In this article, the author started off with what the cover
of the most recent issue of The Rolling Stones magazine has “accomplished”,
which was actually angering all of those who are still affected by the Boston
Marathon bombing. What stood out to me from the first half of the article was
when author Robin Abcarian compared how Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s stance on the cover
somewhat resembled to that Jim Morrison. Looking at both covers, the only thing
that could possibly be similar between the two is the curly hair. But anyway,
the author then proceeded on with quoting the magazine’s reason for using
Tsarnaev on the front cover: “The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in
the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for
us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete
understanding of how a tragedy like this happens.” However, the author believed
that the real reason for the matter was to get attention and make money.
Somehow, Abcarian’s theory is definitely plausible. It has been only three
months since the tragedy occurred, and, as I stated before, there are plenty of
people out there that are still trying to cope with all of the madness. To
conclude the article, Abcarian basically translated Janet Reitman, the Rolling
Stones’ author of the Tsarnaev article, possible reasons as to why and how the
young man ended up in this situation. Living in two different worlds, dealing
with the divorce of his parents, and so forth on, these could likely be why he was
easily influenced into following along with his brother. Also, Abcarian evinced
about why she likes cover. Personally, I believe that the front cover of any kind
of magazine should include someone or something that really attracts the
reader. In this case, Tsarnaev is the least interesting person at the moment.
First of all, I would like to say that I completely understand how those still affected by the Boston Marathon bombing feel when the bomber is portrayed on the cover of an issue of The Rolling Stones magazine as a "beautiful" man living in a complex life. I also agree with you that, as a "solution" to this "issue", magazines should have front covers that actually attract people to read the article. However, I do not quite understand when you said that he was "living in two different worlds" since I could not find your commentary about two distinct ways of life he is living by.
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie!
ReplyDeleteI find it very clever that the magazine, as Abcarian pointed out, made Tsarnaev look more like Morrison, a band member, rather than Manson, another criminal. It does catch the attention of many and is well supportive of the headline.
Do you think that the magazine used Tsarnaev on the cover solely for the goal of gaining more profit? Do you think that theory would still be valid if this issue of the magazine didn't gain as much attention as it did?