Start was a weekly popular and entertainment magazine targeting men, in circulation between 1969 and 1991 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. The magazine is known for its unique position in a Socialist country featuring both erotic and pornographic content and quality articles on current affairs with detailed analyses.
| Categories |
|
|---|---|
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Founded | 1969 |
| First issue | January 1969 |
| Final issue | 1991 |
| Company | Vjesnik |
| Country | Yugoslavia |
| Based in | Zagreb |
History and profile
editStart was established in 1969 as a successor to the Moto magazin.[1][2] The first issue of Start appeared in January that year.[1] It was headquartered in Zagreb[3] and was published by Vjesnik which was a well-known publishing house in the country.[1] The first issue described it as "a magazine for every family, and for each of our citizens."[2] However, it was also added in the same issue that the magazine content included all topics "that interests a modern man."[1] The magazine came out weekly.[4]
In the initial phase Start was designed based on Playboy, Lui and Penthouse.[1] During this period its cover pages featured nude photographs of women, one of which was the French actress Maria Schneider.[5] Following the change of its editor-in-chief in 1973 Start was redesigned becoming a political and cultural magazine[4] which was modeled on the German magazine Stern.[1]
Start contained erotic and pornographic materials in addition to the critical and comprehensive analyses on current affairs, science and art.[2] The latter became dominant from 1973.[4] One of its most significant sections was the interviews which featured both interviews with Yugoslavian leading figures and translations of the interviews from foreign magazines.[2] It also published literary works most which were the examples of a genre called "jeans-prose".[2] Later its focus was exclusively on current affairs.[1] Start frequently published materials from Ms., an American magazine, and contained articles on feminism most of which were written by Jasenka Kodrnja and Maja Miles.[4] Vesna Kesić and Slavenka Drakulić were other contributors of the magazine.[4]
Mladen Pleša was appointed editor-in-chief of Start in 1980 and then, the magazine began to target young readers featuring articles on rock music, modern art and fashion.[4]
As of 1984 Start sold 200,000 copies half of which were bought by the Serbians.[6] The magazine enjoyed higher levels of circulation during its run.[2] Start folded in 1991.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Dunja Majstorović (2023). "Windows Towards the West: Exploring the Emergence of Popular Magazines in Yugoslavia in the 1960s and Early 1970s". Journal of Communication Inquiry. 47 (1): 16. doi:10.1177/01968599221081120.
- ^ a b c d e f g Biljana Žikić (2010). "Dissidents liked pretty girls: nudity, pornography and quality press in socialism". Medijska istraživanja. 16 (1): 56–58.
- ^ Milica Stojanovic (2 December 2020). "Home of Old Magazine Stories Keeps Yugoslavia's Memory Bright". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Zsófia Lóránd (2018). The Feminist Challenge to the Socialist State in Yugoslavia. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 140, 146–148. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-78223-2_4. ISBN 978-3-319-78223-2.
- ^ "Yugoslavia Opens Drive on Naughty Magazines". The New York Times. 23 June 1975. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ David Binder (9 February 1984). "As Taboos Fall, Press in Yugoslavia Turns Bold". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.