Magazines: GQ - Language and Representation
1) What are the different magazine genres highlighted on page 2 and how do they link to our magazine CSPs?
Special Interest- target small niche audience and seems to be performing well despite a fall in print sales.
Professional Magazine - published by a governing body of profession.
General Interest- Made for a wide audience to provide general information.
2) Look at the section on GQ on page 2. How do they suggest that GQ targets its audience?They are targeting men through image and fashion and also trying to relate with their culture.
3) What does the factsheet say about GQ cover stars?They used the footballer Marcus Rashford and represented as a hero due to buying free school meals and he is presented as flashy.
4) Pick out five of the key conventions of magazine front covers and explain what they communicate to an audience.Numbers- allows people to read quickerCoverlines- shows the audiences what is insidePuffs- catches the reader's eyespull quotes- gives inside knowledge and connects with readersensationalism- gets the reader to react to information.
5) What is a magazine’s ‘house style’? How would you describe GQ’s house style? The conventional look of a particular magazine. The title GQ is written behind the head of the model with lots of cover lines to the side and the colour scheme all matches each other.
Extension tasks: Look at the final pages of the magazine factsheet that focus on creating magazine pages for coursework. What can you take from this to help future coursework projects?
Language: CSP analysis
1) Write a summary of our annotations on the media language choices on the cover of GQ - e.g. colour scheme, typography, language, photographic codes etc. The colour scheme is maintained throughout all the covers of GQ. The roughed up look reinforces masculinity.
2) Identify three specific aspects/conventions/important points (e.g. cover lines, colour scheme, use of text, image etc.) from each page/feature of the CSP that you could refer to in a future exam. Explain why that particular aspect of the CSP is important - think about connotations, representations, audience pleasures, reception theory etc.
Front cover: Robert Pattinson image - Art & Fashion issue
He is a well known actor which reflects star power and gains an audience. The colours reflect masculinity and the use of serif text attracts a niche audience.
Inside pages: Jonathan Bailey feature and fashion shootThe low angle shot of him reveals his dominant nature and how he came out confidently. His fashion style targets a niche audience.
3) Apply narrative theories to GQ - Todorov's equilibrium, Propp's character types, Barthes' action or enigma codes, Levi-Strauss's binary opposition. How can we use narrative to understand the way the cover and features have been constructed?Props- Pattison can be viewed as the villain due to his tough look.Todorov- New equlibiirum as Pattison is presented as hyper masculine.Levi Strauss- new masculinity vs hyper masculinity
4) Analyse the cover and inside pages of GQ. Does this offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?They maintain a repeated theme of fashion throughout.
Representations: applying theory
We have already covered many relevant theories in our work on Advertising and Marketing (for example, David Gauntlett's writing on Media, Gender and Identity). We now need to apply these theories and ideas to GQ and specifically the CSP pages allocated by AQA.
1) How can Gauntlett's ideas on masculinity, gender and identity be applied to the GQ CSP pages we have analysed?That there is no decline of masculinity which can be seen through Pattinson who shows common masculine stereotypes.
2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to GQ? Does the magazine challenge or reinforce these ideas?Gender is a construction of Van Zoonen's theory through Pattinson's outfit which subverts stereotypes.
3) Does bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to GQ? GQ shows that bailey's masculinity is in crisis and reveals him to insecure and feminine.
4) How does the Jonathan Bailey feature represent masculinity and sexuality? His clothing can be seen as more modern reflecting his view on masculinity as unique and different.
Representations: wider reading - GQ and the new masculinity
Read this CNN feature on how GQ is redefining masculinity and answer the following questions:
1) Which GQ issue is discussed at the start of the article and what was notable about it? The new masculinity was discussed by Pharrell Williams.
2) How did Will Welch view GQ when he took over as Editor-in-Chief and what did he want to offer readers? He wanted to redefine what it is like to be a man and reinvent men's magazines.
3) How has publisher Conde Nast responded to changes in the magazine industry and how did this impact GQ?They moved their magazines to a more digital platform.
4) What did the GQ New Masculinity edition feature? Non binary actor Asia Kate Dillon and NBA player Kevin Love.
5) What did journalist Liz Plank say about toxic masculinity?That masculinity was propagandised through writing a book called "for the love of man".
6) How did Welch respond to suggestions GQ was responsible for toxic masculinity?That this was not a big deal and a new form of masculinity was reinforced.
Finally, read this short GQ feature on masculinity and answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest masculinity involved at the start of the 20th century?Back than men were seen as the breadwinners and emotions were discouraged.
2) What social change occurred from the 1930s?UK lost its industry status and status of masculinity was severely damaged.
3) What is suggested about masculinity today?Men are in more control of their mental health physical health and more men from 16 to 60 see doctors than women do.
4) Why does it suggest these changes are important? Men suicide rates are at all all time high and the fact that men are silenced and cannot express their emotions.
1) What are the different magazine genres highlighted on page 2 and how do they link to our magazine CSPs?
Special Interest- target small niche audience and seems to be performing well despite a fall in print sales.
Professional Magazine - published by a governing body of profession.
General Interest- Made for a wide audience to provide general information.
2) Look at the section on GQ on page 2. How do they suggest that GQ targets its audience?
They are targeting men through image and fashion and also trying to relate with their culture.
3) What does the factsheet say about GQ cover stars?
They used the footballer Marcus Rashford and represented as a hero due to buying free school meals and he is presented as flashy.
4) Pick out five of the key conventions of magazine front covers and explain what they communicate to an audience.
Numbers- allows people to read quicker
Coverlines- shows the audiences what is inside
Puffs- catches the reader's eyes
pull quotes- gives inside knowledge and connects with reader
sensationalism- gets the reader to react to information.
5) What is a magazine’s ‘house style’? How would you describe GQ’s house style?
The conventional look of a particular magazine. The title GQ is written behind the head of the model with lots of cover lines to the side and the colour scheme all matches each other.
Extension tasks: Look at the final pages of the magazine factsheet that focus on creating magazine pages for coursework. What can you take from this to help future coursework projects?
Language: CSP analysis
1) Write a summary of our annotations on the media language choices on the cover of GQ - e.g. colour scheme, typography, language, photographic codes etc.
The colour scheme is maintained throughout all the covers of GQ. The roughed up look reinforces masculinity.
2) Identify three specific aspects/conventions/important points (e.g. cover lines, colour scheme, use of text, image etc.) from each page/feature of the CSP that you could refer to in a future exam. Explain why that particular aspect of the CSP is important - think about connotations, representations, audience pleasures, reception theory etc.
Front cover: Robert Pattinson image - Art & Fashion issue
He is a well known actor which reflects star power and gains an audience. The colours reflect masculinity and the use of serif text attracts a niche audience.
Inside pages: Jonathan Bailey feature and fashion shootThe low angle shot of him reveals his dominant nature and how he came out confidently. His fashion style targets a niche audience.
3) Apply narrative theories to GQ - Todorov's equilibrium, Propp's character types, Barthes' action or enigma codes, Levi-Strauss's binary opposition. How can we use narrative to understand the way the cover and features have been constructed?
Props- Pattison can be viewed as the villain due to his tough look.
Todorov- New equlibiirum as Pattison is presented as hyper masculine.
Levi Strauss- new masculinity vs hyper masculinity
4) Analyse the cover and inside pages of GQ. Does this offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?
4) Analyse the cover and inside pages of GQ. Does this offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?
They maintain a repeated theme of fashion throughout.
Representations: applying theory
We have already covered many relevant theories in our work on Advertising and Marketing (for example, David Gauntlett's writing on Media, Gender and Identity). We now need to apply these theories and ideas to GQ and specifically the CSP pages allocated by AQA.
1) How can Gauntlett's ideas on masculinity, gender and identity be applied to the GQ CSP pages we have analysed?
We have already covered many relevant theories in our work on Advertising and Marketing (for example, David Gauntlett's writing on Media, Gender and Identity). We now need to apply these theories and ideas to GQ and specifically the CSP pages allocated by AQA.
1) How can Gauntlett's ideas on masculinity, gender and identity be applied to the GQ CSP pages we have analysed?
That there is no decline of masculinity which can be seen through Pattinson who shows common masculine stereotypes.
2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to GQ? Does the magazine challenge or reinforce these ideas?
2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to GQ? Does the magazine challenge or reinforce these ideas?
Gender is a construction of Van Zoonen's theory through Pattinson's outfit which subverts stereotypes.
3) Does bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to GQ?
3) Does bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to GQ?
GQ shows that bailey's masculinity is in crisis and reveals him to insecure and feminine.
4) How does the Jonathan Bailey feature represent masculinity and sexuality?
His clothing can be seen as more modern reflecting his view on masculinity as unique and different.
Representations: wider reading - GQ and the new masculinity
Read this CNN feature on how GQ is redefining masculinity and answer the following questions:
1) Which GQ issue is discussed at the start of the article and what was notable about it?
Representations: wider reading - GQ and the new masculinity
Read this CNN feature on how GQ is redefining masculinity and answer the following questions:
1) Which GQ issue is discussed at the start of the article and what was notable about it?
The new masculinity was discussed by Pharrell Williams.
2) How did Will Welch view GQ when he took over as Editor-in-Chief and what did he want to offer readers?
He wanted to redefine what it is like to be a man and reinvent men's magazines.
3) How has publisher Conde Nast responded to changes in the magazine industry and how did this impact GQ?
They moved their magazines to a more digital platform.
4) What did the GQ New Masculinity edition feature?
Non binary actor Asia Kate Dillon and NBA player Kevin Love.
5) What did journalist Liz Plank say about toxic masculinity?
That masculinity was propagandised through writing a book called "for the love of man".
6) How did Welch respond to suggestions GQ was responsible for toxic masculinity?
That this was not a big deal and a new form of masculinity was reinforced.
Finally, read this short GQ feature on masculinity and answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest masculinity involved at the start of the 20th century?
Back than men were seen as the breadwinners and emotions were discouraged.
2) What social change occurred from the 1930s?
UK lost its industry status and status of masculinity was severely damaged.
3) What is suggested about masculinity today?
Men are in more control of their mental health physical health and more men from 16 to 60 see doctors than women do.
4) Why does it suggest these changes are important?
Men suicide rates are at all all time high and the fact that men are silenced and cannot express their emotions.
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