Magazines: Introduction to Representation

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1) Write a definition of representation in media studies. 

Representation: how groups or events or individuals are presented/portrayed.

2) Now look at the cover of Closer magazine above. List all different types of people and groups represented on the front cover. E.g. women, celebrities, race/ethnicity etc. 
The different types of people and groups represented on the front cover women, mothers, first gay dads in the UK, and celebrities romantic life.  

3) What does the representation of women on this front cover suggest female audiences are mainly interested in? The representation of women in the front cover suggests female audiences are interested in celebrity gossip, romance life, gay men, motherhood and being dieting.

4) Are there any stereotypes you can identify? E.g. women and motherhood; celebrities etc. The stereotypes I can identify are motherhood, gay men, celebrities, and women.

5) Is there anything on the cover that subverts typical stereotypes in the media? 
The paparazzi photo of the celebrity showing that celebrities don't look perfect as they show in the media.

6) What is the preferred reading of this magazine cover - what do the producers want audiences to think when they see it? 
The preferred reading of the magazine cover would be that the producers want the audience to think being gay is scandalous "UK's First Gay Dad: I'm having triplets with my daughter's ex-boyfriend". Plus that you have to be slim to be beautiful that is why women should diet "I ditched junk food & lost 12st" and that having a child or bring a mother will make you happy. Lastly, getting married is the correct decision and will make you feel happy "Marrying Ryan feels so right".

7) What is the oppositional reading of this magazine cover - how might someone criticise this magazine cover or be offended by it? 
The oppositional reading of the magazine cover would be that being gay or part of the LGBTQ+ isn't scandalous and just because they like someone of the same gender doesn't mean they won't have a good relationship and being in LGBTQ+ should be normalised in society. Furthermore, a consumer may make an oppositional reading of the "I ditched junk food & lost 12st" because no matter how you look or what type of body you have doesn't mean you are not pretty - everyone is beautiful in their own ways and can do whatever they want. For the marriage part "Marrying Ryan feels so right" a consumer may think the magazine is saying that to be happy you need to be married or have children "being a mum has changed me better" which is not true you do not have to there are many other ways to be happy and not everyone who has a child or is married is happy.

8) What are the social and cultural contexts to this magazine cover? What effect might this magazine have on readers or society? The social context for this magazine cover would be that it tells the consumers that having children is great and will make them feel joyful. This affects readers in different ways they either think this very stereotypical or make them want to have children and the effect it has on society is that it shows that people still believe that having children will be their key to happiness. The cultural context would be that dieting will make you prettier which may affect the readers by making them feel like they have to change to fit the magazine's standards. The effect it has on society is that the fashion standards will be that woman have to be skinny/fit to be beautiful. 


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