How are female political leaders depicted by the media? What does it mean for a woman to be a powerful political leader? 

1. Work in groups. Study Texts 1-10 below or print out the A6 cards. To what extent is Hillary Clinton depicted as a strong political leader on each magazine cover? Discuss your answer to this question, considering considering layout, diction, composition, camera angle, lighting, symbols, body language and gaze. Rank each cover from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating that she looks least powerful and 10 indicating that she looks most powerful. Do not reveal the analysis of each cover until you have completed your ranking. 

A6 cards: 'Hillary Clinton on Magazine covers'


Text 1: 'The Hillary Factor', Time Magazine, 1992

        

Analysis of Text 1

• Warm lighting suggests friendliness.

• Showing teeth is a sign of emotion and weakness.

• Alliteration of ‘helping’ or ‘hurting’ encourages binary thinking.

• The use of a question questions her role in her husband’s campaign.

• She is a ‘factor’ for her husband’s campaign.

• The Time title is in front of her head, suggesting the magazine is more important than she is.

• Camera is at eye-level, putting the reading on equal footing with her.

• Her gaze into the camera engages the reader.

Text 2: 'The State of Hillary', Time Magazine, 2009



Analysis of Text 2

• Sharp contrast of white on red feels edgy and powerful.

• The lack of a smile or teeth adds to her position of strength.

• ‘State’ is a pun (‘Secretary of State’ and to be in a ‘state’), suggesting that her mental position is to be in charge.

• The small question ‘can [she] make a more peaceful world?’ questions her abilities.

• Her gaze into the camera with her stark blue eyes is penetrating for the reader.

• The Time title is behind her head, suggesting she is more important than the magazine.

• Her posture is erect, suggesting strength.

Text 3: 'What Hillary believes', Time Magazine, 2007



Analysis of Text 3

• The photograph has been stylized using editing software, making her appear like a cultural icon.

• The lack of a smile or teeth adds to her position of strength.

• Her collar is turned up, suggesting independence.

• The camera is below her, making the reader look up to her literally and figuratively.

• Her gaze is into the distant, making her seem focused on the future.

• The language focuses on what she ‘believes’ and ‘why’ she thinks she will ‘win’, all of which are purpose-related words.

Text 4: 'Hillary, in between' New York Magazine, 2013



Analysis of Text 4

• She’s not looking at her audience, which makes her seem distracted.

• Her big laugh makes the reader wonder what is so funny.

• The use of the comma after her name suggests there is more than just her.

• ‘In between’ is a rather ambiguous phrase, which intrigues the reader.

• The use of quotation marks around “ordinary, everyday” questions her words and her authenticity.

• She does not seem to know what to do with her hands, making her appear less powerful.

Text 5: 'No wonder Bill's afraid', New York Post, 2013



Analysis of Text 5

• She does not seem in control of her emotions, which is a sign of weakness.

• The story about hearings on the Benghazi attacks has been trivialized by focusing on the Clinton’s marriage.

• She is not aware of the camera, and is therefore not in control of the photograph, making the reader wonder if she is in control of anything.

• ‘Bill’ and ‘Hillary’ are not formal ways of addressing them, which gives the newspaper a sleazy tone.

• ‘The lady has some temper!’ is demeaning and condescending.

• Bill Clinton’s expression is comical, which questions how seriously the reader should take her.

Text 6: 'Hillary and the White House', People Magazine, 2014



Analysis of Text 6

• The context of the magazine is not concerned with ‘political power’, which detracts from her position of power.

• The colours are bright and festive, not dark and business-like.

• She is leaning into the chair, which suggests she requires support and strength.

• The teasers distract from the focus on her, which questions her importance.

• ‘Her health, her marriage and becoming a grandmother’ are seemingly more important that ‘the Presidency’.

Text 7: 'Obama's bad cop', Newsweek, 2010



Analysis of Text 7

• The camera angle is low, making the reader look up to her, which adds to her level of power.

• Her pressed lips and stern eyes make her appear strong.

• She seems to be confronting someone, which is intimidating for the reader.

• ‘Obama’s bad cop’ and ‘steely messenger’ suggest someone else controls her.

• ‘Finding her footing’ implies that she is not in control.

• Dark background, highly contrasted with her face and the blue ‘power suit’ add to her appearance of being in command.

Text 8: 'Ascent of a woman', Time Magazine, 1993



Analysis of Text 8

• ‘Ascent of a woman’ is a play on words with a ‘scent’ of a woman, which is more about physical attraction than political power.

• Although the copy claims that she is the ‘most powerful first lady in history,’ the question that follows seems to question her power.

• The camera shot is extremely close up, showing the reader every pore, wrinkle and hair, which feels disturbing.

• Her gaze is distant, suggesting she is a visionary.

• The over exposure, possibly caused by spotlight, suggests there is a lot of focus on her.

• The photograph layer is behind the magazine title, taking away from her level of importance.

Text 9: 'Who's wearing the trousers now', Stylist, 2008



Analysis of Text 9

• A full body shot is risky.

• Crossed arms suggest closed personality and a firm stance.

• The use of a question questions anyone who doubts her power.

• The statement, ‘the world’s most powerful woman,’ clearly denotes power.

• Her smirk suggests confidence.

• Her gaze is direct and confronting for the reader.

• The power suit is powerful.

• The photograph layer is in front of the magazine title, suggesting she is more important.

Text 10: 'Senator Clinton?', Time Magazine, 1999



Analysis of Text 10

• The question mark questions everything about her and whether or not she should be a senator.

• The oil on canvas technique is not typical of a current affairs magazine and makes the reader wonder why it was created.

• She does not seem to know what to do with her hands, which makes her appear uncertain and insecure.

• She is smiling, a sign of friendliness and affability.

• The teaser, featuring ‘Leo’ detracts from the focus on Clinton.

• The full body shot makes her look small in comparison with the blue background.



2. How does your ranking of these covers compare to other groups' rankings? As a class, compare your rankings. Discuss your definition of 'political power' and how magazine covers can construct our understanding of 'political power'. 


3. Create a similar ranking game for your classmates, by searching for and collecting a series of magazine covers that depict a familiar male politician or another female politician. 


4. Write a Paper 1-style analysis of one of these covers, or a magazine cover of choice. Study the page on magazine covers in the text types section of this Support Site. Study the Paper 1 assessment criteria and an example of a good Paper 1 analysis in preparation for this activity. Ask your teacher for feedback on your analysis and place it in your learner portfolio.