Oh Comely - Language & Representations

 

Language & Representations

Front cover

1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?

In keeping with the magazine's home-made feel, the title is printed in a handwritten style typeface.

2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?

The magazine's content and themes imply that it's aimed at individuals with a creative flair and an interest in social issues and different perspectives on them.

3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma?

A mystery is created when viewers wonder what kind of tales will be covered and who is going to be the subject of those stories.

4) Write an analysis of the central image.

In the central image, there is a female wearing garments which are not very feminine, which goes against the typical objectification of a woman. A lady is staring down at the camera, towering over it. this gives her an air of authority and dominance.

5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?

Mulvey's concept of the male gaze is subverted in this shot since the lady is not objectified in any way and her stance is nearly "masculine."


Feature: Speaking Out

1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?

Women's empowerment is emphasised in the headline and standfirst, highlighting the need of giving women a voice/platform to express concerns, and feminism is emphasised throughout the article.

2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?

3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?

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?

5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?


Feature: More than gender

1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?

2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh Comely brand?

3) What style of photography is used in this feature?

4) What representations of the transgender lifestyle can be found in this feature?

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).


Representation and identity

Work through the following questions on representation and Oh Comely:

1) How do representations in Oh Comely challenge stereotypes? 

2) What representations of race, ethnicity and nationality can be found in the 'Speaking Out' feature?

3) What representation of women and femininity can be found in Oh Comely?

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).

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?

6) How does the 'More than gender' feature challenge Levi-Strauss's structuralist theory of binary opposition?

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. 

8) Liesbet 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? 

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?