The Gentlewoman: Language and Representation blog tasks

 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?

magazine is targeted towards those that are involved in celebrity culture

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

It has a boarder in which the main image is located, it has  very few  cover lines except for the name of the main image 

3) Write an analysis of the central image.

She has a bold and bright red lip  She is also wearing bold purple glossy eye-shadow, a clashing colour against the red lip as well as a blocky dark brow. Everything about her makeup  not what most people would seem attractive from a base societal perspective 

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

The main image on the front cover is a female celebrity, is an upper class  female magazine I think they are  trying to subvert the presentation of women

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

Butler's - Gender is a performance, the magazine purposefully subverts the typical performance of femininity, 

Feature: Modern Punches

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

- Audience positing is used heavily - positioning the readers to feel inspired by her pursuing her dreams by telling her story in great detail

 - Uses her story to engage the audience 

- Follows a linear narrative 

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

representations of tradtional femmninity  - she describes herself as a "tomboy" and how she'd pick "trainers over make-up any day", she also has her hair down in the image Which  is preserving traditional femininity), wearing a tracksuit - subverting traditional femininity, 

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

She is a young black woman, representing both gender and ethnicity/race, 

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 features environmental issues and and environmental activist herself - featuring mentions of the "rewilding project" and "tree expert Ted Green"

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.

Ethical movements have become a status symbol in upper class  Britain this is shown in the magazine using Isabella Tree's feature.

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

The verbal codes of nightingales, 

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion

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

A strong care for animal consumption is a promninet thing in upper class society, 

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

- a minimalistic design throughout the magazine suggests they don't need to try hard to lure in their audience 

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

There is only an image of the designer and know product shown suggests   consumers  already know the product is to a high standard

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? 

 "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. We make sure that the magazine is not just a pornography of product that is supposedly interesting to women. It's about putting those women at the centre of the material world around them.

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

The Gentlewoman has profiled a wide range of women at the top of their game, including Angela Lansbury, Beyoncé'  and novelists and other credited people 

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

"it's a magazine informed by those things", 

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? 

Gentlewoman Club is in physcial events which will spread influence