James Scholar Blog # 9

GQ

Because funds are limited for me right now, I decided to peruse the GQ Web site instead of buying the magazine. Nevertheless, I found myself analyzing the articles and photography in a similar manner to when I read the magazine. As a female reader, it is interesting to see what the editor selects to publish in order to satisfy male preferences. On the Web site there are articles under each category; this makes it easier for the reader to pick and choose what topics he or she wants to read about.

The tone of many of the pieces is very playful and wordy; this differs very much so from the more serious, stiff articles which tend to be in magazines such as Vogue. One article that exemplifies this fun style of writing is called GQ Regrets. The writer apologizes for the numerous looks that GQ has suggested for men over the years. Not only does the writer apologize in a humorous manner, but he also adds a slide show for the reader to see the specific fads that the magazine encouraged. This concept of multimedia for writings such as these really adds to the success of the article. Without those pictures, one might have just skimmed through the article and not taken the time to look at the specific trends that GQ admits were a bit much. For this, the Web version of GQ allows the reader to navigate and select the information he or she receives.

GQ tends to enjoy emphasizing the importance of sexuality through its numerous photo shoots of half- naked women. The Web site provides a video of Victoria Secret models over the years as a tribute to its 15th anniversary of swimwear lines. Also, there are pictures of celebrities men voted that they would want a hot date with like Mila Kunis from “Thats ‘70s Show.” Because GQ seems to target professional men, I think it would be more effective to add some interviews of both attractive and intellectual women. Limiting the coverage of women to only pictures makes the magazine seem less intellectual and more degrading. In comparison to magazines like Marie Claire, articles about the opposite sex have less substance to them in GQ.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the articles on the GQ Web site ,and I would recommend the magazine to others as well. Of course, there are pros and cons to both magazine and online versions of magazines. The ads in the GQ magazine that I have seen in the past are well disbursed throughout and there are more spreads of models for an avid fashion lover like myself. On the Web site, the ads are squished together and distract my eyes from focusing on the words on my Web page. On the other hand, the GQ Web site offers many videos that I could not see in their magazine that add to my GQ reading experience.

Likes: “GQ Regrets”
“GQ’s Restaurant of the Week”
“The Best Desserts of the Year”

Dislikes: “Hot Date”
“The Comeback: Tom Brady”

Suggestions for Improvement: Show some sexy women in business clothing, not only bathing suits. Oh, and give them a personality with a Q&A.