representation Flashcards
what movement is the black lives matter (blm)?
it is an international activist movement
where did blm originated from?
from the african american community
what did the blm campaigns against? why?
campaigns against violence and systematic racism towards black people as it started in 2013 with the spread of the hashtag #blacklivesmatter after the controversial acquittal of george zimmerman in the shooting of trayvon martin
how did blm became nationally recognised through? why?
through social media and street demonstrations following 2 more black deaths in 2014
what does this dominance of this movement on social media may possibly have to do with?
have something to do with the huge number of twitter followers and facebook likes pride magazine now has
according to the pride’s website, how much followers and likes do they have than any other title in the ethnic market?
300% more
when did black pride started?
around the time of the civil rights movement of the 1960s
what was black pride a response to? what encourage the black people to do?
response to dominant white cultures and ideologies that encouraged black people to celebrate black culture and embrace their african heritage
what was the afro hairstyle associated with?
associated with everything natural
what did the afro hairstyle symbolise?
black pride and power
what is the contrast of artificial hairstyles?
wearing wigs or having relaxed hair both of which were seen as pandering to European notions of beauty
what cover line is associated with wigs?
“the wig revolution”
what does harris hair look like? why?
straight hair rather than her natural curls perhaps could have something to do with the consumerist context of the magazine filled with adverts for hair care products such as relaxers and featuring photographs of black women with long, flowing, straightened hair
how is the cover star presenting as a role model?
she is successful, black, british cover star (dominant image)
who is harris also a role model to (excluding its readers) why?
someone from their community because she was raised in a single-parent household and came from a working class background. This very ‘normal’ upbringing makes it easier for the readers to aspire to be like her.
what does the magazine declares itself to be?
be “the face of this new young black Britain; outgoing, confident and ambitious, whilst still maintaining pride in their culture
and origins”
how is harris linked to the stereotypical representation of femininity in relation to body image?
she is attractive and slim as women constantly struggle to be successful by holding down a job whilst also looking good and dressing fashionably
the very essence of all women’s lifestyle magazines is what? how?
consumerism -> so the images and cover lines will always seek to support this
what other magazines relates to its consumerism?
vogue, marie claire, elle
what does the cover line “how far would you go to be beautiful?” suggest?
suggest that the reader cannot already be naturally beautiful, there is always room for improvement. Therefore, black women reading or starring in Pride are represented as having just as many beauty problems as their white peers.
what does not change just because of skin colour?
the importance of body image and consumerism
what does “objectified, sexualised, mocked. black womenswear bodies examined” suggest?
readers are reminded that they could and should look better and that
they will be judged on their appearance
what is the magazine including?
hard hitting journalism and doesn’t completely hold together when you read the second line
where is the fgm held?
harley street - an area of london well known for cosmetic procedures
from the fgm issue, what can you argue?
that the magazine’s only angle when covering this issue is wholly focused on beauty and body image
from the fgm issue, what it perhaps could still be seen as?
a brave move to put it on the cover of a popular lifestyle magazine, bringing a very serious topic into the public domain
what does the exclamation mark makes the magazine’s point of view on the topic as?
clear -> tone of shock
what does the statement about fgm suggest?
that for some people, the practice is more about aesthetics than religion, culture or tradition showing that the magazine’s engagement with their target audience as for them, the idea that some women are paying fgm at expensive clinics is shocking
why is the image considered as a commodity? why?
most of the images used on a women’s magazine cover are produced to sell and advertise the magazine.
because if there wasn’t an attractive figure on the front, the magazine many more stand out and sell as many copies
what is stuart hall theoretical perspective?
that media texts contain a variety of messages that are encoded (made) by producers and then decided (understood) by audiences
