Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Preliminary Thesis:

            I will be looking at articles from the 12 issues of GQ from 2009 to prove that throughout the year 2009 GQ magazine was promoting metrosexuality to its readers. GQ over the course of years has been described as one of the leading men’s metrosexuality advertising magazines due to its style guides, articles, and advertisements.

Source1:

Burr, Chandler. "Cologne.(men's fragrance usage)" GQ 79.3 (Mar 2009): 102. Print.

           This article is about how American men are programmed to buy into the hype of the term cologne. In European countries men are not bothered by these silly terminologies because perfume is a French world for fragrance; a unisex term for it with no separation from male or female, it also not a problem for gay men either. Cologne is a word describing a very specific kind of perfume, but has been used by marketing companies to give men in America the psychological permission to wear perfume. The article also gives directions on what colognes to buy and how to wear them.

            This article is very relevant to the subject of my research paper. The article is discussing the use of fragrances by men, which is normally considered a feminine activity. The article goes into more detail about how this is more a problem for American men because gay men and European men have no problem with using fragrances and don’t need them to be classified as cologne. This all relates back to the concept of metrosexuality being promoted by GQ through this article which discusses the unisex uses of fragrance by men blurring the lines separating the sexes.

            The article about cologne talks about gay and European men who are the frontier for metrosexuality. It points how they are embracing the concept of being metrosexual by using fragrances and by not needing it to be classified by sex-based terminologies. It explains how the need for the cologne is just for American men because American society in essence is still coming to terms with metrosexuality. The article also points out for readers of this magazine that all the high-end fragrances that you are persuaded to buy by the magazine usually only come in unisex form. So American men will either have to fall behind or catch themselves reaching for the same bottle as their girlfriend.

Source 2:

Chen, Jason. "Trimming, Tweezing, And (Sometimes) Waxing." GQ 79.10 (Oct 2009): p84. Print.

           This article is telling men that they should groom, how to groom, and that it is not as complicated as they may think it is. It gives detailed instructions on how to do a variety of hair trimming and the different tools required.

            This article relates to my article because it emphasis the importance GQ magazine is promoting of men and trimming. Worrying about ones facial appearance is a characteristic more so associated with women and not men. Thus going back to the concept that GQ is promoting metrosexuality in 2009.

            The blending of men’s activities with those normally associated with women is a key representation of metrosexuality. An article discussing the different ways for men to trim up their facial hair and the tools they would need to be is not something that would follow traditional manly behavior. I’ve never known any man to carry a air of tweezers or waxing cream in there personal belongs. Yet metrosexuality brings a new level of concern for a men’s appearance.

Source 3:

Wheelock, Katherine. "That's What I Was Gonna Wear!" GQ 79.4 (April 2009): p54. Print.

This article is about how over a period of time when men and women start dating they tend to dress the same to the point where they can go in each others closet and find something they have worn. This is a trend that is growing amongst celebrity couples and eventually to most couples walking down the street.

This article is relevant to my topic because it shows how GQ magazine is showing the crossing of male and female taste in fashion. Men and women dressing alike while still in heterosexual relationships shows the blurring of female fashion into the men’s fashion choices and vice versa. Sporting the v-neck or cargo pants as your spouse or girlfriend is very much evidence of metrosexuality.

This article is great and my favorite part would be “Instead, you'll just notice one day that your jeans are a little girlie or that you can't tell whose striped V-neck is whose.” Thus taking a serious dive into the realization that yea, once you and your girl start dressing alike and you cant tell whose clothing is whose you have definitely crossed over that line into the realm of metrosexuality. GQ is quietly dishing out more and more different articles persuading guys to the metrosexual lifestyle without ever having to sue the term. This is even goes to show again that in America we need a sort of mental permission to partake in metrosexuality because its still something being approved by society which, is why it mention top celebrities already partaking in this trend, justifying to men that hey if Tom and Katie are doing it, it must be ok.

Source 4:

"Glenn O'Brien Solves Your Sartorial Conundrums." GQ 79.3 (March 2009): p117. Print.

This article features questions that were emailed to the GQ styleguy and the responses he gave back. Men directly send the style guy a question certain fashion dos or don’ts and get advice concerning the subject. Some questions relate to if something is wearable for he office or if I can actually pull of this hat.

This article is relevant because it’s showing wear some men heads are at and their concerns for fashion and how they look. Trying to gain confidence in going for something edgy or trying to find out where to buy the trendiest clothing.

            The article in its essence is going into the topic of how metrosexuality is growing and being put out there by GQ magazine. Men’s curiosity in what they wearing and how they appear is growing. They are looking for advice from a style expert from one of the worlds leading metrosexuality promoting men’s magazines.