How does contemporary representation compare to previous

time periods?

What is contemporary representation?

Contemporary representation refers to how something was represented in the past.

For example, women were represented differently in magazines and adverts in the past.

How are women represented in Women’s Magazines?

- Many of the women’s magazines focus on topics such as weight loss and fashion.

… And in previous time periods?

- Although the themes are similar, in previous time periods there was less influence on weight loss.

- Marilyn Monroe was a healthy size 16 – a size which would be overlooked in modern society.

Examples:

Discuss & Comapre

Conclusion:Personally I think that Women are represented differently now

compared to in a previous times period. There is more pressure on young girls to be thin and conform to

the beauty represented in magazines such as Cheryl Cole. However, this is not necessarily a case, this image shows how

one woman looks in every day life and how she is represented in a magazine.

How are women represented in present day Men’s Magazines?

Women are represented in positions that are considered sexy by men. Wearing minimal clothing and standing in compromising positions.

This is an ideology created by men according to Gramsci, therefore feminists are an opposition to this, by trying to impose a new ‘common sense’ representation of women. However this is not successful, as they aren’t part of the bourgeisie.

Men’s magazines in the past…

It seems that now, Men’s Magazine’s focus more on naked, exposed flesh dominating the covers.

In previous time periods men’s magazines still showed women in a similar way, but often with men in the picture. It wasn’t purely naked women.

Examples – Discuss:

Men’s Magazine - 1958

In Conclusion:

Men’s desires have not changed, men still want to see the female body. However, it is considered more acceptable to show more flesh in the modern day and age.

The men’s magazine industry is helping encourage women to remain healthy and curvacious – whereas women’s magazines are promoting dieting and looking more like celebrities, putting pressure on young girls to conform to such images.

Women in Adverts One advertising campaign which has

shown women in a “natural” and “unfake” way is the Dove Campaign.

Discuss.

Women in Adverts

It is very difficult to define the codes and conventions of adverts, however, it is obvious to tell who the product is targeted at from the role the female plays.

Beer – the women are often under-clothed and attractive.

Clothes – they are often thin and pretty, making the clothes look their best.