Augh, someone please plunge a stake through my heart. All I needed was to read the first sentence to feel a little phlegm rise in the back of my throat. Like quite a few others, I am sick of the Twilight hype, so being told that the December 2009"Twilight" cover of Harper's Bazaar won best Magazine Cover of the Year made me die a little inside. It was also completly ridiculous that vampires needed their own category for the competition, but I thought that I should at least look at the cover. Maybe it really was worth the title. Or not. For being such a "romantic" cover, the two aren't even looking at each other. Robert Patterson is looking quite lovingly at the camera, while Kristen Stewart looks rather appalled and disgusted to me. Also, that her hand is haughtily placed on her hip further displays a look of disinterest. Furthermore, both are decked out in a chrome/black colored ensemble, so I cannot say they stand out in the picture. I don't know how this contest was conducted, but maybe that one parent's daughter had the cover on her room for so long because she's an avid "Team Edward" fan. I guess she never thought of that...
On the other hand, I do like the New Yorker cover with the butterfly hat. I do not know anything about Alexander McQueen or his apparent suicide, but I feel that the brightly colored butterflies against the charcoal, murky background draws the eye even close to the butterflies. Furthermore, this cover is so simply beautiful, that if I was familiar with this designer I'm sure I would have been somewhat emotional.
The Johhny Depp cover I found to be "meh." There is a charismatic gleam in Depp's eye, as if you just caught him in the middle of a moment of brilliance, and he wants to tell you about it. However, there is nothing new or special about this shot. It feels like I could go searching around on Facebook and find a few dozen of the same type of photo. The same goes for the National Geographic cover. A decade ago I had a purple mousepad with the same water caressed design, so for me it's nothing new. Does it look cool? Yeah, but not "Cover of the Year" worthy. Come on...there has to be better submissions than this!
Finally, I must say that I had read about the Marge Simpson Playboy cover, and to finally see it...it's interesting and note worthy, but nothing really eyecatching. I feel like the extremely purple background is trying to contrast with Marge's yellow skin tone, but I also think it's trying to compensate for the lack of...interest.
Hahahaha - Heather I really enjoyed reading your input on the magazine covers! I see what you mean about the Twilight cover - Kristen Stewart does look a bit haughty and uninterested where Robert Pattinson seems that he has a love for the camera and not a love for Kristen. Maybe it won best cover because of the huge fan base? I think the set background is beautiful, but probably also fake. I guess it has that Cinderella fairytale beauty about it?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you about the Johnny Depp cover. Isn't that what he looks like in all of his pictures? Playful yet badass? Maybe this picture is different because of the necklace he has on? I'm not sure why but I am drawn into how the necklace hangs over his left forearm.
I thought the fat nation cover was hilarious! But I don't really like the typeface that was used.
Love the GQ cover because I love Clint. He's got that look in his eye "yeah i'm ancient but I still look badass".
I love the contrast on the butterfly cover. Also, the model is rather flat while the butterflies really pop - love it!
Kerri,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have a feeling that the Twilight cover was only popular for the fanbase. And that set was really pretty, but it looked like it could have been computer created. I can also see how the Cinderella fairytale quality could be appealing.
For the Johnny Depp cover, I never noticed the necklace--I mean I did, but it didn't quite catch my eye as it did yours. I think I was looking too much at his tattoos, haha. The necklace does add a little personal touch.
And although I didn't mention the Clint GQ cover, he really did look like he was daring the camera (and viewers) to question his ability to still act. I'm not sure if I've ever seen any of his movies (a sin, I know...), but I know that he still acts and does a damn good job doing it. As a side comment, veteran actors and actresses really do have a hard time finding jobs, so he (and Betty White) are really noticeable examples that as long as you keep at it, even the old actors and actresses can still perform in popular media.
I also never noticed the flatness of the model on the buttefly cover, but that does add an extra dimension to the cover!
Agreed, it was disappointing for Twilight to be the top cover (although the cover image was nicely done). My favorite was the butterfly hat illustration which also honored Alexander McQueen. Also kinda liked the obesity/Statue of Liberty cover.
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