The Gentlewoman: Language and Representation

 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?
masthead- sans serif, lower case = reflects modernist approach, values and attitudes of magazine.

'Scarlett Johansson' is in a serif font (traditional, class, style) = in contrast with ultra modern make up, bricolage+ postmodernism.

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

The tightly framed portrait aesthetic = unconventional and connotes power in addition with the striking eye shadow and lipstick.

Colour scheme- bright vibrant orange which is unconventional for a front cover.

3) Write an analysis of the central image.
The central image is a close up, low angle shot which is unconventional for a magazine because it's a tightly framed portrait. The low angle also connotes power and is emphasised by the fact that Scarlett Johansson has star power and is wearing striking eyeshadow and lipstick. However, the bold makeup could reinforce femininity and has a 1960's pop-art feel.

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

-striking makeup could reinforce traditional beauty standards for women but can also be seen as empowering since its paired with a low angle shot and a stoic, powerful expression.

-The gentlewoman could be seen as traditionally representing celebrities because she is wearing makeup and edited to look flawless but the shot being a close up could be subversive because it could be seen as more vulnerable.

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

Mulvey's male gaze- her heavy makeup could be seen as appealing for mean to look at.

Butler's gender as a performance- her bold makeup accentuates her femininity which can be viewed as a performance.

Feature: Modern Punches

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

-Ramla Ali comes from east London which can be relatable for an audience (blamer + Katz)

-bell hooks' intersectional feminism because the interview shows how race, gender and cultural classes all intersect.

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

-She grew up in  Manor Park in east London which represents a working class background.

-Being a boxer means that she subverts typical representations of women.

3) What representation theories can we apply to the Modern Punches feature? 
Gauntlett's identity is becoming fluid- Ramla is a women who is a boxer which subverts traditional values of women being less aggressive and more passive then 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. 

-Isabella Tree's feature is unconventional since it's focus is on nature and the environment rather than gossip, fashion or celebrities. The images are natural and have warmer tones to positively represent the environment and is subversive compared to modern women's lifestyle magazines that have a more monochromatic or less colourful  style.

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.

Her feature reflects the social and cultural contexts of contemporary Britain because she shows care towards nature future of the environment which has been growing problem in Britain and across the world in recent years due to global warming and consumerism which has negatively impacted the world.

3) What representations of nature can be found in this feature?
Nature is shown to be under threat but something worth protecting because she conveys how she views it as precious especially with the photography that makes nature look beautiful and serene.

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

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

This feature reflects the incline of people being environmentally aware because of the reference of a vegan handbag. However, it also shows the materialism in a capitalist society as it states that they have sold the millionth bag.

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

The fonts are a mix of both serif and sans serif which shows the sophisticated style of The Gentlewoman but also conveys a more conversational tone with the sans serif. The typography is all on one page and the font used for Stella McCarntey's name is large which draws attention to it for the readers. 

3) What representations can be found in the image accompanying this feature? 
-The image represents McCartney as a successful businesswoman because of her costume which is a blazer and trousers which connote professionalism. 

-The background could be seen as unconventional which can represent her as someone who is 'down to earth'.

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? 

"But when we started, many magazines had the visual right, or had the text right, but very few managed to reconcile the two. I think that’s very difficult — to produce 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?

"I'm interested in what The Gentlewoman tells you about how modern women live, from the way they drink, dance, drive and speak to the way they sign their letters or conduct their divorces."

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

Cover stars have ranged from 88-year-old actor Angela Lansbury, shot in a peach silk blouse and Terry Richardson's black frame glasses, to popstar Beyoncé, looking calm, strong and composed in Dior with a face free of make-up.

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

"When people ask me about politics or feminism, I say that it isn't a magazine about those things, it's a

magazine informed by those things — among others. Is it a feminist magazine? Well, it's made by feminist people, so what do you think?! But I don't want to make those values and principles fashionable, because I don't want to undermine them by turning them into an aesthetic and I don't want them to pass into the realm of the unfashionable."

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 Gentlewoman Club which extends the magazine's brand into physical events where readers can interact and chat with editors. "We're starting to develop our website as a kind of portal for real things to happen rather than a bogus virtual community with likes and message boards. I am so not interested in that. I think that's over."