Magazines: The Gentlewoman - Language and Representations

Gentlewoman front cover 

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

Sans serif font reflects modernist approaches and values whereas the serif font reflects tradition and class the the featured celebrity has.

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

Bright and vibrant colour scheme subverts typical conventions of magazines.

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 are a source of empowerment for other women and act as a role model. 

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

Gender is a performance - reflected in the exaggerated makeup that Johansson is wearing and subverts the male gaze. 

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?

Women of colour are powerful and strong which subverts and challenges the racial and patriarchal hierarchy.

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.

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.

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.

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

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

How society is starting to care how animals are treated and how they shouldn't be exploited for our own wants.

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.

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?

They wanted to create a magazine featuring "long-form journalism and a personality-centred magazine that has equally eloquent imagery and graphic design.” 

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

They wanted to represent modern women 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. 

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.

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.