Article Analysis

The concept of analysing an article means that we as fashion communicators can establish where it has come from and what purpose it has been written for. Within a recent seminar we were given 3 separate articles, to which we didn't know the purpose or where it came from,  to closely analyse in pairs and to make an estimate as to where it's from. When looking at the first article we were given some steps to consider,

. What are the main points being made?

. Key themes? Issues? What questions are addressed? 

. Who is it aimed at?

. What was it originally published for?

. What do you think about it?

. What research methods do you think they have used?

Article 1

The first article I looked at was titled 'Fast Love', the title itself is misleading as it doesn't give the articles context away, with a tagline rhetorical question 'How often do you have a 9am meeting or go to the gym before work and need your hair and makeup done?'

After glancing over it quickly I then read through it thoroughly and looked into the questions

. The main points being made are that a new fast beauty salon for influential women is opening, women with a business lifestyle

. Themes include what women need, groomed, glamorous, fast beauty, "what women don't have enough of? Time"

. It is aimed at business women, late 20's upwards, mid 40's

. I believe it was originally published for a style magazine, more specifically the beauty section, free press

. I personally think that the idea within the magazine is stupid but that is just because it isn't aimed at me I can appreciate how it would be helpful for business women though

. Within the article they use both secondary and primary research

Article 2

The second article I looked at didn't have an obvious name and had an awkward layout straight off the bat (being double sided and upside down).

. The main point being made are that the magazine industry is dying out and that the older grey market hash't got an appetite for magazines.

. Themes include print vs digital, the grey market and magazines

. Due to the formal language used and it's content I believe this extract to be aimed at an older market, possibly 30+

. I thought it was published for a journal but later found out that it was actually a 3rd year Fashion Communication and Promotion report piece.

. I thoroughly enjoyed this extract as it was insightful and delved into an issue that no one else had thought of looking at

. Both primary and secondary research have been used to justify the argument brought forward

Article 3

The 3rd and final article I had already seen and had in my room at home. All that was shown to us was a page of writing.

. The main points being made are depicting new and upcoming talent in all artistic formats i.e fashion and music

.  Key themes include style, music, travel, models, individuality and collaborations

. It is aimed at a younger market due to its informality and playfulness with use of coinage and consumers of Topshop

. It was originally published as part of a recent Topshop zine, I know this because I have the original zine and also because of its colloquial language, informality and how it's not too wordy.

. I like this extract I think it could be a bit more interesting visually

. The extract is like a well worded contents page so I wont know if secondary or primary research is used until you open it