Representation

  Miss Representation

 

 

After looking at different magazines and exploring how men and women are represented, there is a clear difference. For example, we look at front covers of magazines and we can immediately see how the men are portrayed as strong, tough and macho, when women are pictured as gentle, but more often as objects. GQ is a well know respectable magazine, however we can see how the woman on the front are clearly photographed as a spectacle for men to look at. As there are so many other magazines that do the exactly the same thing, it's not a surprise that in 2011, 53% of thirteen year old girls are unhappy with their body, because they have an unrealistic idea of what women and girls should look like. Even women who are known for their respectable jobs in the world, such as politicians or news presenters, are still sexualised and are only talked about when referring to their clothing and appearance.

 

 

After watching the documentary "Miss Representation" it has become even more apparent to me how women are seen as objects, and something of much less value than a man. It's not a surprise to anyone that we today, live in an extremely patriarchal society. However after watching the documentary, what did come as a surprise to me was that, in 2011, only 16% of protagonists are women. Even then, the women in these movie roles are sexualised and are made to be desirable for a specifically male audience. Not even in children's movies are portrayed differently, but are still seen wearing a significantly small amount of clothing.

 

Facial Expressions - Marjorie Ferguson

In the 1980's Marjorie Ferguson identified four different ways in which women are shown in British magazines. Ferguson showed how magazine covers could be shown as: Chocolate Box, Invitational, Super Smiler and Romantic or Sexual.

 

The Chocolate Box

This cover is usually shown with the model with a closed mouth smile, and has used a full or three

quarter face to the camera.

The cover would normally try to project a feeling a warmth, as well as showing the model

with nothing but perfections. 

Invitational

This cover typically has a big emphasis on the eyes or the mouth of the model. Usually, the models

body will be turned away, but their face facing the camera. With this cover

there is a projected mood of mystery. The smile would often create a sense of sexuality

 

 

The Super-Smiler
It wouldn't be surprising to find a windswept model, showing a full tooth smile

with their chin up and a very aggressive "look my way" type of mood. 

 

Romantic or Sexual

This cover would normally include more than one person on the front, typically

a male and a female in a very sensual position. The models would not be smiling

and look. The models would have less clothing to seem "available"

The Male Gaze Theory

The idea of the Male Gaze Theory came about in 1970 by a woman named Laura Mulvey. Mulvey strongly argues that in film, women are only present for the masculine eye to be gazed at and objectified. Her idea suggests that in film, the camera would act as the eye of a heterosexual man who would want to show women the way men want to see them. 

Mulvey shows us that this can be shown as:
 

Men look at women

Women look at Women

Women look at other Women

In movies, there is no other way that women are shown apart from sexual characters, innocent characters, or the incredibly bitchy boss. In so many movies, you will find that whatever the genre of movie, if there is a young female character, the camera will just so happen to find itself positioned on the women's slightly clothed body for the rest of the movie, simply to make sure the men are happy. This has become so normal in our society that nothing about this theory is questioned, and since film was created no one in the directing career has changed the way we victimise women and put them in front of the camera to just be looked at.

 

 

For my magazine

After looking at how men and women are represented in the media, I can see how it can be difficult for editors to create work that will stand out in the market as well as producing a magazine that won't have to follow along the steps of a "typical magazine". For my magazine, I don't want to put out the same messages as all of the other magazines, that would only create false image for both girls and boys. If I were to have a woman on the front of my magazine cover, they wouldn't be presented in a way that is only desirable for men, but in a way that other women and girls will be able to relate to. I would want to show that women can be just as powerful as men, and maybe not use the typical functions of magazine covers such as Marjorie Ferguson's facial expressions, that would make women seen differently to men. I would want my magazine to be able to represent all kinds of people, and would not just use a white female who would attract the attention of white males. I want to make sure my magazine can appeal to any sort of ethnic group.