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?

The serif and sans serif fonts are created to be simple yet effective in terms of what the cover wants its full attention on, which is what the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience.

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

The typical magazine cover would feature a medium-sized photo of the subject; but, in this instance, a much larger close-up shot defies the magazine cover pattern.

3) Write an analysis of the central image.

The magazine was able to feature strong portrayals of celebrities and women in general because the magazine's central image defies the conventions of how a woman is perceived in contemporary culture.

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

Women are portrayed on par with males in terms of the superiority they can display.

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

According to Judith Butler, "gender is a performance," and this is evident in the elaborate makeup used on the subject.

Feature: Modern Punches:

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

Todorov's concept of "equilibrium" is demonstrated through her account of her difficult upbringing and how, by believing in herself, she overcome it.

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

The Cartier watch depicts her boxing career path and how she has the "golden hand" to sustain it, while her positioning demonstrates the difficulty and connection between her career and her life.

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

When it comes to feminism, there is still much work to be done in the media sector as there is still a desire for women to live independent lives without being objectified and stereotyped, which is still the case, but there are still women building their own identities in this generation's advertisements who are still trying to end it.

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.

Just her name and job are displayed, not an image of the woman working behind the scenes. 

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.

Isabella Tree describes the 'Knepp experiment' in her book Wilding, a groundbreaking rewilding initiative in West Sussex that used wandering grazing animals to develop new habitats for wildlife.

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

That there have never been any trees on the hills and that the flora and fauna are just as they should be. "We believe the countryside around us, or something very similar to it, has persisted for centuries, and the wildlife within it, if not exactly the same, is at least a fair representation of what has been here for centuries," she says. "The immediacy of the present has blinded us."

Feature: Stella McCartney and vegan fashion:

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

Our strong principles of making every action count, fostering trust, and enjoying life serve as the direction and standards for our sustainable vision. We are activists and agents of change. 

With the least possible negative environmental impact, we work to provide the most stunning, appealing products. Our innovation draws its inspiration from our mindful principles. As pioneers in our field, we work to produce the most innovative materials and animal substitutes while advancing circularity and being completely open by creating tools to assess and communicate our impact. 

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

To emphasise the main subject of the page, bold and huge copy is displayed.The rest is fairly brief compared to the title, maybe to highlight the significance of the detail. The serif font likewise adopts a less aggressive approach to being straightforward but instructive.

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

In contrast to the early years of being objectified by males, Zoonen proposed "new women" as a new path because it would influence others to independently know confidence and assertiveness. - uses the blazer that is visible in the image to emphasise the word "assertive."

Representations:

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

We believed there was a lack of informed viewpoints on fashion at the time, and there wasn't really a fashion magazine for real readers. You might say that there are a few more publications like us now, I suppose. But when we first started, most magazines either had the right image or text, but very few were able to combine the two. Producing long-form content and a personality-focused magazine with equally powerful graphics and photography, in my opinion, is really challenging. 

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

The Gentlewoman's general editorial stance, which, in Martin's opinion, starts with the woman and not the product, reflects this pragmatic and contemporary perspective. "I'm curious to hear what [The Gentlewoman] has to say about how contemporary women live, including how they drink, dance, drive, speak, sign letters, and handle divorces.

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

The 88-year-old actor Angela Lansbury, who appeared on the cover wearing a peach silk blouse and Terry Richardson's black frame glasses, to pop sensation Beyoncé, who wore Dior and appeared serene, peaceful, and strong while wearing no makeup. Inside, The Gentlewoman has published profiles of a variety of accomplished women, including news anchors, entrepreneurs, novelists, gardeners, and painters. 

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

"When people inquire about politics or feminism, I respond that the magazine isn't about those topics but rather one that is informed by them, among other things. Is this a feminist publication? Well, given that it was created by feminists, what do you think? However, I don't want to make those ideas and values fashionable because doing so would undercut them by making them into an aesthetic, and I also don't want them to become outmoded. Let's simply assume that everyone concurs that equal pay and daycare should exist, and then let's go to work, shall we?

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 freshly established Gentlewoman Club is one of the "other things" that extends the magazine's brand into actual events where readers may mingle and converse with editors. "Instead of becoming a phoney online community with likes and message boards, we're beginning to create our website as a sort of doorway for genuine things to happen. I have absolutely no interest in that. I believe that is over.