The Evolution of Britney Spears

America’s favourite pop teen queen was barely sixteen when she first hit the charts with her first single ‘Baby one more time’.
In 2007, Young, happy and fun Britney Spears had a downward spiral which tarnished her reputation.

The image on this front cover of Britney Spears has been framed as a mid-long shot. The editor has chosen to use a mid-long shot to highlight that part of the image, which infers that the part of the image that has been cropped is the most important, also because this section of the image is what the reader is most likely to be drawn to.
‘Rolling Stone’ is an American rock magazine; however it also includes other aspects such as politics and national affairs and publishes other music celebrity stories.
This magazine is usually purchased by men in their 30’s; therefore this magazine front cover has been audited for the majority/target audience.
Britney’s costume consists of her dressed in underwear-light pink cotton knickers with black polka dots matched with a black bra. However she is covered with a short sleeved hooded jumper. This clothing suggests that although she is a young teenage girl, she still has a sexy, seductive image and style. This type of image on the front cover is most appealing to a male audience. Spears is holding on to a purple ‘teletubby’ on her right arm which connotes her youth. In her left hand she holds a corded telephone to her ear. Both of these prop items are typical of every teenage girl of her age. Therefore, capturing aspects of her youth and characterises what she may enjoy doing (talking on the phone perhaps).
The setting of the background in this image is a metallic bright pink silky bed cover with hints of creases, which Spears lies down on. The image of Spears and the setting of the image is an inter-textual reference of the story/image of Lolita. Lolita was a 14 year old who was able to seduce an older man in his 30’s. The idea of this young girl seducing an older man has been used on this magazine front cover, basically copying Lolita’s image. The fact of who this magazine is aimed as (30 year old men & older) and Britney Spears’ age and her image on the front cover reiterates Lolita. The message that is being portrayed to the audience here is that although she is a young teenage girl she is still accessible to this type of audience and that it is not particularly a ‘bad’ thing. It also tells us that hence her youth she is not ‘that innocent’
The colours that have been used on this page are white, grey, black and metallic-pink. The editor has chosen colours which corroborate with each other; they are very dissimilar therefore creating the effect of them standing out against each other. The majority of these colours used on the front cover are typical of a teenage girl-stereotypically their favourite colour tends to be plain pastel pink. On this front cover a different shade of pink has been exploited-bright metallic pink causing a more highlighted attraction. The anchorage text, puffs are white which brightens up the page and makes the cover stand out.



In comparison to the previous issue here Britney Spears has a totally different image; she has a different hair style and a different hair colour - possibly altered to indicate her maturity from youth and making a statement of change through the image she is portraying. By making this statement the audience gets the impression that she is now a young independent woman, not a teenage girl.
Britney Spears’ costume is luring and promiscuous. There isn’t much clothing involved in her costume – she is dressed with one item of clothing- her bottom underwear. Her costume, surroundings and appearance are all white, which was configured deliberately in order to make Britney Spears stand out and appear brighter and makes her body seem . Additionally, although she does not have a lot of clothes on her lack of costume is actually more appealing to the Rolling Stone audience of men in their 30’s. The lack of costume could connote that she is going to unravel herself to the reader in the magazine about herself and is not ‘hiding’ under her clothes and she is being open and upfront about herself and her image. The lack of costume also suggests risk taking evoking the climax of her life at that point, things were falling into place - she was a famous and successful pop star in the spotlight.
Britney reveals a partial smile which portrays a hint of cheekiness towards her appearance. Her pose on this cover is again quite seductive as on the previous cover. She is enclosed between two walls and seems to be leaning or pushing against the wall in front of her. The setting of this image is significant as it may reflect entrapment in her life at that point, her being caught up in the ‘limelight’ or trapped in the music business.
Spears’ pose and facial expression present an alluring invitation towards the audience, with the bland white background and surroundings the cover appears illuminated. Bright lighting is used on this image because the background and the objects in the image are white, it is hard to distinguish between them which is a good technique used in order to make Spears’ have a healthy and radiant look, because of the background and lighting all focus and attention remains on her.
The colour scheme that has been used on this cover is blue, black, white and red. The editor has specifically chosen bold colours to highlight the text on the front cover against the white background. The colours red, white and blue cleverly connote the American flag, which signify her nationality. The editor includes the colour black in the colour scheme to highlight the buzz words on the cover enhancing a bold effect on the cover.
The main puffs are blue which are placed specifically around the front cover, separated across the page in order to stand out and catch the readers eye with its bright colour.


This final magazine cover highlights and reveals the end of the climax in Britney Spears’ evolution. After a few years of experiencing the ‘good life’ in 2004 (on this front cover) she spears to have come to a standstill.
Here,
Her facial expression displays an extreme contrast to the previous magazine covers and portray calamity and sadness.
The use of the black & white image depicts her past, and also implies her current colourless life. The black & white image also infers her attempting to revert to the past - before exposure. It may also depict ageing- developing into maturity.
The image has been framed as an extreme close-up shot which helps to
dramatise the cover by overtaking the whole front cover. Britney appears lifeless and glassy-eyed insisted the reader to acknowledge her inner pain/sorrow. Also, With this image, through Britney’s facial expression the editor has attempted to use pathos in order to make the audience experience an emotional connection. Hence the size of the photograph-a close-up shot to appear ‘closer’ to the audience reinforcing the initial message.
The anchorage text ‘BRITNEY SPEARS Inside An American Tragedy’ the word ‘inside’ corroborates with the central image –the image is extremely close-up in bold text
The puffs inflict un-seen tears, the editor has position the puffs in a descending pattern which could possibly connote/portray crying.