot---but no LD's!
Does Teen people teach good values and morals? Why should it? It doesn't teach bad ones, and an entertainment magazine shouldn't be expected to teach anything at all.
As with most magazines, Teen People does have advice columns that are both harmless (Plug-in, mind manners, love doctor) and helpful (Ask Julie, Sex and body, Shape up) but the advice is either generic, or technical-for example: "what to expect at the gynecologist."
Teen People's main focus, like it's parent magazine (People) is celebrities and their lifestyles. There is an in depth cover story in each issue on a currently "hot" young celebrity or celebrities, and "star tracks" features many photos of celebrities on their way to premiers, award shows, etc. You can see what they are wearing, who they are dating, or what they have done with their hair! But unlike the "Teen Beat" of yesterday, Teen People gives much more than a hundred pictures of Leif Garrent and Donny Osmond.
Other things you can expect to find each month include:
Beauty
Topics you'd expect teenagers to be interested in. Makeovers, answers to beauty questions, and articles about hairstyles and make-up.
Style
What's hot and what's not, current fads, trends, season relevant clothing, and where to shop.
Media
Articles and views on current books, movies, television shows, and music.
Real Life
Stories from the real lives of readers that usually include a life lesson, a learning experience or surviving a tragedy and articles that relate to real life.
Other Stuff
Silly quizzes, horoscope, letters from readers, and yes, plenty of ads of the kind you'd expect teenage girls to respond to.
Teen People is just light-hearted entertainment, and not a bad tasting apple at all....
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
teddiec
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