The Evolution of Britney Spears

In this Rolling Stone April 1999 issue, 14-year old Britney Spears appears on the cover.This image is taken with the medium shot so that the audience can take sight of the model’s position, gesture and the environment she’s in. In this particular case, the medium shot at a high angle was chosen because it wants to give significance to Britney’s body and the context.  Also, it gives the effect of her being submissive and innocent. Magazines that do this kind of shot are mostly music magazine such as Rolling Stones, men magazines and fashion magazines.&Britney’s costumes consist of very feminine - bra, white school shirt and a polka dots boxer shorts. But, it also gives a sexy and daring appeal to the audience. This suggests that even though there is an innocent atmosphere to the image, as she was still very young in this cover, it also creates a very seductive semblance which appeals very well to the male audience which is the dominant audience with 60% for Rolling Stones.

Using the telephone as props, it conveys that Spears is trying to make contact with someone, like a friend of a guy. But since the magazine appeals to the audience, then it is only hypothetically obvious that she maybe calling someone on the phone. This conveys that she is now mature as she is interested in relationships with the opposite sex. Paradoxically, the stuffed toy she’s holding, a Tellytuby, gives the impression that she’s innocent since the plushie is meant for kids. Overall, it conveys both the playful and seductive but very innocent and child-like representation of Britney Spears.

The setting of the image is relative to her costume that she is on her bedroom because she looks comfortable. The light attracts the fuchsia silk, creates lighting and manages to reflect the baby pink colour which connotes innocent and a childish feel whilst the fuchsia, a darker shade of pink connotes a more mature and a more sexual semblance.

“Inside the Heart, Mind & Bedroom of a Teen Dream” This inter textual references being made to the name Britney Spears clearly explains the cover image and its context. This connotes her deepest secrets as the text explains that Britney will be exploring what’s “inside” her heart, mind and bedroom – which may refer to her life before she got famous, what she thinks about fame and what her bedroom is like, perhaps her fashionable items and closet.

           In this issue of Rolling Stones, December 2003, Britney poses in an almost bare naked pose. Just like the first image or cover photo, the type of shot that was created is a medium shot. This is because the magazine wants to convey a fully mature Britney and as a very sexy and very fit figure.

            Britney’s costume in this cover is very daring as she is only wearing a pair of white panties. She is posed in a way that she is pushing her breasts forward and her lower body outward. With this pose, she probably wants to have a playful and seductive with the readers. Also her facial expression is inviting and pleasant which attract the readers which are mostly male since the target audience of Rolling Stones Magazine is mostly male.

            The lighting that was used is a high key lighting and this is very significant because since Britney has a very inviting gesture, the lighting should be enticing as well. The lighting had also been used to emphasise her bodily curves and this attracts the audience as it also creates a refreshing feel because given that white is a pure and neutral colour; it also provides a fresh atmosphere and semblance to the cover photo.

            The colours that are used are mostly white because it gives the attention to Britney’s body and to Britney herself. It also conveys purity, vibrancy and innocence which is quite paradoxical because her body language is the opposite of what the colours convey.

In this issue of Rolling Stone February 2008, Britney is portrayed in black and white. This image has been chosen – close up shot because probably Britney wants to convey a more personal relationship with the reader. Also the use of black and white is very important in conveying this message because stereotypically black and white colours convey sadness, longing or drama.

The image has been cropped in a way that Britney’s face occupies the whole cover leaving no background or white spaces. This also adds to the statement earlier which gives the impression that maybe she wants something personal and intimate with the reader – a secret or a confession.

            The relationship she wants to have with the audience is relevant and supported by the anchorage text “Inside an American Tragedy”. This is because people don’t usually talk about tragic events that had happened in their lives so Britney coming out with a story gives a more personal and intimate feel to it.