Magazines: Oh Comely-Language and Representation
Language: close-textual analysis
Work through the following tasks to complete your close-textual analysis of the Oh Comely CSP pages:
Front cover
1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?
The minimal and feminine part cursive text suggests that this magazine is ideal for women who like to be comfortable in their own skin.
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 under the title suggest that Oh Comely readers are educated and politically aware and looking for a unique and thought-provoking look at the kind of lives they aspire to lead.
3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma? What do the cover lines suggest about the magazine's content and audience?
It is heavily focused around female empowerment and feminism.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The overall cover is quite minimal. The colours and overall theme is quite toned down and relaxed. The particular haircut that the woman has contrasts with the elegance of the earrings implying female empowerment and as a whole, being comfortable with who you are. It may also have to do with gender roles and quite simply challenges conventional gender stereotypes that girls should have long luscious hair.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
It inspires females to stand up against gender discrimination and male oppression.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The Interviewees in this feature suggests that females should be united and also suggests that women should be powerful and capable of thriving like men if not better in a patriarchal society.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The page setup is quite simple and doesn't have anything to be too distracting. The minimal amount of writing is also quite nice and the very few lines that there are suggest that when reading this magazine, it will be a relaxed and easy experience.
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?
In this feature, gender stereotypes are being challenged here. This is because we see the female on the front page who has what is usually considered a masculine hair cut. This challenges traditional stereotypes of how a woman must be perceived such as obedient and shy and overall, not stepping out of line whilst also keeping their heads down. However, Oh Comely presents women in a positive light and can also be seen as a platform where women can speak out and make a positive change against male oppression.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
Something that is out of the ordinary
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
Traditional gender stereotypes are challenged. There is now an increase in gender fluidity. People are able to identify their sexuality as more than just heterosexual but various amounts of other sexualities.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh Comely brand?
The writer gives meaning and creates unique content whilst the photographer captures the message that Oh Comely are trying to get across in an effective and creative manner. Oh Comely caters towards a niche audience therefore it is important that the photography and content is of a high level.
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
Minimal and artistic photography is used.
4) What representations of the transgender lifestyle can be found in this feature?
It can be argued that the acceptance of the diversity in gender roles in today's society is not fully obtained but is gradual. Women's lifestyle magazines such as Oh Comely contribute towards the acceptance of this diversity of gender roles and help to be the voice for many young women who face gender discrimination.
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).
So that niche magazines are able to expand further
Representation and identity
Work through the following questions on representation and Oh Comely:
1) How do representations in Oh Comely challenge stereotypes?
The representation of feminism in Oh Comely is seen in a positive light. It is seen more than a print magazine rather a movement
2) What representations of race, ethnicity and nationality can be found in the 'Speaking Out' feature?
We see a variety of representations of race and ethnicity in the 'Speaking Out' feature such as a women of Somali background
3) What representation of women and femininity can be found in Oh Comely?
Well-built and strapping women who stand up against gender discrimination
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).
This is because most of the magazines we read and in media just in general, men are given many more platforms to voice their opinions whereas women are given far less especially to promote topics such as feminism. There are not enough platforms for women to express their views and so this can be seen as a reason as to why Oh Comely editors deliberately under-represent men
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?
Yes, definitely. As feminism becomes more relevant in today's society which happens to be what Oh Comely focuses on, it does fit into the possible fourth wave of feminism
6) How does the 'More than gender' feature challenge Levi-Strauss's structuralist theory of binary opposition?
It shows that feminism is very fluid and isn't just to raise awareness but also to make a change
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.
It challenges traditional gender roles in a way that suggests gender is permutable. The woman featured in the magazine embrace who they are as we see in the front cover. The features also show how these women encourage the notion of feminism and also do not fulfil societal beliefs.
8) Lisbet van Zoonen has suggested women's bodies are objectified and artificially constructed to present women as passive and restricted to secondary roles. How does Oh Comely challenge this stereotypical representation of women in the media?
Oh Comely showcases these women in a very pure and effortless manner. There are no crazy photos of excessive nudity rather just embracing who they are as women. Usually in the media we see half naked women showing off their hourglass physiques however, Oh Comely does not do this at all which can be seen as a way that they challenge this stereotypical representation of women in the media.
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?
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?
Yes, I agree because Oh Comely offers a look into topics far beyond feminism such as race and ethnicity. There are a variety of things that are featured in Oh Comely which allows room for open interpretation as we see through other theorists such as Van Zoonen and Butler.
Work through the following tasks to complete your close-textual analysis of the Oh Comely CSP pages:
Front cover
1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?
The minimal and feminine part cursive text suggests that this magazine is ideal for women who like to be comfortable in their own skin.
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 under the title suggest that Oh Comely readers are educated and politically aware and looking for a unique and thought-provoking look at the kind of lives they aspire to lead.
3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma? What do the cover lines suggest about the magazine's content and audience?
It is heavily focused around female empowerment and feminism.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The overall cover is quite minimal. The colours and overall theme is quite toned down and relaxed. The particular haircut that the woman has contrasts with the elegance of the earrings implying female empowerment and as a whole, being comfortable with who you are. It may also have to do with gender roles and quite simply challenges conventional gender stereotypes that girls should have long luscious hair.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
It inspires females to stand up against gender discrimination and male oppression.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The Interviewees in this feature suggests that females should be united and also suggests that women should be powerful and capable of thriving like men if not better in a patriarchal society.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The page setup is quite simple and doesn't have anything to be too distracting. The minimal amount of writing is also quite nice and the very few lines that there are suggest that when reading this magazine, it will be a relaxed and easy experience.
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?
In this feature, gender stereotypes are being challenged here. This is because we see the female on the front page who has what is usually considered a masculine hair cut. This challenges traditional stereotypes of how a woman must be perceived such as obedient and shy and overall, not stepping out of line whilst also keeping their heads down. However, Oh Comely presents women in a positive light and can also be seen as a platform where women can speak out and make a positive change against male oppression.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
Something that is out of the ordinary
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
Traditional gender stereotypes are challenged. There is now an increase in gender fluidity. People are able to identify their sexuality as more than just heterosexual but various amounts of other sexualities.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh Comely brand?
The writer gives meaning and creates unique content whilst the photographer captures the message that Oh Comely are trying to get across in an effective and creative manner. Oh Comely caters towards a niche audience therefore it is important that the photography and content is of a high level.
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
Minimal and artistic photography is used.
4) What representations of the transgender lifestyle can be found in this feature?
It can be argued that the acceptance of the diversity in gender roles in today's society is not fully obtained but is gradual. Women's lifestyle magazines such as Oh Comely contribute towards the acceptance of this diversity of gender roles and help to be the voice for many young women who face gender discrimination.
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).
So that niche magazines are able to expand further
Representation and identity
Work through the following questions on representation and Oh Comely:
1) How do representations in Oh Comely challenge stereotypes?
The representation of feminism in Oh Comely is seen in a positive light. It is seen more than a print magazine rather a movement
2) What representations of race, ethnicity and nationality can be found in the 'Speaking Out' feature?
We see a variety of representations of race and ethnicity in the 'Speaking Out' feature such as a women of Somali background
3) What representation of women and femininity can be found in Oh Comely?
Well-built and strapping women who stand up against gender discrimination
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).
This is because most of the magazines we read and in media just in general, men are given many more platforms to voice their opinions whereas women are given far less especially to promote topics such as feminism. There are not enough platforms for women to express their views and so this can be seen as a reason as to why Oh Comely editors deliberately under-represent men
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?
Yes, definitely. As feminism becomes more relevant in today's society which happens to be what Oh Comely focuses on, it does fit into the possible fourth wave of feminism
It shows that feminism is very fluid and isn't just to raise awareness but also to make a change
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.
It challenges traditional gender roles in a way that suggests gender is permutable. The woman featured in the magazine embrace who they are as we see in the front cover. The features also show how these women encourage the notion of feminism and also do not fulfil societal beliefs.
8) Lisbet van Zoonen has suggested women's bodies are objectified and artificially constructed to present women as passive and restricted to secondary roles. How does Oh Comely challenge this stereotypical representation of women in the media?
Oh Comely showcases these women in a very pure and effortless manner. There are no crazy photos of excessive nudity rather just embracing who they are as women. Usually in the media we see half naked women showing off their hourglass physiques however, Oh Comely does not do this at all which can be seen as a way that they challenge this stereotypical representation of women in the media.
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?
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?
Yes, I agree because Oh Comely offers a look into topics far beyond feminism such as race and ethnicity. There are a variety of things that are featured in Oh Comely which allows room for open interpretation as we see through other theorists such as Van Zoonen and Butler.
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