Essay - Cosmopolitan Magazine vs. Pride and Prejudice the Essence of the...

COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE vs. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

The essence of the writings of Richard Simon in ***** book, "Trash Culture" is the fact that history does in fact repeat itself through literature. ***** discusses how modern magazines such as Cosmopolitan can shed new light on the novels of such authors as Jane Austen, Gustave Flaubert and Edith Wharton. This paper will specifically discuss the comparison between *****'s novel, Pride and Prejudice and the popular magazine Cosmopolitan, specifically the February 2002 edition featuring pop culture celebrity Britney Spears.

The mere fact that Britney Spears is the highlighted ***** in this issue illustrates Simons comparison between modern culture and ***** characters in the coming of age ***** such ***** Pride and Prejudice. She is ***** example of the modern woman in ***** culture just as the women portrayed in Pride and Prejudice were ***** of their *****.

It is the essence ***** not only woman ***** ***** portrayed in both venues, it is the strength of women that is portrayed. Cosmopolitan magaz*****e prides itself on dealing with women's issues in a way that empowers women. The whole essence of Austen's Pride ***** Prejudice is the internal struggle and ***** ***** strong *****. The characters in Pride and Prejudice focus on the comraderie of ***** women as does Cosmopolitan. The magazine draws its readers from a pool ***** ***** particular type of woman as ***** Pride ***** Prejudice. Women ***** identify with the articles in the magazine and the story ***** ***** and Prejudice. It becomes personal to them in many respects.

The cover of the magazine highlights Simon's example of how m*****s media, "trash culture" *****day ********** on such similar issues and problems as were apparent many years ago. The magazine focuses on courtship, self image, fashi*****, health concerns and also gives an ***** of ***** "perfect wom*****." ***** image is one that ***** have been trying to compete with for centuries. Granted the outward appearance of th***** perfect woman and her figure, style of clothing and makeup choices may ***** changed *****out the years but the premise remains the same. Women strive ***** perfection in whatever form it is socially accepted.

Simon's grasp of the comparison between the novel ***** the magazine should ***** be confused with the overall differences between the two.

Cosmopolitan according Simon is representative ***** the culture as a whole. It is geared to ***** women of the culture and their interaction with the men. Cosmopolitan focuses on advert*****ing ***** a way to get its message across to its readers. Cosmopolitan uses flashy advertisements, pho*****graphs ***** catch phrases to illustrate its point. Cosmopolitan foc***** ***** the here and the now, not past *****. The view of Cosmopolitan is peripheral and its focus is to grab the attention ***** its *****. Its articles are geared ***** catch ***** attention of the reader as ***** magazine sits amidst many others in a ***** stand. The real essence of the Cosmo woman is one ***** is portrayed ***** a product *****