GQ - Language & Representation

 

Language: Media factsheet

Complete the following tasks using Media Factsheet 252 - The Codes and Conventions of Print Magazines available in our Media Factsheet archive here. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the different magazine genres highlighted on page 2 and how do they link to our magazine CSPs?

General interest - targeted to a wider audience

Special interest - target a niche group of people and delve into lots of detail about a specific topic

Professional - a magazine published by the governing body of a profession 

2) Look at the section on GQ on page 2. How do they suggest that GQ targets its audience?

They target men through fashion but also their intelligence and willingness to learn about culture. They choose their cover stars very carefully and highlight their style but also their achievements as the audience who value hard work and sophistication

3) What does the factsheet say about GQ cover stars?

They choose their cover stars carefully and try to highlight their achievements and accomplishments rather than the traditional ideologies about masculinity 

4) Pick out five of the key conventions of magazine front covers and explain what they communicate to an audience.

• Masthead - for maximum impact 
• Puffs - in left or right hand corners to catch the eye of the reader
• Main cover line - not related to the image but offers different content 
• Pull quotes - invoke humour/shock, creates close relationship between the reader and the star
• Numbers - shows that it could be a short read for busy people

5) What is a magazine’s ‘house style’? How would you describe GQ’s house style? 

It refers to it conventional look in relation to its formatting and helps establish a brand identity helping distinguish ne magazine from another. This is needed as one a shelf it is crowded by many magazines

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

Use your annotated CSP pages to help answer the following questions. You can find an annotated copy of the GQ pages here (you'll need your Greenford Google login).

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. 

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

Inside pages: Jonathan Bailey feature and fashion shoot

 

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?

4) Analyse the cover and inside pages of GQ. Does this offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?

 

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?

2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to GQ? Does the magazine challenge or reinforce these ideas?

3) Does bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to GQ? 

4) How does the Jonathan Bailey feature represent masculinity and sexuality? 


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? 

2) How did Will Welch view GQ when he took over as Editor-in-Chief and what did he want to offer readers? 

3) How has publisher Conde Nast responded to changes in the magazine industry and how did this impact GQ?

4) What did the GQ New Masculinity edition feature? 

5) What did journalist Liz Plank say about toxic masculinity?

6) How did Welch respond to suggestions GQ was responsible for toxic masculinity?

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?

2) What social change occurred from the 1930s?

3) What is suggested about masculinity today?

4) Why does it suggest these changes are important? 

A/A* extension tasks

Read more of GQ's New Masculinity issue - you may need to register (for free) with the GQ website to access this. How is masculinity and identity discussed? Can you link it to any of our theorists? 

From the same issue, this is Will Welch's Editor's letter where he discusses the new direction for the magazine.

There is also a New York Times interview with Will Welch which covers GQ's new approach to masculinity. The New York Times has a paywall but you can usually read the first article you click on for free.