Oh comely - Textual Analysis

1) What do the typefaces used on the front cover suggest to an audience?

The typefaces used on the front cover suggest to the audience that this magazine is different to others as it is in a niche market and does not intend to appeal to a mainstream audience which allows them to focus on what their readers want and how they can make their magazine better for their audience.

2) The words under the title introduce the content and topics addressed. What do these suggest about the potential audience of Oh Comely?
The topics the magazine addresses suggest that this magazine is aimed more towards women than men and they have used the word mischief which suggests that their audience are those who may break rules from time to time and/or go against societal conventions .


3) How do the cover lines use narrative to create enigma? What do the cover lines suggest about the magazine's content and audience?
-The cover lines deliberately include the phrases which sound the most bizarre and stand out, creating enigma which intrigues a reader and pulls them in
-Most cover-lines include context of social issues revolving around the centripetal topic of women, therefore it.
The cover lines like "mischief" create enigma as it is a code to the reader,making them think about what the magazine is about as well as give us an idea of what kind of people an Oh Comely reader is like. That being a creative, slightly hipster, feminist,young audience. shows that the audience are highly educated and dominantly female.

4) Write an analysis of the central image.

The outfit is quite sophisticated, clearly portraying an interest in fashion and the arts, both very creative subjects, that of which are trying to be covered in the Oh Comely magazine. The use of retro earrings also help portray a sense of old fashioned things being relevant and trendy, perhaps like how Oh Comely is trying to portray itself.

5) What representation of gender can be found on this front cover?

There is a degree of gender ambiguity or neutrality to the star. There is no 'hyper-femininity' as normally seen in magazines like Cosmopolitan. The hair tied back creates this boyish culture as the hair looks short.


Feature: Speaking Out

1) What does the headline and standfirst suggest about Oh Comely's feminist perspective?

They are sending a strong feminist message, a call to social action and reformation by using direct mode of address. The pull  quote creates this sock value to create a reaction and grab attention. Also to represent niche feminist movements.

2) What do the interviewees in this feature suggest about the values and ideologies that underpin this magazine?

The interviewees have no mainstream recognition, reinforcing that they are representing niche audiences and feminist movements. They also represent BAME groups in their magazines, which are rarely seen in any magazine, a marginalised group.

3) How conventional is the page design in this feature? Why?

The page design is very unconventional. The magazine have yet again gone for a minimalist approach, with the article at the centre of the page. There are barely any advertisements in the magazine. This is because the magazine want to prove that they provide an alternative representation of what traditional magazines offer.