Exploring the History of Women's Magazines

2 weekly sessions on campus, on Thursdays at 1 - 3pm, starting from Thursday 8 October

Overview

Women's magazines provide us with a fascinating insight into how femininity has evolved with women’s changing role in society. Emerging in the 17thC, they aimed to entertain and improve literacy. By the 19thC the focus shifted to domesticity, whereas 20thC magazines focussed more on consumerism, careers advice, and empowerment. This two-part overview invites students to look at some of the key developments in the design and content of women’s magazines. We will explore what these magazines can tell us about women’s lives and how they have changed so dramatically over time.

Syllabus

• Week 1 – Women’s magazines from the 17th to 19th centuries.
• Week 2 – The design and content of 20th century magazines.

Course lecturer

Georgina Gregory is a historian, author, lecturer and practitioner, with a background in media, art, design and popular music.  Georgina has many years of teaching experience: designing and delivering courses at various institutions including Liverpool, University of Lancashire, Salford, Staffordshire and Manchester Metropolitan universities. She has also worked in further and continuing education at South Manchester College and Glossop Guild. Her main aim is to make courses which engage and inform with a focus on student interaction. As a practitioner who has an academic interest in culture, her teaching is in the areas of Film and Media Studies, Art and Design History and Popular Music Studies. Some key publications include "Send in the Clones: A Cultural Study of the Tribute Band" (2012), "Boy Bands and the Performance of Pop Masculinity" (2019), “Masculinity, Sexuality and the Visual Culture of Glam Rock” (2002), “She's My Little Deuce Coupe': Freudian Transformations in the Car Songs of The Beach Boys” (2020) and "Exploring the Spiritual in Popular Music: Beatified Beats"(2021).

Course fee

• Standard fee: £35