Mini Mock
How does the front cover of the set edition of Woman reflect the socio-historical context in which it was made? Make reference to the front cover and one other article from the set edition.
The cover of woman magazine has been specifically designed this way to attract a certain audience. The pink back ground combined with the flowing serif font suggests that the primary audience for this magazine is the average house wife of the 1960's. Secondary to this, the magazine wants to appeal to men as well, making them want to buy the magazine for their wife. They have done this be including lines such as "Lingerie goes lively" to interest men in the content of the magazine. This is an example of Bell Hook's feminist theory which says that women's bodies are being used in media products as a spectacle for heterosexual men which reenforces patriarchal hegemony.
The main image of the cover, an average looking house wife, has been used to appeal to the consumer and make them want to buy the issue. this is because they will feel that they can relate to the model, therefore feeling that they can get more from it's content. As well as the main image, the magazine has used story lines such as Alfred Hitchcock saying British women have a special magic. This is an example of patriarchal hegemony because it implies that women need men to tell them that they are special, enforcing their importance and dominance over women.
Another way that the magazine cover shows this theory is by asking them questions such as "Are you an A level beauty?" This has been done because women in the 1960's were expected to be stereotypically beautiful. The question implies a sense of objectification of the women reading because it makes them feel that, unless they are beautiful, they aren't good enough.
One of the articles within Woman magazine shows the headline "A present for your kitchen." The article shows a number of ways that women can improve their kitchen and better themselves. The use of the word present implies that the women should treat themselves to a kitchen upgrade, making them feel special and that they deserve it. The magazine plays on the dominant ideology that women should be housewives and stay in the kitchen and look after the children while the husband is out making money. The use of this ideology has been used by the magazine to make the reader feel that they need to improve their kitchen in order to improve themselves.
As well as this, the article says that the home improvements will be "money-saving" and cost £10 to £20. This shows that women of this time didn't have a lot of money because they didn't work. The magazine is able to play on this and makes the reader feel like they are getting a good deal while improving their home.
Band 4- 11 marks (B)
What are the issues that arise from mainstream production?
The issues that arise from the production of mainstream magazines is that people often have to work extremely hard in order to keep their job. To do this they must give up most of their free time and provide a service for their boss. As well as this the boss of the magazine had little regard for the thoughts and feeling of her staff and always wanted them to be at her beckon call, often making them miss personal events such as their partner’s birthday or dinner with friends in order to please her.
How accurate is the representation of the magazine industry?
Since the film has been inspired by the writer’s experience with Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, I believe that it is an accurate representation of the magazine publishing industry because she has drawn from her own experiences with the editor of a huge corporation.
What real life inspiration did the film draw on for characters, setting and themes?
A former personal assistant, Lauren Weisberger, wrote the 2003 best selling roman à clef The Devil Wears Prada, later made into a successful film starring Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, a fashion editor, believed to be based on Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue.
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