Changing the Game

Okay Stoklosa and Co., I've run into some issues.

The all powerful and highly adored Nick Lopez alerted me to the fact that this project is due in roughly two weeks. (!!!!!!!!!) Being away, in Tampa and New York, consumed up two weeks of my time without me even realizing. Amazing, life is wonderful.

Dramatic sarcasm aside, I really need to haul booty for the next two weeks. I am proud of and confident in the research and planning I have done, but nothing concrete has actually been produced. I have the context, but not the content. Yikes.

I have decided to shift gears a tad to make things a bit more convenient for myself. Given that Jania and I are hardly acquainted and that she has her own massive project to complete, I've decided to seek out another subject for my cover story. I am thinking of using either Kelly Soluri, my pal from class, or Nick Lopez, my soulmate. Both are a lot more easily accessed and comfortable choices. (I can't believe I'm talking about fellow human beings here, but that's another issue for another day.)

I've also decided to infuse a bit more vibrancy and creativity into my magazine. Up until now, I have been aiming for a clean, sophisticated aesthetic, but I don't think my content or where my magazine is heading align with that look. I am going to spruce things up a tad to appeal to the portion of my target audience that may showcase some hostility toward my magazine. Because my topic is so profound and frowned upon by some, lending some of my quirkiness to the work will prove for much better reception from my theoretical audience. It will also be a better use of my personality and skill-set.

Tomorrow I am declaring a Fembrace Frenzy. Because I have absolutely nothing to do tomorrow (can it really be so?), I am dedicating all of my time to collection and design. I am going to purchase the materials I need for my cover photo and any other photos, design my layouts, and plan with my subject when the photo shoot for the cover will take place (I am hoping for this Saturday).

Let's make things happen, yo.

Joomag Help

After over-confidently attempting to figure out Joomag by myself, I decided that 30 minutes of staring at a blank page was doing nothing for my project. It is time to let go of some of my pride; coming back to you guys live following some tutorial videos.

*P.S. I got a college acceptance today and am very happy :)*

Because I have not as of yet collected any images or content for my magazine (lol), I am going to utilize the basic functions of Joomag by working with images I already have saved on my computer. (Sorry for the surplus of headshots.) My main issue as of right now involves getting the font I want to use on one software to transfer to this one. Wish me luck.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Twenty minutes later, and this is what I've been able to produce.

I appropriately saved this photo to my laptop under the name "fail". I think I better find another software or a better tutorial. For now, I am moving on to a software called Lucid Press. If anybody out there can help me out though, please feel free to comment or utilize the submissions box to the right.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Lucid Press and I fell in love at first sight. Here is our baby (obviously not a genuine representation of my magazine.) 

The resolution after downloading it and uploading it to this post is of poor quality, however, the actual software showcases all elements of the cover crisply and clearly. I am sooooooo happy.

Tomorrow, I am emailing Jania and will begin to construct my cover story. I am also going to continue with forming a legitimate version of my magazine layout now that I have the perfect program to facilitate that process. Yay :))

"Elizabeth Liones." Dragon Wizard Wikia. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.

Making Things Happen!!!!

I am in New York and having a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, there is work to be done.

I am about to tackle the cover story pertaining to my magazine spread. I am going to outline my ideas here for both the content and photos, and then attempt a very rough outline of what the layout will be. I am still planning on using Jania, but she gave me a few other names of people who would be of great use for my project. But, since I'm away, for now we will call my subject "Fem".

My article is going to revolve around the current problems inherent in the feminist movement. Since my magazine is targeting the acceptance and celebration of all people, it would be smart to incorporate the issues it doesn't stand for in order to make clear its purpose, especially for the first issue.

So, first, I am going to gather information about Fem's general life: full name, hometown, occupation, hobbies, leadership positions: basically, I'm presenting Fem with a mock college application. (Fem will feel the pain I've felt all year, if he/she hasn't already.) It will be really important to me when writing my article, as well as to the readers when the final draft is complete, to have a full scope of Fem's life woven into the words.

Next, I am going to ask Fem to simply define feminism. I am also considering uploading a public survey asking participants to complete that exact same task. I then will implement these definitions into the introduction; an array of responses will help provide some context for my story as well as help my readers identify with the situation of my text. Perhaps their own reply would align with one of the answers I gather.

Afterward, I am going to digress from Fem for a bit and discuss some of the findings from my feminism research. Then, I am going to analyze those findings, make my own argument, and Fem will come back into play with support through his/her own observations, data, and testimonials. The purpose of my cover story is to highlight the overall theme of my magazine, and through this informative and inspiring article, I believe the message will get across.

I am planning on having a photo shoot with Fem, most likely out of school. I want the photos to feature Fem doing what he/she loves, as well as embracing her self. (Perhaps I will capture a mirror shot, a silly shot, and a hobby shot.) I am trying to make my magazine as clean, sophisticated, and neutral as my 17 year old self can, so the best decision to ensure the mature aesthetic I am aiming for would be to remove it from the juvenile school environment. Still, Fem most likely will be a teenager, but other components of the layout will blur over the age. The reason I am trying to elevate the stature of my magazine is because I am trying to appeal to a wide range of audience members. If I go in the direction of flashy and too artistic, I may come off as childish and not appeal to an older crowd. I believe the liberal topic will be enough alone to maintain the younger audience population.

Here is a ROUGH sketch of my layout. Yes, I know that it's really boxy and choppy. Once I actually have my content and a better software, it will be much smoother. The font is not necessarily going to look like this, either. And of course, actual cohesive sentences will be present.

   

Tomorrow, I am going to hardcore attack a ton of different magazine design programs and pick one that will work for me. Stay tuned!

FemArt

As much as I tried to convince myself that I would work tirelessly on this magazine whilst away at the Florida State Thespian Festival, my attempts proved pointless. Although I did not even take my laptop out of its bag, I still observed a lot, amongst the 8,000+ drama students, that actually relates to this project. I thought I would share some of my findings with you. If you wanna learn more about thespians, however, click this.

During the brilliant performance of Romeo and Juliet that my troupe saw Friday night, I was captivated not only by the immeasurable talent, but also the casting choices involving many of the male roles being played by females. The young women did not stage sex changes, however, they merely performed the roles as masculine women. Theatre's transformation for women has officially taken itself to the opposite side of the spectrum. What started as an exclusively male activity (women were prohibited from performing on stage until 1660) has become a female dominated profession. And now, seeing a student-directed masterpiece take a classic play and decide to defy gender roles is nothing short of empowering.

I also witnessed the dramatic impact my own troupe's one act piece, Emotional Creature, had on the lives it touched during its performance. Emotional Creature is a one-act play that exposes the many abuses women around the world suffer. Although the play incorporated the "victim complex" into most of its monologues and scenes, the ultimate message of embracing women as equal to men nestles nicely into the premise of my project. I've attached a clip of a monologue from Emotional Creature here.

Now, I know I said in my first post that my magazine would not be about drama, however, I find that the influence art has had and continues to have on this powerful feminist movement is imperative to at least recognize throughout my research and final product. This is why I am including the digital print inspiration board and am planning to incorporate more of the arts into my magazine's concept.

As I head to New York tomorrow morning, I am nervous about stalling my project's progress. Tonight, I am making a schedule for myself to follow for the rest of spring break.

"About." Florida State Thespians. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

Mabillard, Amanda. "Women and the Elizabethan Stage." Women and the Elizabethan Stage. N.p., 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

"Nose Job - from Emotional Creature -." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.

Calling All Covers

I found this and am feeling completely relieved that I won't have to construct the aesthetics of my magazine cover without guidance. I knew what I was going for, and alas, the internet knew, too. I'm going to post a couple covers that I am really digging here, explain why I dig them, and then, I'm going to dabble in designing my own. (If it wasn't already apparent from my the name of my blog, I have an affinity for alliteration.) (I'm sorry.)

This first cover inspires me specifically with the title. It's artsy yet simple, quirky yet elegant, all at once. I also enjoy the caption. It describes the picture so subtly and appears as though it is acruelly a part of it. I love the neutrality of the color scheme; however, I think mine will be a little brighter. Also, I don't think my background will be the entire image and backdrop.

This next cover appeals to me mostly because of the artistry. It almost feels like a movie poster promotion. Although my cover will definitely include more prominent text, I love how entrancing this cover is.

For my own cover, I am feeling the photo in black and white, with the text and female symbol in one distinct color or color scheme. I am thinking hues of red, orange, or pink. This rough design was generated by a computer program I have called paint.net and is probably not what I will use due to the lack of precision and quality I am finding in this first draft.

I don't know why this image's quality is so poor, will work on that. *This is not a final decision whatsoever.* Drawn lines denote text (except for the one under "fem").
 Feel free to critique, commend, or rip to shreds by commenting below.

Paint.net. N.p., n.d. Web.

"70 Most Beautiful Print Magazine Covers." DESIGN Dose 70 Most Beautiful Print Magazine Covers Comments. N.p., 23 July 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.

Inspirations

 I've created an inspiration board through Pinterest to gauge a look for my magazine and to compile topics that will inspire its content. It can be found here. (I don't know how Pinterest works but feel free to pin things to it you think would help if you're able.)

I'm also going to attach some images from the board that I feel are spot on with what I am going for and why, and then some images that I and my magazine are completely against and why.

This is tackling the stereotype of gendered clothing. It reminds me of the Target scandal involving gender-neutral clothing that seems to not bother anybody anymore. I also love the aesthetics of the image itself; the faded tie-dyed background symbolizes the call for gender neutralization of fashion/aesthetic choices. This could be a theme/look that inspires the look of my magazine. This image is also encouraging me to explore a fashion column for my magazine that defies this specific attire standard.




        This reminds me of the experiences I had with the girls in my drama program as well as with my sister and mom. Although my magazine is for everyone, girls hating on each other is a huge problem for the feminist community and indeed was an inspiration for my magazine. Simply, we have to unite. In order to do so, we must call for the end to this specific problem. This or a similar image could be a part of the print inspiration board section of my magazine. I also am contemplating adding a story to my table of contents specifically covering this topic. There are many more similar "women for women" images on my pinterest board, so check 'em out!



I love this image. The artistry, the featuring of a black woman, and the message itself showcase a key aspect of what my aim is with this magazine. Again, this could be representative of something you would find in the print inspiration board of my magazine. I also looked up Bell Hooks and found that she is an author and activist who believes the broad topics of race, gender, feminism, and the impact of media cannot be studied as separate entities because they are all interconnected. This aligns perfectly with the idea of my magazine. I could perhaps even add a column called "Individual of the Month" for someone who advocates for and represents the embracing of everyone and feature her in my first issue.


Okay, so now onto images that I found to be depicting the convoluted versions of feminism.

Okay, so although the concept of virginity is definitely man-made and is currently perpetuated as a negative status, the term "virgin" actually is derived from Greek mythology and was coined as a symbol of strength and power. From there it was twisted into a frowned upon, man-hating concept, just as feminism was. Yes I completely agree that some historical male figures were huge culprits of discrimination against females. However, the men of today had nothing to do with it. Two things I would like to point out

1. Because the men this image is wrongfully targeting aren't even alive today, the inaccurate accusation it poses does nothing for the current movement of feminism.
2. Men are also shamed for being virgins, and sometimes even more so than women. Women also bash other women for being virgins.

This is one reason why when I told some male peers I was choosing feminism for my magazine subject they shot me disapproving looks. This is exactly the kind of thing my magazine is against.

This next image is simply false. There are so many things we think men are incapable of, simply because of their gender status. Emoting, expressing feelings, and listening are all stereo-typically being pegged as triumphantly feminine.  I also found this article that features statistics regarding custody cases discriminating against men due to the false perception that men can't raise children. This is most certainly a perception that my magazine is striving to discredit.

The last image is not necessarily wrong, but it is leaving out the rest of the entire human population. Feminism is the radical notion that people are people no matter what gender, ethnicity, race, size, sexuality, etc. and that everybody inherently deserves equal status, representation, and treatment. I guess that was just too long a definition to fit on the pink triangle. My magazine is promoting "people status" for all, not just women.





Something I've noticed about all the images I've deemed somewhat incorrect is that they focus only on the man vs woman struggle of feminism, leaving out everyone in between. My magazine, as I've reiterated probably an annoying amount of times by now, is for everyone.

I hope you enjoyed my inspirations.

The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Bell Hooks." Bell Hooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Bell Hooks Quote Charity Art Print - Recycled Paper." Etsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Defining Virginity." Defining Virginity. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Derespina, Cody. "Target Going Gender Neutral in Some Sections | Fox News." Fox News. FOX News Network, 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Feminist Quote Print- Feminism Is the Radical Notion That Women Are People Digital Art Print - 5x7 Print." Etsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Life And Style on Etsy." Etsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

".logo.filled .inner, .logo:hover .inner { Opacity: 1; Fill: Url(#rollover); }." End-girl-hate. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Tardisdocta." Tumblr.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Planning

I am currently trying to plan out the making of my magazine to ensure I don't fall behind with everything I've got going on. (On top of everything, I got sick this weekend. Lovely.)

I would also like to clear something up and maybe correct something I've previously stated. I choose not to outwardly label myself as a feminist, but I do personally identify as one. It is the same as the fact that I choose not to go around boasting that I am an environmentalist, although I do believe in the preservation and protection of the Earth. I don't think the labels are necessary because

1. I don't feel I have enough knowledge about these topics or have acted upon these roles enough to earn a title.
2. I stand for what I stand for regardless of categorization; if our aim is to try and defeat stereotypes, I think a great way to start is to stop trying to figure out who everyone is by putting a name to their person. I am Suzie and I support full equality for every human being on this planet.

I hope this clears things up. If it makes you feel better I'll just say that for all necessary means of this project and my own life, I am, by my own being, in your vocabulary, what you would call a feminist. I hope that helps anybody who was previously frustrated with my view (and I'm sorry if it's only fueling your fire).

Anyway, I am thinking that because I will be away for the next two weeks, I want to start with gathering the written content for my cover, table of contents, and cover story first. Upon my return, I will acquire all necessary images. 

I think I'm really digging my first idea for the cover with the feminine symbol cardboard cutouts. I believe this will really get across that our humanity fits into every mold we've made, and that every person is equal regardless of these identifying symbols. Also, the feminine symbol is derived from Venus, the Roman goddess of love; perfect for me because love and acceptance are what my magazine is advocating and celebrating. Whomever becomes the topic of my cover story will be displayed in the center cheesing it up with the cardboard emblem.

I would like for my table of contents to include pieces that are both informative and inspiring. This section will have 2-3 images that align with the various stories I am going to feature. Some ideas I have for stories include

• What is the gender spectrum? An explanation of this concept featuring quotes, testimonials, and scientific research. I believe this is great to include in the initiation of my magazine so that readers understand the aim of my magazine as being for everyone.
• Pro-My Life This will be a highly opinionated, controversial column on the idea of individual choices. It will cover political and social decisions including but not limited to: pro-life, gay marriage, motherhood, gender choices, appearances, etc. 
• An inspiration board This will be a two-page, print collage of various inspirational quotes and images compiled from consumer submissions and research. It will feature some artists' names and websites for art up for purchase, specifically artists from minority communities who often face oppression. This will add to the celebration of people as well as help out those in need.
• Victim. Stories on different topics for different people of all genders, ethnicity, etc. who have dealt with the demoralizing experiences of rape, violence, oppression, discrimination, and stereotyping. This will expose the hardships all humans face that need to be stopped.

These are not concrete as of yet, but definitely feasible ideas I have in my mind.

For the cover and cover story I'm thinking it will be centered around Jania as how she identifies as a feminist and is active within the feminist community. She is also a part of the LGBTQIA community which adds to my idea of acceptance for all. But, we'll see who else I run into along this journey. She has her own project to work on and I keep writing about her here without having even finalized this choice yet. (I promise I'm not a weirdo.)

I also started exploring a magazine publishing/design program called Joomag. It allows you to upload PDFs and customize them into an issue. I have no idea if this will work for my project and I found myself completely flustered when trying to play around with it. Wish me luck.

There's a lot to figure out and it's all very overwhelming, but welcome to life, Suzie-Q.