How Women Are Portrayed in Lynx and Cosmo Essay Example for Free

How Women Are Portrayed in Lynx and Cosmo Essay ‘Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at’ – John Berger, ‘Ways of seeing’. For my research investigation I intend to explore to what extent specific media products use similar representations of women to appeal to their target audiences. The examples I have chosen to focus on are the iconic, international women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine ‘Cosmopolitan’ and Lynx’s controversial ‘beach campaign’. I will therefore be exploring what similarities and differences they embed due to their oppositional target audiences and content. Throughout my research the main theory I will be linking to my texts is that of Laura Mulvey, her theory explores ideas of sexism and male gaze within the media industry. Hearst the publisher of Cosmopolitan describes the magazine’s target audience as ‘Fun, Fearless Females’, the alliteration of the ‘F’ sound connotes a sense of attitude and fierce behaviour. Alongside the brand proposition ‘celebrates†¦a passion for life and inspires young women to be the best they can be’ consciously supporting women by portraying a sense of empowerment and ambition. In contrast, Unilever, owners of the Lynx brand state their brand prospect is that all their products are ‘designed to give our customers the edge in the mating game’ establishing itself as ‘UK’s leading male grooming brand!’. Cosmopolitan are iconic for telling their audience about two main topics; lifestyle and sex. Just by looking at the magazine covers, it is clear that these two topics dominate. I researched the April 2012 cover of Cosmopolitan, it follows the generic conventions of a typical magazine format for a women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine. In terms of the colour scheme the pink fonts and neutral clothing convey a sense of femininity and perhaps the everyday domestic lifestyle of women, although the lifestyle aspect of the magazine seems overpowered by the topic of sex. The cover features an attractive women – in this case the iconic Megan Fox, posing some mildly alluring body language, showing a lot of skin, all whilst looking directly at the camera (audience) with a sexy, serious facial expression with the eyebrow promiscuously raised, and suggestive parted lips. Although the model is simply posing the latest fashion, the low cut, tightly fitting dress connotes an over sexualised view of the celebrity who is universally known as a sex symbol in the media world, taking her place in FHM’s sexiest women each year and continuously playing the role of the sexy female in various popular films. It is clear that Cosmopolitan use bold sexual connotations surrounding women, although argue that their intentions are in fact to empower women through their sexuality. Notice the models strong body language , the hand on hip look used alongside taglines such as ‘Naughty or nice? You decide†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, and sexual puns are even added in regarding none sexual subjects such as career advice ‘You on top’, these are bold sexual connotations implying that woman should dominate to get what they want, mostly regarding the topic of sex. Perhaps fighting the controversial debate of sexism towards women in media by surprisingly embracing La ura Mulvey’s theory of ‘male gaze’. Cosmo put across the idea that if men find women attractive then it should accredit them by making them feel good about themselves, knowing that they look sexy and attractive. The magazine are conscious to do this in a sophisticated manor, opposed to other trashy and over sexualised magazines. Mediaknowall.com state that ‘Women’s magazines have moved on and offer visions of independence and confidence as well as beauty and domestic concerns, yet women are still encouraged to look good’. Body image and size have become a growing issue in society in result of magazine content. The overuse of petite, photo shopped models throughout magazines has resulted in these images becoming the dominant ideology. Over the years images printed in women’s magazines have contributed to this universal feeling to look good and be a certain size. Lynx are known for their voyeuristic product advertisement, this element of the company is what attracts their buyers, yet is also their downfall. Lynx have been publicly criticized for their overuse of objectifying women, using sexualized and provocative imagery and overall blunt sexism. The BBC news state that ‘in 2011 six of Lynx’s advertising campaigns were banned after mass numbers of complains were made’ they added that ‘the 113 complaints said it was sexually suggestive and demeaning to women’. I researched Lynx’s recent TV advertisement and accompanying print advert titled ‘The cleaner you are, the dirtier you get’. Although I believe this is one of Lynx’s milder sexualised adverts even the title itself contains a sexual pun, suggesting the promise of sex if you shower with the product. The girl on the print advertisement is no doubt an attractive young female, fitting the iconic ‘blonde bombshell’ look. The girl’s enticing facial expression creates the impression she is inviting the audience (male) into the shower with her. Although the girl’s expressions look confident, there is a contrast between this and her body language. For example the way she has to cup her bikini top to stop it from falling. This vulnerability of the woman standing half nude for a male audience completely visually depicting her as a female, making her a passive object of male visual pleasure. A comment by Jean Killbourne (a popular media activist) backs up my point by stating that ‘women’s bodies are often dismembered into legs, breasts or thighs, reinforcing the message that women are objects rather than whole human beings’. Killbourne suggests that women have become dehumanised into erotic objects for male pleasure. One element of Lynx’s campaigns which continues throughout is the idea of fake portrayal. In each advert the male role is played by your everyday, not overly-attractive man, contrasted with the female role being a desirable, young beauty. In an everyday world the changes of the male role attracting that type of woman are very slim. Despite this the main message that Lynx put across to their audience throughout their advertisements is that if men wear the product – women will find them irresistible – False portrayal. Of course this element adds humour to the advertisements, although all at the expense of objectifying women in the process and promoting the gender role of the dominant male. Bibliography Websites: www.mediaknowall.com Hearst, http.//www.hearst.co.uk/magazines/Cosmpolitan/5-about.htm Cosmopolitan, http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/exclusive/megan-fox-april-cover-cosmopolitan Exploring the media: representations and responses

Pride And Prejudice :: essays research papers

Pride and Prejudice is a story about two married couples who do not respect each other. Mrs. Bennet business is to get her five daughter's to marry the most richest man in England. She is willing to take on any obstacles that get in her way. Mr. Bennet is a very outspoken and sardonic person. If there is anything he dislikes about mrs. Bennet or about what she is doing, he let her know. He love to criticize his wife. "I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party." I chose this quote because it shows how Mr. Bennet criticize his wife. Mr bennet plays around with Miss Bennet not like a husband should. "My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" Mr.Bennet replied that he had not, which he has. Mrs. Bennet is a greedy and arrogant woman. Her business is to get all her daughter to marry the most richest man in England, and she is willing to take on any obstancles that stand in her way. "Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!". This quote shows how she believes in marrying for money instead of love. The percipient woman would rather her daughter's to die than not marrying. Quoted: Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming she had no wish of her recovering immediately, probably remove her from Netherfield. I picked this quot because it shows she is a bad mother, because a mother should care about her daughter. The woman is malcontent until all her daughter's is married. Mr. Bennet and his wife do not talk to each other with respect. Mr. Bennet favor Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet likes Jane and Lizzy the most. "Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half handsome as Janes, nor half so good humoured as Lydia". But you are always giving her the preference.

9/11 Security Easures Essay

1.What impact did the events of 9/11 have on your sense of security/vulnerability? The events of September 11th brought a harsh reality to light. I remember sitting home thinking this wasn’t real and when I finally did catch on and see this was really happening I was overcome with fear. I wasn’t sure if we as a nation were safe or what would happen next. I kept saying to myself â€Å"How they can say they are here to protect us and this happens?† 2. Do you agree or disagree with the U.S. response to the attacks? I partially agree partially with the United States’ response to the attacks in terms of security measures and then the other part of me just shakes my head and wonder what it is the people in charge are thinking. I feel that with such high powered branches of government and security that the events of 9/11 should have never taken place. I appreciate the higher security to an extent at the airport but then it shouldn’t have taken such a tragic event for them have such high security measures in place then on the other side of the scope it’s inconvenient for everyone else involved to have to adjust to new procedures when the government dropped the ball. Going to war wasn’t the answer at all to punish someone for taking lives we go takes lives of their nation by risking the lives of more people from ours†¦I’m extremely confused with this practice. See more: Strategic Management Process Essay †¢Which aspects of the U.S. response do you feel have been most successful and effective? None of them, even with more security efforts in place it has only made a bigger issue arise in the process some are harassed more than others because of nationality I have been with Arabian and Egyptian friends at the airport and have had to wait longer with them as they were drilled about what part of the U.S they were going to questions about the birthplaces of their parents and even their own birthplaces. Is this what we have reduced ourselves down to? †¢Which aspects of the U.S. response do you feel have been least effective or even counter-productive? War period †¢Do you feel safer now than they did after 9/11? Why or why not? I still feel the same no one is safe not here in the U.S and not those outside our country the response to the 9/11 attacks goes against everything being an American is about. †¢What areas of vulnerability do you think have not been addressed that should be? The vulnerability of our people to depend on each other and the government to support us, provide us with a sense of security/protection, and to give us a voice to be heard to say what actions are taken in such tragic events. †¢Do you agree or disagree with the term â€Å"War on Terrorism?† Do you think the â€Å"war† will ever be â€Å"won†, and all terrorist threats completely eliminated? If you disagree on the term, what would you suggest as an alternative? I strongly disagree with the term â€Å"war on Terrorism†! This war will never end there will always be someone somewhere who doesn’t agree with the practices of another individual, group, or country. This comes from â€Å"societies† teachings of making one group more superior than the other until that cycle alone is broken there will be a new breed of â€Å"terrorists/terrorism† everyday. †¢Do they feel civil liberties, including privacy rights, have been curtailed significantly in the wake of the U.S. response? If so, in what way? Is some curtailment of some civil liberties for some individuals a necessary step, even if not ideal? Doyou agree with the government’s justifications for wiretapping, etc? All in all I actually believe that some civil liberties have in fact been curtailed, however, no matter how you try to turn it you can’t have me say that its’ right. Everyone is entitled to his/her privacy no matter who they are and what they have done before in life. I don’t feel anything justifies the reasoning behind the government wanting to use wiretapping or video surveillance to pry into the personal lives of any individual I understand that this helps to stop these so called terrorists but then again it’s a way for the government to bully people by taking their private feelings and using them against them. †¢Do you agree with holding captured suspects indefinitely, without charge? Or do you think suspects should enjoy due process and be tried in civilian courts? I think everyone should be given the right to due process and how can you hold someone indefinitely without charging them of something in my mind that would be kidnapping/false imprisonment and that’s preposterous! †¢What are your thoughts on secret prisons, extraordinary rendition, and the Enemy Combatants at Guantanamo Bay? Secret prisons†¦somewhere I can take someone and do anything imaginable to them and they either not return or comeback badly beaten yet have no proof of where they were when this happened which means no evidence and possibly they don’t even see the person who does the harm to them. Where is the fairness/justice in this the government justifies their inhumane treatment of others with the word â€Å"terrorism†, yet isn’t the government guilty of doing the same thing that we imprison â€Å"serial killers, rapists, etc.† for? The government at first said that no torture went on at Guantanamo Bay that the detainees were only being held for questioning then one person came out and admitted that Mohammed was being tortured there and we expect protection from a government that constantly lies to us. †¢Do you agree with the rationale behind the invasion of either Afghanistan or Iraq or both? There really is no rationale behind it unless you are trying to say that since they came and used our planes to destroy our buildings and kill our people that we have every right to go over to their territory and shoot, bomb, and kill their people. Yea sure that’s very rational indeed let’s go do the same thing they did to us â€Å"that will make it better† †¢Are citizens of other countries at all justified in their negative view of America’s stand in the World? Yes they are America is at war with itself and that only makes the other countries wonder how we could be in power of anything. China has had several problems with dynasty leaders but they rose up as a people to overcome that. America has problems and they branch of into several groups screaming for the spotlight without any real answers to the problems here everyone wants to be right where in other places it’s about simply getting better than what they are currently dealing with a chance for growth. Something America has forgotten about.

Marxism - 797 Words

Marxism 5.) Discuss the main tenets of Marxism. In what ways was this ideology an extension of the thought of the Enlightenment? In what ways did it deviate from those ideals? Socialism granted a powerful language for the working-class to express their interests. Many workers, who were enfranchised in the latter portion of the century joined political parties espousing this doctrine. Socialism existed before Karl Marx presented himself to the scene. In fact, Marx drew from the theories of the foremost prophets of socialism: Henri de Saint-Simon and Charles Fourier in France, and Robert Owen in Great Britain. However, he gave these theories his own style, and in the end his form became the dominant idea of socialism. Karl Marx,†¦show more content†¦The style it was written in is obscure, difficult to penetrate. But throughout there are certain basic concepts that shine, which were understood and embraced by Marxs followers. As Hegel believed that the goal of human history was the realization of the world spirit; Marx embraced the theory and believed it was the abolition of capitalism, the victory of the proletariat, the disappearance of the state, and the ultimate liberation of all humankind. Marx insisted that material conditions determined the governance of the world. Following Hegel, who said that truth evolves by a dialectic method, Marx called his own philosophy dialectic materialism. He posited a world of change but stated that it was embedded in material conditions, not in a clash of ideas. To Marx, ideas were merely a reflection of the material world. Based on their relationship to factories and machines (the means of production), Marx grouped human beings into classes. Capitalists were one class, because they owned the means of production. Workers were a separate class, the proletariat, because they did not own any of the means of production and their income came only from their own hands. 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