GQ P2

• GQ is heavily linked to the social and cultural contexts of a time period through their reference to fashion, consumerism, body image and changes in what society deems acceptable and unacceptable representations of masculinity.
• GQ targets a younger male audience of 18 to 44 year olds who are wealthy, urban and upper-class.
• The magazine recently has chosen to include shorter news articles in addition to their traditional in-depth essays and profiles. The articles cover a wide range of topics from food and sport, to music and movies, to travel and fashion.
• GQ has always been closely associated with metrosexuality. The writer Mark Simpson coined the term in article for The Independent by mixing heterosexuality and metropolitan. A metrosexual man is someone who is especially meticulous about his appearance and grooming.
• A typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in a metropolis where the best shops, gyms and hairdressers are. This can sometimes drift away from the traditional view of masculinity and manliness as caring for looks is traditionally a feminine practice. This has lead to masculinity being more ambiguous in today's society.
• The male body in men's magazines such as GQ is exposed in order to be observed and admired. A spornosexual man is someone who is obsessed with the idea of getting an overly muscular body. This term was also coined by Mark Simpson.
• Stages of masculinity which apply to GQ

  Stage 2: Conscious Masculinity

  Deliberate masculinity

  Stage 4: Multiple Masculinities

  Anyone can be anything. Masculinity is fluid.
• Robert Pattinson (cover star): direct mode of address / aggressive and thuggish look / hair and makeup subverts the GQ stereotype of a well groomed metrosexual man with his bruised punk appearance / broken nose and bruised eyes = violence / metal capped teeth, chains, spiked blonde hair emulate the 80s punk rock era.
• Jonathan Bailey (article + photoshoot): dressed in a typical metrosexual way / high up in tree with direct mode of address denoting masculine power / some shots show him in more feminine flamboyant clothing / gay inclusion in the GQ magazine = target audiences = more profit.
• The publisher of GQ Conde Nast would have a huge influence over the representation of men in their magazines and what it means to be idealistic. Conde Nast also publishes Vogue showcasing its immense control over the style industry and style ideals.
• As the idealistic male would be put at the forefront of GQ magazines, this leaves little room for other representations: small, overweight, rural, working class.
• Hesmondhalgh would assume Conde Nast are more likely to conform to social and cultural contexts in order to appeal to a wide range of audiences to maximise profit and minimise risk.
• GQ's Global Editorial Director is Will Welch