Looking for News - Move On - Genre is the Gay Man's "Details"
Written: Apr 13 '03 (Updated Feb 05 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Good Writing, Nice Photo Spreads, Some Useful Articles
Cons: Reminds gay men that even we can be shallow and superficial
The Bottom Line: If you're life revolves around circuit parties, expensive vacations, cars and fashion, then you'd probably enjoy Genre, otherwise its just a diversion for the rest of us.
|
|
|
| jps246's Full Review: Genre Magazine |
Is Genre superficial and shallow, mainstream? I’d have to say yes. Filled with fashion, interviews, reviews and dare I say it news (well not really news), Genre seems to be designed for the stereotypical gay man. That is, someone in their late 20’s to mid 30’s, who is urbane, well off, completely fashion conscious, and who works out so much that their body is perfect.
I dare say that I have a subscription though. It’s always good to see how the other side lives, or at least how the stereotypical gay male is supposed to be living. Honestly though, I was offered a 2 year subscription for twenty bucks and I said what the hell. I had read a few issues before and for a price like that (it was a special through Out.Com), I figured it wouldn’t hurt.
There’s plenty of eye candy in every issue, young and built men modeling fashions that most normal mortals would look foolish in. There’s usually at least two separate photo shoots around a theme in each issue. The April issue focuses on “Down to Earth” fashions and models (they smear the models with some mud and put them in stonewashed denim).
What about the rest of the magazine? Since the recent redesign of the magazine, it flows through several different sections:
Contributors
A one page introduction to the writers and the photographers featured in the issue. Quite often only one or two sentences about each person, but it is interesting to learn a bit about the people doing the work.
Letters
Your typical “letters to the editor” where readers comment on past issues, etc…
Next
Consists of a quick round of quotes, quick news bits and stories.
Pad
Includes reviews of quirky little things that I have never personally seen in anyone’s house. However, they are interesting to see what people will spend money on.
Persona
Generally a one page interview with a celebrity or other important person. The April issue includes an interview with Sam Tyson and discusses how he became a porn star without selling his soul (I didn’t say it wasn’t shallow).
Auto
This section is a one page review of some sort of new car and is probably one of the best sections in the whole magazine. While there’s some fluff (how a certain car helps pick up guys and stuff), the reviews are generally well written and would help someone purchase a car. However, it’s not likely I’m going to run out and buy myself a BMW Z4 anytime soon. There’s also a “boy and his car” insert with this section, where a reader and his car are focused on.
Pulp, Screen, Sonic, Nocturnal, Portfolio
There are several sections here, but they all focus on the arts. Pulp reviews new gay books, Screen goes over new movies, Sonic, new music, Nocturnal, offbeat art, and portfolio, focusing on an artist. Again, nothing earth shattering, but the reviews can be handy, and while some like the Sonic section focus more on dance and trance music, you just might come across a review of something you’ve read or seen, or might actually want to see.
Mode
A fashion photo shot that focuses on a certain theme. April’s is “Garden Variety,” which showcases “hunky gardeners and hot fashion.”
Travel
Hey it’s okay to dream right? Reviews vacations to destinations that most gay men who have normal jobs and normal lives only dream about. The March issued reviewed some islands in the pacific I had never heard of and was a trip where I couldn’t have probably even paid for the airfare. The April issue reviews a more down to earth location, Berlin and Cologne Germany.
Ask Mr. Right
In what appears to be a trend throughout gay monthlies, Genre also includes the “advice column” where people who seem to have really screwed up lives write in and get their questions answered. But even though the questions are crazy, the advice is generally solid and is entertaining to read.
Grooming
A review of the latest beauty products for men (shallowness and superficiality rearing it’s head again). I’ll admit, I own a facial moisturizing, but that’s where the stack ends in my medicine cabinet. If men out there actually use all of these products, I’m sort of scared to wonder what is actually happening to their skin with all that stuff. But if you’re into it and use the products, this can be helpful. They also offer grooming tips (such as how to shave without razor burn, etc) and these can be helpful.
Outlook
The last page of Genre is dedicated to the monthly horoscope. Now if only half the stuff that’s said about Aries were to come true, I’d sure be one happy man.
There’s plenty other material in the magazine, including other interviews and stories, but these are the sections that appear in every magazine. The latest issue also includes a story by gay author Brad Gooch on dating, an interview with Inline-Skater Ryan Carrillo and a work of fiction (which generally is in each issue).
You probably won’t learn much reading Genre, but if you’re a circuit queen, you’ll probably love it. Like I said, I have a subscription; I got it because it was cheap. Unless they offer me the same deal when it expires, I probably won’t renew. However on Genre’s defense, it’s always nice to dream and in a way, the mainstreaming of gay culture is something to think about – we’ve reached the point where the gay press can produce magazines that talk about fashion, skin care and other topics that aren’t germane to most people and still make it out there. The die hard activists will roll their eyes (as will many other gay men), but for a lot of people, they just want to live their life and they want to have the same superficial goo that straight people get to read, but with a gay take to it. If that’s what you’re looking for, a gay “People” or a gay “Details” then you’re probably going to enjoy Genre and I don’t think that anyone can’t say the photos aren’t worth looking at.
So go and get yourself an issue and see if it’s for you – if not, check out the other now plentiful magazines from the gay press. You can check out my review of The Advocate here: http://www.epinions.com/content_76346658436
Other Gay & Lesbian Themed Reviews
Magazines, Newspapers and Books
Instinct Magazine / Genre Magazine / Out In The Mountains / The Advocate / Love Makes a Family / XY Magazine / Out Magazine / The Gay Guys Guide to Life / Gay Guy's Guide to Love / 501 Great Things About Being Gay / Metrosource / [2] Magazine / Unzipped Magazine
Music & Movies
Work OUT (Dance Music) / Lie Down With Dogs (movie)
Writings
Finding Your Pride / Massachusetts Leads the Country In the Right Direction / Gay Marriage in Massachusetts - an Update
Shopping
Kleptomaniac
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.