Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is used to distinguish what the
audience wants, and that they need. Consumerism is the fuel for
western lifestyles, constantly driving the consumer to plan and desire what
they want. An interesting concept is the possibility of want gradually becoming
need. This is an example of how advertising can act as propaganda; reinforcing
said product to the audience so frequently they begin to believe that they need
the item. This is an interesting concept in the structure of magazine genre and
covers. Could the frequent exposure to conventions of particular genres on
magazine covers be the reason why people at first want to become part of the group the magazine is aimed at, and then
begin to need this item (complete
with genre specific tropes) to feel like they fit somewhere?
