Magazines are all designed to influence specific groups of people. In the early days of the Communist takeover of Russia, the National Geographic frequently ran articles praising this “new, fair system” to its readers, who were then, as now, a cross section of wealthy, worldly pseudo-intellectuals.
Vanity Fair keeps rich leftists thinking the right way. Never do its writers see a wasteful social program. Always do they complain about any idea containing common sense. Wealthy Communists and earth-worshippers read it avidly, always happy to be able to fuel their hatred of poorer working people as they chuckle at its clever insults and put-downs.
Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report put out the same, tired claptrap, praising more government while mocking those who want less. Esquire is for wealthy men who can’t keep their pants zipped. Going down the scale, Playboy, Penthouse, and the lower orders of pornography appeal to the less well-off who believe that feeding the demons of lust is their most important concern.
Many, many, many women’s magazines extol the virtues of neurosis, self-centeredness, conspicuous consumption, and “environmental concern”. At the same time, they let readers know how they should be thinking on a wide variety of subjects.
The men’s science magazines keep white males with 105-115 IQs convinced that there are new, magic answers, especially about energy sources “about to be discovered” that will solve the earth’s problems. By implication, their readers “could be the very geniuses who will profit from this exciting, new breakthrough”. That keeps them thinking the endlessly recycled, and insane, ways to procure “free” power from wind, tide, and obscure reactions will soon make the world a better place.
Expensive home magazines appeal to those who want status, prestige, and the appearance of being both tasteful and rich.
As the internet continues to point out truth about more things more quickly, magazine sales will continue to drop.
