A-Level Media Studies Super-curricular
Analysis of US Vogue, April 2008 cover using structuralism and semiotics 18/11/2025
The cover stars LeBron James and super model Gisele Bündchen and it caused a huge backlash in the US with accusations of racism. People had an oppositional reading of the photograph as they believed it. reinforced stereotypes of ‘aggressive’ black men and ‘helpless’ white women.
LeBron's facial expression is a symbolic code that he is frustrated and quite tense, the use of his wide stance makes him appear to be more powerful and can be seen as intimidating, it even gives off the impression that he is wild and untamed. In contrast, Gisele is presented with a smile and is almost posed as if she is relying on the strength of LeBron to stabilise herself. This creates a binary opposition of strength and power vs weakness and vulnerability. These stereotypes being applied to a black man vs a white woman promotes stereotypical hegemonic ideologies that black men are dangerous, aggressive people who should be dealt with caution and defensiveness. In addition, the body language of Gisele reinforces the patriarchal ideology that women are weak and can only exist with the support of a man. The use of the colour blue on Gisele's silk dress connotes calmness, trustworthiness and peace, this is contrasted by the dark black of LeBron's basketball uniform, which connotes evilness, fear and authority. The use of these colours sustain the stereotypes that women are reliant on men as they trust them as their authorities, it also reinforces a stereotype of light features, fair skin is more trustworthy than darker features and skin tones.
Media Magazine - In a class of its own: the American Teen Movie 19/11/2025
The genre only came about due to economic and social changes in post-WW2 American and Britain. The stereotypes and demographic associated with teenagers didn't exist before this as the transition from childhood into adulthood was quicker and older teens used to take on the identity of their parents in the way they looked and dressed. Only kids from wealth families would go to university and everyone else began working, then got married and would start a family. Due to the immediate post-war baby boom and political stability, more teens were going to be around and more of them could afford to go to university. Consequently, more teenagers had leisure time, disposable income, and cars, which awarded them with more independence and space that teens before this era didn't have. Between 1952 to 1958, the teen market grew by 2.8 million and the media industry took this opportunity to grow their teen demographic.
In 1955, Rebel Without a Cause, directed by Nicholas Ray became the basis of the genre. It helps to demonstrate how media aligns with Steve Neale's genre theory as it starred James Dean who played Jim Stark, an 'outsider with a troubled past' who was introduced to a new school, town and hoped to fit in and find a sense of belonging. This theme has been revisited in several films aimed at teens such as Grease, Pretty in Pink, and Mean Girls. Most teen movies now address themes of the 'teenager's sense of individual identity' and how they deal with the dominant, popular group in a high school environment. Nearly all teen movies project the narrative that these characters are eventually welcomed into these environments and their enemies are defeated, creating reassurance for teens in the same real life situations.
These narratives also usually present the idea that success in the romantic sector comes with this sense of belonging and offer a 'mythological rite of passage'.
The cover stars LeBron James and super model Gisele Bündchen and it caused a huge backlash in the US with accusations of racism. People had an oppositional reading of the photograph as they believed it. reinforced stereotypes of ‘aggressive’ black men and ‘helpless’ white women.LeBron's facial expression is a symbolic code that he is frustrated and quite tense, the use of his wide stance makes him appear to be more powerful and can be seen as intimidating, it even gives off the impression that he is wild and untamed. In contrast, Gisele is presented with a smile and is almost posed as if she is relying on the strength of LeBron to stabilise herself. This creates a binary opposition of strength and power vs weakness and vulnerability. These stereotypes being applied to a black man vs a white woman promotes stereotypical hegemonic ideologies that black men are dangerous, aggressive people who should be dealt with caution and defensiveness. In addition, the body language of Gisele reinforces the patriarchal ideology that women are weak and can only exist with the support of a man. The use of the colour blue on Gisele's silk dress connotes calmness, trustworthiness and peace, this is contrasted by the dark black of LeBron's basketball uniform, which connotes evilness, fear and authority. The use of these colours sustain the stereotypes that women are reliant on men as they trust them as their authorities, it also reinforces a stereotype of light features, fair skin is more trustworthy than darker features and skin tones. 
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