MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

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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?

This mainly reinforces the top 2 sections of the hierarchy of needs; self-actualisation and esteem. This shows the power of the media, and how it potentially is able to convey tropes of social groups so well that it can completely make someone’s self-actualisation and/or esteem become positive rather than negative.

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