Magazines: Media Language (exams from 2024) GapFill

GQ magazine prides itself on giving  parentsolder womenboysmen the best advice in terms of  sciencemountaineeringtravelfashion, styling, exercise and contemporary masculine trends. When read from left to right, the codes and conventions of the magazine's cover work together to construct  a tapestryan illusiona narrativea path for the reader. The cover even contains classic character types identified by the theorist Vladimir  MulveyHallGreerPropp.

The   cover starlead actorheadlinerwarm-up act Raheem Sterling is framed and portrayed as   a princessa heroa false heroa mentor of the narrative that GQ is constructing. The statement that he has ‘… saved football from itself’ places football and the culture surrounding the sport into the role of the  heroanti-heroprincessantagonist. More evidence of the intentional characterisation of celebrities in this manner can be seen in the  puff piecestraplinemastheadcoverline on the right-hand side that states ‘All the sizzle from GQ Heroes’.

The black winged costume that Sterling wears, coupled with his tattoos, and the main coverline ‘Guardian Angel’ can be described as  occultpaganreligioussci-fi imagery. The black leathery wings, which match Sterling’s trousers, subvert conventions as the colour  whiteblueredyellow is more commonly linked to the notion of angels. For GQ this front cover is unconventional as its front covers often focus more on the   choice of shoeseye colourfashion sensepiercings of the cover star. This change could signify that the brand is diversifying and aiming to depict a broader representation of  football playersclothingactorsmasculinity.