Magazines and Modern Identities: Global Cultures of the Illustrated Press, 1880-1945

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, magazines in Europe, the USA, Latin America, and Asia embraced technological progress and mass consumerism, while also promoting cultural differentiation through patriotic or insurgent nationalism and traditionalism. Magazines embodied these tensions, exploring how publications drew on, resisted, and informed the ideals and visual forms of global modernism in ten different countries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the print cultures of countries worldwide were profoundly shaped by the ideals of technological progress and mass consumerism. Magazines across Europe, the USA, Latin America, and Asia exhibited a shared internationalism and technological optimism, influenced by the global forces of modernity. However, powerful countervailing influences such as patriotic or insurgent nationalism, as well as traditionalism, also promoted cultural differentiation. Magazines, as influential media outlets, embodied the complex tensions between these domestic imperatives and the forces of global modernity.

Magazines and Modern Identities delves into the dynamics of these tensions in the magazine cultures of ten different countries. It explores how publications in Australia, Europe, and North America, as well as China, the Soviet Turkic states, and Mexico, drew on, resisted, and informed the ideals and visual forms of global modernism. The book, with contributions from esteemed international scholars, expands the field of enquiry to encompass the vibrant magazine cultures of east Asia and Latin America.

The construction of these magazines' modern ideals was a multifaceted and dialectical process. While engaging with international modernism, they were equally responsive to their local cultures and the beliefs and expectations of their readers. Magazines played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions, influencing fashion, literature, and politics, and reflecting the changing social and cultural landscapes of their respective times.

In their editorials, images, and advertisements, magazines embodied the complex interplay between domestic imperatives and the forces of global modernity. They showcased the diverse ideals and visual forms that emerged in response to the technological era, reflecting the aspirations and concerns of their readers. From fashion magazines that promoted the latest trends to political magazines that debated social and political issues, magazines served as platforms for the expression and dissemination of modern ideas.

The chapters in Magazines and Modern Identities provide a comprehensive examination of the pioneering developments in European and North American periodicals during the modernist period. It explores how magazines in these regions responded to the challenges and opportunities of the globalised culture of the technological era, adopting new visual styles, editorial approaches, and advertising strategies. At the same time, they remained deeply rooted in their local cultures, reflecting the unique beliefs, values, and aspirations of their readers.

The book also highlights the diversity of these ideals within the magazine cultures of different countries. While some magazines embraced the globalised culture of the technological era, others critiqued it, questioning its impact on local traditions, values, and identities. Magazines played a vital role in shaping public opinion, challenging dominant narratives, and promoting social change.

In conclusion, Magazines and Modern Identities offers a valuable insight into the complex relationship between magazines, technology, and global modernity. It explores how magazines in different countries responded to the forces of change, shaping their modern ideals and visual forms while remaining deeply rooted in their local cultures. The book contributes to our understanding of the role of magazines in shaping the cultural and social landscapes of the 20th century and beyond.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350278639