To what extent do Zoella and Attitude reflect the social and historical context of the time when they were made? [30]

To what extent do Zoella and Attitude reflect the social and historical context of the time when they were made? [30]

Social and historical context refers to the issues and events that are taking place toay in the world around us. And these factors are very influential in the media. i fully believe that both Zoella and Attitude reflect the sociohistorical context of the time in which they were made as both display the attitudes towards women and gay men.

Youtube vlogger Zoella reached her peak in popularity around 2014, as youtube became a popular platform for average people to share videos to the world. It is estimated now that around 42% of people have watched a youtube vlog in the last month, therefore Zoella targets a mass audience as she conforms to social standards and expectations of women. An example of this is  her "June Faves" (2016) video where she speaks with a high pitched voice, widens her eyes and smiles throughout the clip, presenting hersle fas a sterotypically feminine and cute young girl, even though she was around her mid 20s at the time of this video. Her good teeth and application of makeup further reinforces the fact that Zoella conforms to expectations of women, as she tries to present herself as perfect. This creates a figure who the target audience can aspire to be like, as well as conforming to the male gaze theory. The male gaze theory claims that the only reason why females are included in the media is to appeal to a male audience. therefore by wearing all this makeup and taking care of her appearance Zoella presents the idea that if you buy these products she lists in her video and be like her then maybe you can get male attention like she does.

Attitude is a gay, British,  lifestyle magazine and was created in 1994. The website, Attitude Online, has a synergistic relationship with the magazine as they work together to target a gay, male, target audience. Attitude constructs their audience through their extremely stereotypical represention of gay men that we see in the world around us right now.  For example, in the style section of Attitude Online, there is an article titled "This weeks hottest clothes and accessories". Within this article there are "eye catching prints" and lavish clothing items such as a pair of Balenciaga sunglasses that cost £270 as well as a Knezo Bag that costs £225. This creates a stereotypical representation of gay men that we often have in the world now, that being that gay men are flamboyant and have something called the "pink pound".  The "pink pound" is the money that gay men are assumed to have as they do not have any children, which is a very stereotypical assumption to make. This article on the whole offers a single representation of gay men and gives the idea that these are they type of clothes that a gay man wold want to wear.  Stereotypes are created in order ot make or view of the world clearer and here Attitde Online constrcts their adience and this article informs them that this is what they shold like to wear.

Zoella creates a hyppereal representation of herself in order to conform to social expectations of women that we see today. For example, on the Zoella website hypperreal constrctions are present in many blog posts, sch as the "Dreamy Barcart" post, which is all abot aesthetics, and Zoella even writes herself "I want to live in my very own pintrest goals hose". This shows that even Zoella knows that what she is presenting on her website is a "goal" and not realsitc. In addition to this there is no mention of actally drinking any of the alchoholic beverages in this post, which further reinforces the idea that this is all fake and st for a blog post.  Another blog post that frther constrcts zoella as a hyppereal presentation is the "Picnic" post, where we see images of the most lxorios picnic ever seen. The picnic incldes enogh food to feed way more than the two people that are photographed, plates and cheeseboards as well as wine glasses and more. Therefore Zoella is a hypperal constrction as she paints herself as ideal and perfect, yet this level of perfection is not achieveable. This reflects the social and historical context of today as we are often presented with images in the media that are realistically nachievable to average people, and Zoella reinforces this through her website.

The attitde magazine, "Masclinity" edition ,front cover reflects the sociohistorical context of the world now as it offers sbversive representations of masclinity. The pink coverlines and header sbvert hegemonic representations of masclinity as it is often thoght that . pink is a girls color. Howver throghot this front cover pink is incorparated everywhere, to show acceptance of this sbversion of masclinity. "ack Sheers", the front page model, has his nails painted pink, and stands in a stereotypically camp/feminie pose, which frther evokes Attitde's aceeptanc. Strart Hall sggests that the media and the power of media representations play an important role in definiing the ideologial ideas of different social grops, and i think this is very tre, especially in the case of Attitde. It is clearly shown that it is okay and accepted to not conform to society's expectations of men and this reflects the sociohistorical context of today as ideas of masclinity are being explored and traditional beliefs are not as prominent now.

As well as painting herself as the ideal woman, Zoella

Attitde presents a hypersexalised images and representation of men, which frther shows Attitde's stereotypical representation of gay men. These hypersexalised images convey the idea that this is what gay men shold be attracted to. These images are nrealistic and completely aspirational, as all of the men are topless and shown to be very bff, with the ideal body image that we are presented with today. Examples of these images are fond in the "Happy Birthday stin Timberlake" article, nder the "boys" section of attitde online. As well as this there are a variety of gifs of stin T