Magazines: Oh Comely - 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 typeface used for the name of the magazine, 'Oh Comely' suggests the friendly nature of the magazine. This is because it is a handwriting type font which makes the magazine appear personal and approachable.
2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?
They suggest that the readers of Oh Comely are people who enjoy a wide range of things, such as movies, music, fashion, etc.
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 very ambiguous which creates enigma codes. They allude to the subject of empowering women and this topic is a motif throughout the issue. The second page features a double spread of a woman holding up a sign of 'empowering women' and the magazine is clearly a feminist magazine. This issue is named 'Strentgh' which gives further clues of what is inside the pages.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The central image features a woman. She is wearing sophisticated and hipster clothing and barely any makeup. The image is photographed in an artistic way, highlighting the creative nature of the magazine.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
The model is made out to be gender fluid. The cover is ambiguous in terms of gender which reflects current society and how they are becoming more accepting of gender fluidity- this reinforces how Oh Comely is a magazine for forward-thinkers.
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
The headline and standfirst are taking up an entire page. This highlights how important they are. The readers wanted to catch the attention of the readers and emphasise the importance of the next few pages.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The interviewees are each from different races, ethnicities and ages which highlights the diverse nature of the magazine. There is also an evident left-wing ideology that comes through from what the interviewees are saying.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The page design of this feature is very unconventional of magazines. There is lots of white space surrounding the image and text. Also, the text is centred.
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?
One woman in the feature, named Megan Jayne Crabbe, wrote a page regarding body positivity. Her body is not the usual that we would find in conventional women's lifestyle magazines such as Glamour or Cosmopolitan. They always represent women as being very slim and 'perfect'. However, in Oh Comely, Megan has gone against stereotypes and revealed the reality. She has been deliberately selected to represent a different representation of what mainstream magazines would represent and this is what makes Oh Comely so different from other magazines. They empower women and the absence of men reinforces their readers how they are important and powerful on their own.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
The photography is very natural and real. It is very clear that the photos have not been edited like they usually are in mainstream women magazines. The page for Amali De Alwis (CEO of Code First: Girls) in particular is very unusual. She is photographed in what people would consider a male environment (an office) and she is sitting in a 'masculine' way which represents how women are capable of doing 'me' jobs just as much as men are.
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
This feature offers a fresh perspective on gender and identity as it talks about a man who has changed his gender many times to learn that he prefers being gender fluid.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh C.omely brand?
The writer and the photographer is the same person. This fits with the Oh Comely brand of individuality and creativity. Oh Comely are always encouraging their readers to create their own art.
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
An artistic style.
4) What representations of the trans lifestyle can be found in this feature?
The trans lifestyle is represented as a difficult one at first but one that can be overcome.
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).
This is important as it shows the kind of people that Oh Comely are interested in including in the magazine. People like the readers and people that have similar interests/hobbies.
Front cover
1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?
The typeface used for the name of the magazine, 'Oh Comely' suggests the friendly nature of the magazine. This is because it is a handwriting type font which makes the magazine appear personal and approachable.
2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?
They suggest that the readers of Oh Comely are people who enjoy a wide range of things, such as movies, music, fashion, etc.
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 very ambiguous which creates enigma codes. They allude to the subject of empowering women and this topic is a motif throughout the issue. The second page features a double spread of a woman holding up a sign of 'empowering women' and the magazine is clearly a feminist magazine. This issue is named 'Strentgh' which gives further clues of what is inside the pages.
4) Write an analysis of the central image.
The central image features a woman. She is wearing sophisticated and hipster clothing and barely any makeup. The image is photographed in an artistic way, highlighting the creative nature of the magazine.
5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?
The model is made out to be gender fluid. The cover is ambiguous in terms of gender which reflects current society and how they are becoming more accepting of gender fluidity- this reinforces how Oh Comely is a magazine for forward-thinkers.
Feature: Speaking Out
1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?
The headline and standfirst are taking up an entire page. This highlights how important they are. The readers wanted to catch the attention of the readers and emphasise the importance of the next few pages.
2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?
The interviewees are each from different races, ethnicities and ages which highlights the diverse nature of the magazine. There is also an evident left-wing ideology that comes through from what the interviewees are saying.
3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?
The page design of this feature is very unconventional of magazines. There is lots of white space surrounding the image and text. Also, the text is centred.
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?
One woman in the feature, named Megan Jayne Crabbe, wrote a page regarding body positivity. Her body is not the usual that we would find in conventional women's lifestyle magazines such as Glamour or Cosmopolitan. They always represent women as being very slim and 'perfect'. However, in Oh Comely, Megan has gone against stereotypes and revealed the reality. She has been deliberately selected to represent a different representation of what mainstream magazines would represent and this is what makes Oh Comely so different from other magazines. They empower women and the absence of men reinforces their readers how they are important and powerful on their own.
5) How does the photography offer a fresh or unusual perspective on women?
The photography is very natural and real. It is very clear that the photos have not been edited like they usually are in mainstream women magazines. The page for Amali De Alwis (CEO of Code First: Girls) in particular is very unusual. She is photographed in what people would consider a male environment (an office) and she is sitting in a 'masculine' way which represents how women are capable of doing 'me' jobs just as much as men are.
Feature: More than gender
1) How does this feature offer a fresh perspective on gender and identity?
This feature offers a fresh perspective on gender and identity as it talks about a man who has changed his gender many times to learn that he prefers being gender fluid.
2) What is the significance of the writer and photographer? How does this fit with the Oh C.omely brand?
The writer and the photographer is the same person. This fits with the Oh Comely brand of individuality and creativity. Oh Comely are always encouraging their readers to create their own art.
3) What style of photography is used in this feature?
An artistic style.
4) What representations of the trans lifestyle can be found in this feature?
The trans lifestyle is represented as a difficult one at first but one that can be overcome.
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).
This is important as it shows the kind of people that Oh Comely are interested in including in the magazine. People like the readers and people that have similar interests/hobbies.
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