Magazines: The Gentlewoman - Language and Representations

Close-textual analysis

Work through the following tasks to complete your close-textual analysis of the Gentlewoman CSP pages:

Gentlewoman front cover 

1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?

The font choice of sans serif reflects modernist approaches and values whereas the serif font, which is still used,  reflects tradition and class the the featured celebrity has and that the brand still reinforces traditional roles while still having a modern outlook on society.

2) How does the cover subvert conventional magazine cover design?

The magazine cover design features bright and vibrant colour scheme subverts typical conventions of magazines. This allows it to stand out as something different to drag in and anchor a new audience rather then the typical consumers of the average lifestyle magazine. 

3) Write an analysis of the central image.

The central image of Scarlett Johansson features a close up of her face and makeup which is slightly tilted. The focus of makeup reinforces femininity and the 80s pop art as the makeup could be seen as an exaggeration of usual makeup.

4) What representations of gender and celebrity can be found on this front cover?

Female celebrities chosen by editors of the magazine are seen as a source of empowerment for other women (audiences) and act as a role model as audiences get to understand their life styles and see their own reflected within the magazine.

5) What gender and representation theories can we apply to this cover of the Gentlewoman? 

One theory that can be applied is that gender is a performance which is reflected in the exaggerated makeup that Scarlett Johansson is wearing within the cover image which subverts the male gaze as it shows how women can act on their own accord and dress how they want without having to appeal to male needs. 

Feature: Modern Punches

1) How does the feature on Ramla Ali use narrative to engage the audience? Apply narrative theories here.

Her rise to her fame and success (equilibrium theory) engages audiences, specifically aspirers, as they feel like they can also follow her footsteps to success.

2) What representations can you find in this feature - both interview and image?

Representations within the interview and image show how women of colour who may come from a less privileged background can be successful by being who they are and perusing what they find passionate. It overall reflects women as strong willed and individuals who could always meet the same, or even be higher, level of strength and discipline men are represented to have.

3) What representation theories can we apply to the Modern Punches feature? 

Rejects Butler's theory that gender is socially constructed, subverts typical representations of women as she wears a track suit and has a natural face with no to little makeup. Overall, this subversion from the theory reflects representations of women within this page as now being about empowerment of women rather then for the appeal of men. 

Feature: Isabella Tree interview

1) Why is this feature unconventional for a women's lifestyle and fashion magazine? Comment on the use media language in these pages. 

It talks about environmental issues which is unusual as the typical focus in a women's life style magazine would be about themselves rather than what's around them. It teaches audiences that they also should care for what is around them as well as their own well being. 

2) How does the Isabella Tree feature reflect the social and cultural contexts of contemporary Britain? Think about AQA's discussion of lifestyle, environmental issues and ethical movements.

That the upper class have the privilege to care about environmental issues and ethical movements as they have enough money and power to push the movement whereas the lower class don't have this privilege.

3) What representations of nature can be found in this feature?

The serene images with rainbows and bright skies along side nature represent it as important for out own visual appeal. Apart from our own gain, nature is seen as something that deserves its own rights, just as us humans have, as we are promoted to fight for it. 

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

1) How does this feature reflect contemporary social and cultural contexts?

It shows how society is starting to care how animals are treated and how they shouldn't be exploited for our own wants. However, it may illustrate how in this day and age only the upper-class have the privilege to care about the world around us as they have the recourses available to them whereas lower classes do not. 

2) Comment on the typography and page design in this feature.

The bolded serif font reflects how despite GW becoming more modern it is still traditional and classical at heart but the sans font assures readers that GW is post modern and considers modern aspects. 

3) What representations can be found in the image accompanying this feature? 

The image features McCartney without her designs showing that her reputation is so strong she doesn't need her products to boost her image with designer clothing and exquisite fashion. However, the urban city can be seen as a fetishization of the lower-class, making living in an industrial world seem aesthetic and in turn romanticising it.  

Representations

Read this Business of Fashion interview with The Gentlewoman editor Penny Martin. If you don't want to sign up to the website (free) then you can access the text of the article on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login). Answer the following questions: 

1) What type of magazine did Penny Martin, Gert Jonkers and Jop van Bennekom want to create?

The editors and people behind The Gentlewomen wanted to create a magazine featuring "long-form journalism and a personality-centred magazine that has equally eloquent imagery and graphic design.” This subverts how audiences may be moving away from becoming consumers as they are provided good, high quality content without the having to filter media given to them.  

2) What representations of modern women did they try to construct for the magazine?

They wanted to represent women as modern and as the centre of all things material in this world. It wants to tell us how modern women who act as role models live out their lives. This allows audiences to relate and enjoy the magazine as the target audience would be able to see how their lives are reflected within this magazine.

3) What examples of cover stars reflect the diversity in the magazine's content? 

The GW's cover stars range from different ages and career reflecting the diversity of the magazine and how all women's successes should be celebrated. 

4) What is Penny Martin's view on feminism and whether the magazine is feminist?

The magazine is obviously feminist as the people behind production are showing how media products are constructed to have certain codes to promote a certain ideology to their readers by creating a hegemonic/preferred reading. 

5) Look at the end of the article. How does the Gentlewoman help readers construct or reflect their identity by engaging with events and spaces beyond the magazine? 

The events hosted (Gentlewoman's club) allow audiences to interact with producers and editors. It shows how content produced by the media is used by audiences to construct a collective identity with one another whilst seeming different from the main stream which reflects how as consumers we consume media depending on how much cultural capital it provides our selves.