The Gentlewoman: Language and Representation

 Close-textual analysis

Gentlewoman front cover 

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

Mast-head is in sans-serif - reflects the modernity of the magazine and connotes how The Gentlewomen is up to date with the fashion. However the name of the star is written in a serif font suggesting traditionalism and the authenticity of the subject as well as the magazine. This connotes the power they both have.

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

There are no cover-lines which is unconventional. The image is boxed up and doesn't take up the whole page. Also, a lot if The Gentlewomen magazine are monochrome so this magazine being coloured breaks their own house style.

3) Write an analysis of the central image.

Image of Scarlett Johansson is boxed up which could connote how women are restricted from doing certain things. Bold make-up represents a more anti-feminism. The low angle and the direct-mode-of-address shows how she is dominant reflecting attitudes of celebrities.

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

The subject is wearing make is which perhaps reinforces stereotypes that women are to look and dress a certain way. Also celebrities are put in a dominant position as people idolise them. This is seen through the direct-mode-of-address and the low-angle. 

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

The cover resists the male-gaze (Maulvey) as this is designed for a female audience. This reinforces that gender is a performance (Butler) as the subject is repeating the traditional trends associated with female traits e.g. the make-up. Shows the girl power from the 1990's (Gauntlett) due to the direct-mode-of-address and the low angle. This also shows bell hooks intersectionality. This suggests how oppressed or privileged people were through the identity categories. Scarlett Johansson would be oppressed as she is a female, but less oppressed then other females as she is a white, upper-class, heterosexual person.

Feature: Modern Punches

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

The interview suggests how she was bullied suggesting how she was in a state of disequilibrium (Todorov). However this changes at the end to a new equilibrium due to her victory. Also in the image, she is put on platform showing how she is in the new equilibrium and portraying her as a heroine (Propp's seven spheres of action) due to the high-key lighting and how she is putting her arms in a position like she is showing her muscles.

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

We can see working working class representation as she is from east London and an alternative side to feminism as she was bullied.

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

Butler - Gender is not biology and is sequence of repeating acts and culture, and is not fixed. We can see this in the image as even though she is a female she is subverting stereotypes showing how she is dominant and has the power. 

Gilroy - racial hierarchies. By placing her on a platform it shows how black people are superior.

van Zoonen - Gender is constructed through of convention and how this changes over time. The clothing style for females has changed into more masculine clothes and this is seen as she is wearing a tracksuit bottom.

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. 

There are many pictures taking up the whole space with very little copy. The use of the language and the high sophisticated would be connoting how this is to a very wealthy audience.

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.

Suggest how people are becoming more environmentally friendly and how to become more green.

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

Presents environmentalist views due to showing majority of the space as green. The use of the rainbow could be showing how the prize of rewilding is getting more wildlife and diversity of plants and animals, just how there is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It celebrates rewilding. It also shows how the wealthy and privilege do this as they are carrying our rare breed conservation.

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

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

Fashion is mainly aimed at women and most people who are vegan are women. So these handbags which are vegan friendly would appeal to the women as they fit the demographic.

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

There are some parts which are sans-serif. This would appeal to a much younger and modern audience. The serif font would be appealing to a older audience as it is much more traditional and authentic.

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

The background of the picture is very unglamourous which suggest that even though she came from a rich and wealthy family, she still lived a 'normal' life. The harsh lighting represents the flash photography like a paparazzi showing how she is a celebrity.

Representations

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

A biannual sister publication to Fantastic Man. Something modernist and aesthetic.

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

Modern women who didn't focus too much on fashion, the magazine is like a "girlfriend" offering you advice to help because it can be sometimes it can be "overwhelming" to choose what to wear.

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

Cover stars have ranged form Angela Lansbury (88yrs) to popstar Beyoncé which reflects how diverse their target audience is in terms of age, ethnicity and also their psychographics.

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

Martin states that whilst it doesn't portray feminist ideologies, there are elements of feminism. She also says how it is produced by feminist people but doesn't want this to influence the entire magazine.

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? 

They have extended their company into physical events to engage in real life conversations and developing skills.

A/A* extension tasks

Read this extended profile of editor Penny Martin in The Cut. What does it suggest about the representations in the magazine and how they might appeal to an audience?

Representation are created through the use of celebrities and the clothing the wear, appealing to a middle to an upper class audience. It also talks about going to well recognised institutions of education further reinforcing the target audience. There seems to be a style over substance and materialistic aesthetics. This would appeal to a young female audience interested in both fashion and social activism. They would like to portray women as they are rather than making them stylish and over-the-top.

Similarly, this Stack interview with Penny Martin has some really interesting points on pop feminism and how women are represented and addressed by the magazine.