representation and contexts

Question 1

historically, why has British black men been under-represented on magazine front covers?

Answer 1

due to systemic racism within the industry

Question 2

In a 2018 study, completed by The Guardian, into glossy magazines, what was revealed?

Answer 2

it was revealed that of 214 covers published by the 19 bestselling glossies in 2017, only 20 featured a person of colour. That’s 9.3%, whereas 13.7% of the UK are BAME.

Question 3

of all the mainstream media outlets, what has there been arguably now?

Answer 3

a small shift in magazine front covers representing a diverse range of people

Question 4

who is the sister magazine at conde nast?

Answer 4

vogue

Question 5

who did the sister magazine appointed and when?

Answer 5

editor Edward Enninful in 2017

Question 6

what has the new appointed person turned magazines as?

Answer 6

has turned one of the nation’s most respected fashion magazines into a celebration of all beauty – not excluding blackness but championing it

Question 7

what did the 2020 global anti-racism protests meant?

Answer 7

has meant that recently there has been a wider range of ethnicities and races on the front of British GQ

Question 8

when and who coined the word ‘metrosexual’?

Answer 8

1994
Mark Simpson – an author and journalist

Question 9

what did the person who coined ‘metrosexual’ famously quoted?

Answer 9

“I had seen the future of masculinity and it was moisturised”

Question 10

what became more socially acceptable in the early 2000s for men?

Answer 10

to openly care about their looks, clothing and skincare regime

Question 11

how did men’s magazine embraced their looks, clothing and skincare?

Answer 11

through their content and advertising

Question 12

according to the magazine, what is the percentage of readers that buy what?

Answer 12

80% of its readers buy at least one male grooming product per month

Question 13

when and who introduced the term ‘spornosexuals’?

Answer 13

2014
Mark Simpson

Question 14

what does spornosexuals mean?

Answer 14

men who are extremely body focused

Question 15

how is sterling on the front cover considered spornosexuals?

Answer 15

six-pack and muscles on show, even though he is a footballer, supports this concept.

Question 16

what did sterling took on social media for in December 2018?

Answer 16

to highlight racism in the British press

Question 17

what did sterling screen-grabbed? what does it juxtaposed?

Answer 17

screen-grabbed two MailOnline articles, which juxtaposed how his Manchester City teammates (Phil Foden and Tosin Adarabioyo) had been treated for buying their mums a house.

Question 18

how does sterling used his platform to highlight?

Answer 18

to highlight this racial inequality in response to personally receiving racist abuse on the pitch from fans

Question 19

why was Tottenham Hotspur supporter arrested?

Answer 19

for throwing a banana skin at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Motherwell’s Christian Mbulu received racial abuse

Question 20

since the social media post, what has sterling become?

Answer 20

spokesperson for charities, activists and other social causes

Question 21

what has Gary Lineker called sterling as?

Answer 21

perhaps the most influential player in the game” off-field

Question 22

what is gq heroes?

Answer 22

an event aimed at “luxury business and creative minds”

Question 23

where is it held annually?

Answer 23

Oxfordshire

Question 24

what does gq heroes have a programme of and why?

Answer 24

programme of speakers who are shaping society and culture around us

Question 25

how is sterling presented as a role model for its readers?

Answer 25

hugely successful black cover star
dominant image

Question 26

why is good for sterling to be role models for gq’s readers?

Answer 26

sterling would be someone to aspire to be like which is good as readers can help and call out racism and help in charities

Question 27

sterling’s sporting success is from where?

Answer 27

outside of most reader’s possibilities

Question 28

his work ethic, principles and desire to want to better means what to sterling?

Answer 28

that it is a success

Question 29

the choice to represent Sterling topless with
his tattoos on show reinforces what?

Answer 29

the stereotype of men as having to be hyper masculine, strong and muscular

Question 30

what does the tattoos represent?

Answer 30

represent different aspects of his identity – the cross on his chest illustrates his Christian faith, while the baby on his arm represents him as a father

Question 31

what does the black wings represent and suggest?

Answer 31

represent him as a supernatural figure suggesting his extraordinary skills on the pitch

Question 32

the wings, combined with the main cover line “Guardian Angel” and the low angle shot construct him as what?

Answer 32

protective figure, fighting
for justice

Question 33

his wide stance and the choice of costume represent him as?

Answer 33

dominant, confident figure

Question 34

the thick silver jewellery
and watch represent?

Answer 34

his wealth and modern masculinity

Question 35

what does the main cover line, “How Raheem
Sterling saved football from itself” mean?

Answer 35

it means for the reader to understand that he is a success on a much grander scale than just a pitch: he is an influencer

Question 36

what does his thick silver jewellery reinforces?

Answer 36

the capitalist ideology that for a man to be thought of as successful you must be wealthy and make a lot of money

Question 37

what are all the men named on the cover are represented as?

Answer 37

successful in their own field, which conforms to the genre conventions of glossy magazines

Question 38

what is Andy Burnham framed as and how is he represented men?

Answer 38

framed as having a “masterplan” for Manchester representing men as clever, powerful and forward-thinking

Question 39

how is the representation of machine gun Kelly juxtaposed with Andy Burnham?

Answer 39

his life is described as “insane, wild and totally nuts”

Question 40

however why is the juxtaposition between machine gun Kelly and Andy Burnham expected from readers?

Answer 40

extreme lifestyle is more what the reader would expect from a rapper than a politician so the cover lines serve to reinforce our preconceived ideas of these roles

Question 41

why is machine gun Kelly cover line not judgemental?

Answer 41

it is more celebratory, inviting readers in to see what his apparently crazy life is like

Question 42

what is the social expectation for modern men?

Answer 42

that they must ‘have it all’ – health, wealth and strength – and the image of Sterling supports this as he epitomizes all three

Question 43

similar to female counterparts, the very essence of men’s lifestyle is what?

Answer 43

consumerism

Question 44

what supports the men’s lifestyle magazines?

Answer 44

the images and cover lines will always seek to support this, informing men of what they supposedly need, “How to wear a broken suit” and also showing them what to covet, “Why it’s finally ok to wear a belt bag”

Question 45

why is men’s lifestyle magazines similar to female?

Answer 45

female lifestyle magazines tell their readers how to be beautiful, get fit and dress well.

Question 46

what does not change just because of gender?

Answer 46

the importance of body image and consumerism