Oh Comely Language and Representation: blog tasks
Front cover
1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?
The typeface used on the front cover suggests that Oh Comely offers a personal experience for the reader and that it is an easy going magazine. The use of cursive font also suggests that it isn't as conventional as other mainstream magazines.
2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?
The words 'stories/film/music/fashion/mischief/ideas' highlight how this magazine focuses on a number of different topics, also showing the alternative style that Oh Comely has. These words also suggest how Oh Comely is mostly focused on female/feminist ideas.
3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma? What do the cover lines suggest about the magazine's content and audience?
The cover lines are effective as the way the create enigma is by not revealing much information making you wonder what they mean by 'Power and poise'. By using words like 'poise' and 'wisdom' reinforces the idea of this magazine being aimed towards a more educated audience, also female. There is also alliteration used, which further highlights how this magazine is for more educated people.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The female in the central image subverts the ideal look of a woman as she has features that many people would label as unattractive for a woman to have, like her thick eyebrows or the fact that her hair is much shorter than most women. The fact that the model is looking directly at the camera shows how a direct mode of address is used which is a common aspect when it comes to central images on a magazine. The camera shot used is a medium close up which doesn't offer any kind of sexualisation which is often seen when a female cover star is used which shows how Oh Comely are constantly subverting magazine conventions. Her pose is also very laid back which may suggest the empowerment of women as even though we men do slightly dominate today's society women still don't back down.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
There is a representation of gender fluidity on this front cover as we see how society is becoming much more accepting when it comes to letting people act and dress how the want to be, as this model is deconstructing the traditional stereotype of how a woman should look.
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
The standfirst suggests the main point of the magazine, which is to empower women to stand up against societies challenges and change the world to a more accepting place, wanting to aspire people to achieve great things.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The interviewees are all from different races, cultures and ages, showing how diverse the magazine is. By having this diverse cast also diverts the stereotype of interviewers being predominately white men. The use of BAME groups also shows how the magazine wants to reinforce female empowerment.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The way the page design is set out makes the feature very unconventional compared to other magazines as all of the text is very centralised instead of it being on each side. Also there is a white border which adds to the minimalist vibe of the magazine
4) Pick out specific aspects of this feature that subvert the stereotypical representation of women in the media. Are they different to what we may find in conventional women's lifestyle magazines such as Glamour or Cosmopolitan? Why is the absence of men a key feature of Oh Comely?
The women throughout the magazine aren't shown in a sexualising way to gain the attention of men instead they just want feel empowered through their different views. The absence of men is Oh Comely showing you don't need a male figure to feel a sense of strength or make a change in the world we live in. There is a feature in this magazine which focuses on body positivity and it features a woman who doesn't have the conventional slim body type which you would usually find in magazines like Glamour or Cosmpolitan, showing how stereotypes and magazine conventions are being completely shifted.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
This magazine offers a fresh perspective on women as the photography is all very natural as it is evident that there is no use of editing or photoshop when going through the production process which you will see a lot of the time in certain magazines as they will photoshop the women's bodies to make them look more 'ideal', which forces women to believe that is what they should have to look like. For example in the feature regarding body positivity it is clear that the picture has not been editing in any way.
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
This feature reflects modern day attitudes and ideas towards creating your own identity and gender fluidity.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh Comely brand?
The writer and photographer both match the aesthetic feel of the magazine making it all feel surreal and similar so it it is easier to understand. The photographer also makes sure to add more visuals for the magazine as it features many images that add to the minimalist feel
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
A photo within a photo is used in this feature which is an aspect of postmodernism , which creates a sense of realism.
4) What representations of the transgender lifestyle can be found in this feature?
It is highlighted how tough it is to live the transgender lifestyle as you are constantly attacked for just being who you want to be but by enduring this makes you mentally stronger.
5) Why is the biographical information at the end of the article significant? (Clue: the writer is also an editor of a niche, creative magazine called Entitle).
It highlights the idea of how the it is aimed towards a niche audience and also makes it feel even more minimalist driven.
Representation and identity
Work through the following questions on representation and Oh Comely:
1) How do representations in Oh Comely challenge stereotypes?
Oh Comely challenges stereotypes by exploring a range of different topics and using different methods you usually wouldn't see in female magazines. The first example of this being the central image on the front cover as the women has facial features that aren't usually accepted as being very feminine in society like her thick eyebrows and short hair, along with not wearing revealing clothing or being objectified in any way. There is also a section on body positivity that features a women that wouldn't usually be seen as the face of body positivity. Oh Comely also has a more than gender section which focuses on a transgender having to find their identity.
2) What representations of race, ethnicity and nationality can be found in the 'Speaking Out' feature?
In the 'Speaking Out' feature they feature BAME groups to highlight the diversity in their magazine. Oh Comely offers a range of races, from white to black to brown, showing how they are much different from other magazines as they have a wide range of representations
3) What representation of women and femininity can be found in Oh Comely?
Women are shown in a positive light in the Oh Comely mag as they are shown to be shifting gender stereotypes and finding their own identity instead of just giving in ton societal expectations. There is also use of gender fluidity as Oh Comely comments on how society is becoming more accepting of people and there values, which subverts this idea of women having to act in a certain way
4) Why might Oh Comely deliberately under-represent men? (The absence of men in the magazine appears to be a largely deliberate move by the editors).
Oh Comely does this to show their female readers that you don't need a man in order to feel empowered or to feel comfortable within yourself. Also, this is done to show females that they are not inferior to men in any way and that they should to given equal opportunities.
5) Does Oh Comely fit into the possible fourth wave of feminism? Or is it evidence of post-feminism - that feminism is no longer needed?
The 'More than gender' feature describes how gender is becoming more and more fluid and if somebody wants to do so they should be able to and can change it to whatever the want as we should be able to construct our own identities.
7) Judith Butler argues gender is a performance. How does Oh Comely challenge traditional gender roles? You should refer to both the cover and the selected CSP features.
The way Oh Comely challenges traditional gender roles is by the use of the cover model. We see how instead of the main focus being on her body which almost all magazines do this one is focused on her face, through the use of a medium close up, this clearly shows how Oh Comely challenge gender roles as they want to stop the objectification of women. Furthermore in the 'More than gender' feature we see the modern day view on transgenders as being more accepted than in the past. In the 'Speaking Out' feature all of the women make you feel a connection to them but not through using their bodies but through the stories they tell.
8) Angela McRobbie explored the empowering nature of women's lifestyle magazines in the 1990s. Oh Comely seeks female empowerment in a different way. What differences can you find between Oh Comely and more traditional women's lifestyle magazines such as Cosmopolitan or Glamour?
Oh Comely seeks to empower women through focusing on their values and the experiences they have been through, also focusing on their level of intelligence and how you shouldn't try and be someone you aren't. However magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour focus on reinforcing the idea of the ideal women body figure, as they believe a woman should be slim and suited for the male view.
9) David Gauntlett argues that identity is becoming more fluid, media representations change over time and that there are generational differences. Does Oh Comely support this viewpoint?
I definitely believe Oh Comely supports this viewpoint as throughout the entire magazine the ensure to reinforce how you should be comfortable with your body and be able to make your own decisions comfortably instead of worrying what others may think. In addition in the More than gender section we see the story of Ash talked about in praise to reassure people that decisions like this are okay which in the past wouldn't be accepted.
10) It has been argued that Oh Comely is a far more open text (Stuart Hall - encoding and decoding/reception theory) with more room for negotiation in interpretation. Do you agree with this view? Why?
I believe that Oh Comely is a much more open text compared to many others as they don't limit themselves to certain topics, instead they talk about multiple different aspects of life that you wouldn't usually get from other magazines as they only have a set of things they decide to focus on.
1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?
The typeface used on the front cover suggests that Oh Comely offers a personal experience for the reader and that it is an easy going magazine. The use of cursive font also suggests that it isn't as conventional as other mainstream magazines.
2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?
The words 'stories/film/music/fashion/mischief/ideas' highlight how this magazine focuses on a number of different topics, also showing the alternative style that Oh Comely has. These words also suggest how Oh Comely is mostly focused on female/feminist ideas.
3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma? What do the cover lines suggest about the magazine's content and audience?
The cover lines are effective as the way the create enigma is by not revealing much information making you wonder what they mean by 'Power and poise'. By using words like 'poise' and 'wisdom' reinforces the idea of this magazine being aimed towards a more educated audience, also female. There is also alliteration used, which further highlights how this magazine is for more educated people.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The female in the central image subverts the ideal look of a woman as she has features that many people would label as unattractive for a woman to have, like her thick eyebrows or the fact that her hair is much shorter than most women. The fact that the model is looking directly at the camera shows how a direct mode of address is used which is a common aspect when it comes to central images on a magazine. The camera shot used is a medium close up which doesn't offer any kind of sexualisation which is often seen when a female cover star is used which shows how Oh Comely are constantly subverting magazine conventions. Her pose is also very laid back which may suggest the empowerment of women as even though we men do slightly dominate today's society women still don't back down.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
There is a representation of gender fluidity on this front cover as we see how society is becoming much more accepting when it comes to letting people act and dress how the want to be, as this model is deconstructing the traditional stereotype of how a woman should look.
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
The standfirst suggests the main point of the magazine, which is to empower women to stand up against societies challenges and change the world to a more accepting place, wanting to aspire people to achieve great things.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The interviewees are all from different races, cultures and ages, showing how diverse the magazine is. By having this diverse cast also diverts the stereotype of interviewers being predominately white men. The use of BAME groups also shows how the magazine wants to reinforce female empowerment.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The way the page design is set out makes the feature very unconventional compared to other magazines as all of the text is very centralised instead of it being on each side. Also there is a white border which adds to the minimalist vibe of the magazine
4) Pick out specific aspects of this feature that subvert the stereotypical representation of women in the media. Are they different to what we may find in conventional women's lifestyle magazines such as Glamour or Cosmopolitan? Why is the absence of men a key feature of Oh Comely?
The women throughout the magazine aren't shown in a sexualising way to gain the attention of men instead they just want feel empowered through their different views. The absence of men is Oh Comely showing you don't need a male figure to feel a sense of strength or make a change in the world we live in. There is a feature in this magazine which focuses on body positivity and it features a woman who doesn't have the conventional slim body type which you would usually find in magazines like Glamour or Cosmpolitan, showing how stereotypes and magazine conventions are being completely shifted.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
This magazine offers a fresh perspective on women as the photography is all very natural as it is evident that there is no use of editing or photoshop when going through the production process which you will see a lot of the time in certain magazines as they will photoshop the women's bodies to make them look more 'ideal', which forces women to believe that is what they should have to look like. For example in the feature regarding body positivity it is clear that the picture has not been editing in any way.
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
This feature reflects modern day attitudes and ideas towards creating your own identity and gender fluidity.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh Comely brand?
The writer and photographer both match the aesthetic feel of the magazine making it all feel surreal and similar so it it is easier to understand. The photographer also makes sure to add more visuals for the magazine as it features many images that add to the minimalist feel
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
A photo within a photo is used in this feature which is an aspect of postmodernism , which creates a sense of realism.
4) What representations of the transgender lifestyle can be found in this feature?
It is highlighted how tough it is to live the transgender lifestyle as you are constantly attacked for just being who you want to be but by enduring this makes you mentally stronger.
5) Why is the biographical information at the end of the article significant? (Clue: the writer is also an editor of a niche, creative magazine called Entitle).
It highlights the idea of how the it is aimed towards a niche audience and also makes it feel even more minimalist driven.
Representation and identity
Work through the following questions on representation and Oh Comely:
1) How do representations in Oh Comely challenge stereotypes?
Oh Comely challenges stereotypes by exploring a range of different topics and using different methods you usually wouldn't see in female magazines. The first example of this being the central image on the front cover as the women has facial features that aren't usually accepted as being very feminine in society like her thick eyebrows and short hair, along with not wearing revealing clothing or being objectified in any way. There is also a section on body positivity that features a women that wouldn't usually be seen as the face of body positivity. Oh Comely also has a more than gender section which focuses on a transgender having to find their identity.
2) What representations of race, ethnicity and nationality can be found in the 'Speaking Out' feature?
In the 'Speaking Out' feature they feature BAME groups to highlight the diversity in their magazine. Oh Comely offers a range of races, from white to black to brown, showing how they are much different from other magazines as they have a wide range of representations
3) What representation of women and femininity can be found in Oh Comely?
Women are shown in a positive light in the Oh Comely mag as they are shown to be shifting gender stereotypes and finding their own identity instead of just giving in ton societal expectations. There is also use of gender fluidity as Oh Comely comments on how society is becoming more accepting of people and there values, which subverts this idea of women having to act in a certain way
4) Why might Oh Comely deliberately under-represent men? (The absence of men in the magazine appears to be a largely deliberate move by the editors).
Oh Comely does this to show their female readers that you don't need a man in order to feel empowered or to feel comfortable within yourself. Also, this is done to show females that they are not inferior to men in any way and that they should to given equal opportunities.
5) Does Oh Comely fit into the possible fourth wave of feminism? Or is it evidence of post-feminism - that feminism is no longer needed?
I believe that Oh Comely fits into the fourth wave of feminism as fourth wave feminism is described as a phase which is characterised by the focus on the empowerment of women by the use of internet tools. This reinforces why Oh Comely fits into 4th wave as they use their magazine and social media techniques in order to push out their ideas regarding feminism
6) How does the 'More than gender' feature challenge Levi-Strauss's structuralist theory of binary opposition?The 'More than gender' feature describes how gender is becoming more and more fluid and if somebody wants to do so they should be able to and can change it to whatever the want as we should be able to construct our own identities.
7) Judith Butler argues gender is a performance. How does Oh Comely challenge traditional gender roles? You should refer to both the cover and the selected CSP features.
The way Oh Comely challenges traditional gender roles is by the use of the cover model. We see how instead of the main focus being on her body which almost all magazines do this one is focused on her face, through the use of a medium close up, this clearly shows how Oh Comely challenge gender roles as they want to stop the objectification of women. Furthermore in the 'More than gender' feature we see the modern day view on transgenders as being more accepted than in the past. In the 'Speaking Out' feature all of the women make you feel a connection to them but not through using their bodies but through the stories they tell.
8) Angela McRobbie explored the empowering nature of women's lifestyle magazines in the 1990s. Oh Comely seeks female empowerment in a different way. What differences can you find between Oh Comely and more traditional women's lifestyle magazines such as Cosmopolitan or Glamour?
Oh Comely seeks to empower women through focusing on their values and the experiences they have been through, also focusing on their level of intelligence and how you shouldn't try and be someone you aren't. However magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour focus on reinforcing the idea of the ideal women body figure, as they believe a woman should be slim and suited for the male view.
9) David Gauntlett argues that identity is becoming more fluid, media representations change over time and that there are generational differences. Does Oh Comely support this viewpoint?
I definitely believe Oh Comely supports this viewpoint as throughout the entire magazine the ensure to reinforce how you should be comfortable with your body and be able to make your own decisions comfortably instead of worrying what others may think. In addition in the More than gender section we see the story of Ash talked about in praise to reassure people that decisions like this are okay which in the past wouldn't be accepted.
10) It has been argued that Oh Comely is a far more open text (Stuart Hall - encoding and decoding/reception theory) with more room for negotiation in interpretation. Do you agree with this view? Why?
I believe that Oh Comely is a much more open text compared to many others as they don't limit themselves to certain topics, instead they talk about multiple different aspects of life that you wouldn't usually get from other magazines as they only have a set of things they decide to focus on.
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