Magazines: The Gentlewoman - Language and Representations

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 Gentlewoman front cover 

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

The use of the modern sans serif font, also in all lower case no capital letters is used in the magazine cover to reflect the modernist apporach values of the magazine.

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

The colour scheme of the magazine is bright and vibrant which for example with the orange cover and black border which makes the red lipstick cover bold makes the magazine unconventional because traditional magazines often use more restrained colour schemes, whereas GQ’s use of contrasting colours makes the cover appear more unconventional, contemporary and visually distinctive.

3) Write an analysis of the central image.

Camerawork - combines a use of close up and low angle which tightly frames the portrait unconvential, also shows star power
Mise en scene - such as the makeup is skiking which reinforces feminity 1960s popstar feel

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

The use of the name check, "Scarlett Johansson" shows this magazine is high end, it also empower female role as she was the highest paid actress between 2018-29.

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

Laura Mulvey – Male Gaze: The cover challenges the male gaze by presenting Scarlett Johansson as powerful and confident rather than just an object of beauty

Judith Butler – Gender Performativity: The use of makeup and feminine styling shows how gender can be performed through appearance

Gauntlett – Identity: Scarlett Johansson acts as a role model for women, representing success, confidence and independence

Stuart Hall – Representation: The magazine constructs Scarlett’s representation as glamorous, successful and powerful through her styling and camerawork.


Feature: Modern Punches

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

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

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


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. 

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.

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


Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

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

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

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


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? 

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

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

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

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? 

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