David Gauntlett

I only read chapters 3 and 9 of this book, concerning the creation of a gender identity and of women magazines ( while working on a research concerning women magazines and the creation of a feminine identity vs roleplay). I find Gauntlett's approach very interesting, and really appreciate the emphasis he puts on audience response : you can't judge a cultural product only from the text itself, you have to understand audience response (the same mistake that makes some people think that violent video games = violent people, necessarily).

Here, Gauntlett compares major themes of major US magazines aimed at women readers (mainly summer 2001 magazines) and tries to emphasize the fact that many 'non traditional' themes are represented in women magazines, such as 'men objectification'.

Gauntlett produces a serious study while adding a bit of humour, which is refreshing when you've been reading tons of very alarmist feminist studies about this subject.… (mer)