Contextual Analysis
Contextual Analysis Reflection
After conducting my very first contextual analysis, I learned that research is time consuming and it is very important to have accurate and scholarly source to back up your thoughts and rhetoric. Even when sifting through Life’s extensive archives, finding the “perfect magazine” is nearly impossible and one must dedicate their very being into fair and worthwhile research. I began to see my chosen photograph very differently throughout my time with the contextual analysis. First, I had to deeply concentrate in order to see more than what is immediately visible to the eye. However, as time went on and my understanding of the cover coupled with the article expanded, the hidden features of the photograph showed themselves. I began to think about what not only was within the photograph but also what could be going on to motivate Greer’s pointing and her relaxed sitting position. I’ve never been very good at analyzing photographs however, I feel like this class has overall strengthened that skill although I’ll always first and foremost, be a writer.
The most difficulty I had when completing this project was with the word count. I have never, ever been under the word count before; I always write way too much actually. However, there was something about this assignment that demotivated my writing. I felt that I was repeating myself way too often and there was only so much in the article and in my mind I could conjure up into words. I sat four-hundred and fifty words under the requirement for four days before I gave up on myself and turned it in, deeply disappointed in myself.
After revising my paper, I noticed two common writing demons I often deal with.
- awkward sentence structure: I sometimes have trouble stringing together coherent sounding sentences. I need to work on slowing down and taking it one step at a time instead of always going a hundred miles an hour while writing.
- common mistakes-spelling/MLA rules: I am always, always, always committing convention crimes in my work. Somehow, whenever I edit, I always miss at least five idiotic mistakes. Maybe, time will heal this wound or maybe I destined to be like this forever.
As always, I was most confident and proud of my analysis. I always have trouble with very specific things but analysis has never been one. I didn’t have many analysis corrections and I’m kind of proud of myself for that.
I will carry with me the new MLA rules I learned about today to the next project. Also, as my math teacher often tells me, I must work on my confidence in myself and in my writing. I’m never going to get anywhere as a writer or a poet if I don’t learn to adapt confidently to the challenges that spring up before me.
What Makes a Feminist
Feminism, today branched off into scattered labels, was once a mainstream movement stirring the newly acknowledged melting pot of America. In 1971, the second wave of American feminism was at peak activity. Inspired by similar nations worldwide, American women began to question the authority of mens’ reign over female reproductive health, power dynamics, and what became known as the patriarchy. Germaine Greer, Australian trailblazer of 1970’s activism had a view of feminism deeply contrasting from the straightforward view of feminism and therefore was featured within many publications across America including The Female Eunuch and Time Magazine. However, it was the cover photograph and supporting article published by Life Magazine surrounding Germaine Greer that ultimately secured Life’s view of the issue of feminism. Greer’s persona bluntly stated, was taken advantage of and used to objectify and torment the women’s rights agenda in the interest of both Life Magazine a nd America. Only two years away from the historic 1973 Roe v. Wade case, the magazine managed to frame the meaning of feminism by alluding towards Greer in a way to please men and alter the overall aesthetic of the fight for equity.
In this analysis, I aim to shed light on the constant objectification of women like Greer who head women’s rights movements. It is wholeheartedly significant to realize why feminism is an ongoing ambition due to men not misunderstanding, but mistreating the ambitions of women nationwide who simply wish to be a part of decision making. To investigate the reasons why this Life article is highly offensive to women not only in the 1970’s, as well as in modern times, I will first look into why the quote used from the cover page is misleading and then, analyze how the editor attempted to distract at the issues at hand by portraying Greer as a flirty, captivating young woman rather than addressing her as an empowered woman who does have creative ideas behind her flaunty exterior. Next, I will consider how this article connected to the general ideas of the time, particularly within the 1970’s and beyond. Last but certainly not least, I will explore the methods through which Life distracts readers from the actual definitions of feminism and deliberately steers America down a mysgotic pathway. .
Beginning with the cover page of the magazine, Life captioned the photograph of Greer laughing and pointing with her legs crossed with “Saucy Feminist That Even Men Like.” Photographed by esteemed photographer for Life Magazine, Vernon Merritt, this caption was meant to offer a backhanded compliment. Instead of providing a concrete preview of Greer’s work, men were projected as the main audience, the ones catered to. Merritt’s photograph was
teased and manipulated by the surrounding caption, encompassing sexuality as the only important attribute to feminism. Here Life, rather than providing a preview of Greer’s work and commenting on it intellectually, framed a story, one that fit their own agenda of impressing a segment of their audience: men. In the supporting story, editor Jordan Bofante often follows his observations of Greer with sexual innuendos, undoubtedly sexualizing Greer when such language is unwarranted.When policies were mentioned, they were almost always followed by sexual innuendos. During a seminar class Bofante observes, before responding to a student question, Greer “drops her long legs from the chair, rears back, and lets fly a cocksure pronouncement”(Bofante, 30). Later, her protest to the context of said question was even regarded as a “rowdy erudition” (Bofante,32) from an “Australian Amazon”(Bofante, 32). This coverage provided the audience with an unrealistic view of what feminism is and who feminists are. Bofante paints Greer as a sexy, flaunty, audacious woman and that simply does not represent the women’s rights movement. Not only did this portrayal give the wrong impression to men looking into supporting the movement but also put off women to something they wish they could relate better to. Furthermore, this story was covered by a man who personally does not know the struggle of constantly being objectified and projects his ignorance onto women. Especially in an age where women’s rights are on the line, Bonfante’s blatant diversions from the actual relevant topic hurt the movement rather than aid it. Should Life wish to cover this story with logic and zero bias, it would have been more intelligent to call on a male or better yet, a female writer who is well researched and dedicated to sifting through this sort of information Bofante clearly holds the view that sex sells and ambition does not. He intends to excite the reader, appealing to their promiscuous side rather than thoroughly explaining the virtues of feminist theory through a scholar or Greer’s eyes.
The 1970’s was an enormous decade for advances in women’s right to their own autonomy. Birth control, contraception, and the hot button topic of abortion were on the line.Feminist engagement was at an all time high with consiututional amendments protecting women from sexual harassment and work discrimination for instance Reed v. Reed (Napikoski, 1). With the feminist issue so controversial, Life was able to morph what feminists represent, by singling out one feminist who happened to be quite outspoken. They aimed to tell a single story, not acknowledging the other millions of different stories from women who don’t have the publicity or mainstream attraction of Greer. This consequently created a dangerous agenda as telling only one story limited the amount of experience and
knowledge America gained from learning about feminism. The same way Native Americans didn’t get the right to vote till forty-two years after white women, the media impacts what Americans see as the face of a movement”(Not All Women”3). As a result of the prolonged suppression of minority rights and limited access to a needed narrative, progress is diverted.
When looking at how Life twisted Greer’s ideas with sensuality and didn’t press on the tangible issues at hand, it is very easy to come up with excuses. As a publication company that was quickly losing publicity, perhaps Life was trying to shed positive light on feminism by pinpointing the “perfect role model”(oldlifemagizines.org, 1)If that was the point, they missed the point completely. Rather than idolizing Greer, they sexualized her in a way that dehumanized her. She is painted as a goddess, someone to admire for her looks and poise. Nobody in the real world can relate to that at all. If the message was to appeal to all readers, especially those who don’t have feminist values, they did that effectively. To these anti-feminists, Greer is too manly, ethereal in a way that does not meet their expectations as to what a woman should be. Their distaste in how they perceive her as a woman, therefore furthered their opinions on feminism, their visions of what it is and who its supporters are.
Just as the magazine represents Greer by her looks, lots of anti-feminists today group feminists by looks instead of having an objective view beyond their physical attributes. Life’s inadequate portrayal of Germaine Greer explored feminism through the eyes of one kind of feminist and even to this day, the world continues to do the same. The photograph shown on the cover page was manipulated in such a way to entertain an eternal audience. For instance, the quote“ Saucy Feminist that Even Men Like” proves how it is always a man’s world in America. Even women’s issues are for the entertainment of men. Life could have led Americans into information, resources to improve their perception of what feminism is and means. Instead, they chose the route of the patriarchy, aligning their standards with what the common man desires. Life Magazine in all, appeals to what they believe Americans want: a sense of drama, alluring news. By providing twisted information, they put a dent in progress and converted what could have been a resourceful article into a haunting reminder of what America could have strived for. Still to this day, it remains withered, only half of a blooming rose.
Works Cited
“LIFE Magazine: The 1970’s: Oldlifemagazines.com.” LIFE Magazine| The 1970’s |
Oldlifemagazines.com, Oldlifemagazines.com,
oldlifemagazine.com/vintage-magazines-by-year/the-1970s.html.
“LIFE Magazine: The 1970’s: Oldlifemagazines.com.” LIFE Magazine| The 1970’s |
Oldlifemagazines.com, Oldlifemagazines.com,
oldlifemagazine.com/vintage-magazines-by-year/the-1970s.html.
Napikoski, Linda. “Highlights of the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1970s.” ThoughtCo,
Thoughtco.com, 8 Aug. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/1970s-feminism-timeline-3528911. “Not All Women Gained the Vote in 1920.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 6 July 2020,
www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/vote-not-all-women-gained-right-to-vot
e-in-1920/.