GQ(short forGentlemen's Quarterlyand previously known asApparel Arts) is an international monthlymen's magazinebased inNew York Cityand founded in 1931. The publication focuses on fashion, style, and culture for men, though articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, celebrities' sports, technology, and books are also featured.

GQ
October 2017 cover featuringHarrison Fordand highlighting the magazine's 60th year
Editor-in-chiefWill Welch
CategoriesMen's
Frequency10 issues per year
PublisherCondé Nast Inc.
Total circulation934,000 (2019)[1]
First issue1931 (as Apparel Arts)
1957 (as Gentleman's Quarterly)
1967 (as GQ)
CompanyAdvance Publications
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageChinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
Website
ISSN0016-6979

History

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The magazineApparel Artswas launched in 1931 in theUnited States[2]as a men's fashion magazine for the clothing trade, aimed primarily at wholesale buyers and retail sellers. Initially it had a very limited print run and was aimed solely at industry insiders to enable them to advise their customers. The popularity of the magazine among retail customers, who often took the magazine from the retailers, spurred the creation ofEsquiremagazine in 1933.[3][4]

Apparel Artscontinued until 1957 when it was transformed into a quarterly magazine for men, which was published for many years by Esquire Inc.[5]Apparel was dropped from the logo in 1958 with the spring issue after nine issues, and the nameGentlemen's Quarterlywas established.[6]

Gentlemen's Quarterlywas re-branded asGQin 1967.[2]The rate of publication was increased from quarterly to monthly in 1970.[2]In 1979Condé Nastbought the publication, and editorArt Cooperchanged the course of the magazine, introducing articles beyond fashion and establishingGQas a general men's magazine in competition withEsquire.[7]

Nonnie Moorewas hired byGQas fashion editor in 1984, having served in the same position atMademoiselleandHarper's Bazaar.Jim Moore, the magazine's fashion director at the time of her death in 2009, described the choice as unusual, observing that "She was not from men's wear, so people said she was an odd choice, but she was actually the perfect choice". Jim Moore also noted that she changed the publication's more casual look: "She helped dress up the pages, as well as dress up the men, while making the mix more exciting and varied and approachable for men."[8]

GQhas been closely associated withmetrosexuality.The writerMark Simpsoncoined the term in an article for British newspaperThe Independentabout his visit to aGQexhibition in London: "The promotion of metrosexuality was left to the men's style press, magazines such asThe Face,GQ,Esquire,ArenaandFHM,the new media which took off in the Eighties and is still growing... They filled their magazines with images of narcissistic young men sporting fashionable clothes and accessories. And they induced other young men to study them with a mixture of envy and desire. "[9][10]The magazine has expanded its coverage beyond lifestyle issues.[11]GQhas been called the "holy text ofwokecapital "byThe Spectator.[12]

In 2016,GQlaunched the spinoff quarterlyGQ Style,headed by then-style editorWill Welch,who was later promoted to creative director of the magazine.[13]

In 2018, writing forGQ,Rachel Kaadzi Ghansahwon thePulitzer Prize for Feature Writingfor her article aboutDylann Roof,who hadshot nine African-Americans in a church in Charleston.[14]In September 2018, Will Welch was named the new editor-in-chief of GQ, succeeding Jim Nelson.[15]

In 2020, GQ launched its webstore and first merch drop. The GQ Shop lineup was designed by the editors and art directors behind the GQ website.[16]

Men of the Year

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GQ(U.S.) first named their Men of the Year in 1996 and featured the award recipients in a special issue of the magazine.[17]BritishGQlaunched its annual Men of the Year awards in 2009[18]andGQIndialaunched its version the following year.[19]Spanish and BrazilianGQlaunched their Men of the Year awards in 2011[20] [21]andGQAustralia launched its version in 2007.[22]

Controversies

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Gleecontroversy

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In 2010,GQmagazine had three adult members of the television showGlee(Dianna Agron,Lea MicheleandCory Monteith) partake in a photoshoot.[23]The sexualization of the actresses in the photos caused controversy among parents of teens who watch the showGlee.TheParents Television Councilwas the first to react to the photo spread when it was leaked prior toGQ's planned publishing date. Their president Tim Winter stated, "By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show's directions. And it isn't good for families".[24]The photoshoot was published as planned and Dianna Agron went on to state that the photos did push the envelope, that they did not represent who she is, any more than other magazine photo shoots, but that she was a 24-year-old adult in the photo shoot, and wondered why the concerned parents allowed their eight year old daughters to read any racy issue of the adult magazineGQ.[23]

Russian apartment bombings

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GQ's September 2009 U.S. magazine published, in its "backstory" section, an article byScott Anderson,"None Dare Call It Conspiracy". BeforeGQpublished the article, an internal email from a Condé Nast lawyer referred to it as "Vladimir Putin's Dark Rise to Power".[25]The article reported Anderson's investigation of the 1999Russian apartment bombings,and included interviews withMikhail Trepashkinwho investigated the bombings while he was acolonelin Russia'sFederal Security Service.

The story, including Trepashkin's own findings, contradicted the Russian Government's official explanation of the bombings and criticizedVladimir Putin,thePresident of Russia.[26]

Condé Nast's management tried to keep the story out of Russia. It ordered executives and editors not to distribute that issue in Russia or show it to "Russian government officials, journalists or advertisers".[26]Management decided not to publish the story onGQ's website or in Condé Nast's foreign magazines, not to publicize the story, and asked Anderson not to syndicate the story "to any publications that appear in Russia".[26]

The day after the magazine's publication in the United States, bloggers published the original English text and a translation intoRussianon the internet.[27][28]

Criticism of the Bible and Western literary canon

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On April 19, 2018, the editors ofGQpublished an article titled "21 Books You Don't Have to Read" in which the editors compiled a list of works they think are overrated and should be passed over, including theBibleas well asThe Catcher in the Rye,The Alchemist,Blood Meridian,A Farewell to Arms,The Old Man and the Sea,The Lord of the Rings,andCatch-22.[29][30][31]The article generated a backlash among Internet commentators.[30]

Karol G's photo retouching

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On April 6, 2023, the Colombian singerKarol Gtook to social media to share that the photo used was "disrespectful" and a misleading depiction of the way her body and face naturally looks. She wrote: "I don't know how to start this message. Today my GQ magazine cover was made public, a cover with an image that does not represent me. My face doesn't look like that, my body doesn't look like that and I feel very happy and comfortable with how I look naturally." "It's disrespectful to me. It's to the women that every day we wake up looking to feel comfortable with ourselves despite society's stereotypes."[32][33]

Circulation

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The magazine reported an average worldwide paid circulation of 934,000 in the first half of 2019,[1]down 1.1% from 944,549 in 2016 and 2.6% from 958,926 in 2015.[34]

According to theAudit Bureau of Circulations (UK),British GQhad an average circulation of 103,087 during the first half of 2019,[35]down 6.3% from 110,063 during the second half of 2018,[36]and down 10.3% from 114,867 during the second half of 2013.[37]

Editors and publishers

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U.S. publishers

  • Bernard J. Miller (1957–1975)
  • Sal Schiliro (1975–1980)
  • Steve Florio (1975–1985)
  • Jack Kliger (1985–1988)
  • Michael Clinton (1988–1994)
  • Michael Perlis(1994–1995)
  • Richard Beckman(1995–1999)
  • Tom Florio (1999–2000)
  • Ronald A. Galotti (2000–2003)
  • Peter King Hunsinger (2003–2011)
  • Chris Mitchell (2011–2014)
  • Howard Mittman (2014–2017)

U.S. editors

  • Everett Mattlin (1957–1969)
  • Jack Haber (1969–1983)
  • Art Cooper(1983–2003)
  • Jim Nelson(2003–2019)
  • ted(2019–present)

U.K. editors

See also

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References

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  1. ^abWilliams, Alex (November 7, 2019)."As Men Are Canceled, So Too Their Magazine Subscriptions".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  2. ^abcSterlacci, Francesca; Joanne Arbucklee (2009).The A to Z of the Fashion Industry.Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 101.ISBN978-0810870468.RetrievedJuly 16,2013.
  3. ^"Esquire | American magazine".Encyclopedia Britannica.Archivedfrom the original on August 1, 2017.RetrievedMarch 6,2018.
  4. ^"History of Eire Magazine".DKC.May 21, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 6, 2018.RetrievedMarch 6,2018.
  5. ^"Magazine Data, page 140: Gentlemen's Quarterly".Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 13,2009.
  6. ^"GQ: American magazine".Encyclopædia Britannica.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2017.RetrievedAugust 22,2017.
  7. ^"Condé buys a men's magazine".The New York Times.February 16, 1979.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2019.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  8. ^Hevesi, Dennis (February 24, 2009)."Nonnie Moore, Fashion Editor at Magazines, Dies at 87".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 26,2009.
  9. ^Simpson, Mark (November 15, 1994). "Here Come the Mirror Men".The Independent.London.
  10. ^Safire, William (December 7, 2003)."On Language; Metrosexual".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2020.RetrievedMay 24,2020.
  11. ^"The Creep with the Golden Tongue"(PDF).sabrinaerdely.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 9, 2017.
  12. ^Sixsmith, Ben (October 19, 2019)."GQ is a holy text of woke capital".The Spectator.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  13. ^"Inside the GQ Style Launch Party Photo Booth".GQ.May 17, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2019.RetrievedJune 9,2019.
  14. ^Pulitzer-Preis für Weinstein-EnthüllungenArchivedApril 20, 2013, at theWayback Machineorf.at, April 16, 2018, retrieved April 17, 2018. (German)
  15. ^Petrarca, Emilia (September 13, 2018)."GQ's Editor-in-Chief Exits After 21 Years".The Cut.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2023.RetrievedDecember 25,2022.
  16. ^Nast, C. (2020, August 25). GQ's first Merch drop is here. GQ.https:// gq /story/gq-merch-shop-is-here-announcementArchivedApril 18, 2023, at theWayback Machine
  17. ^Larson, Lauren; Mooney, Jessie (November 19, 2015)."Watch Tracy Morgan and Donald Trump Welcome You to GQ's Men of the Year Issue".GQ.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2019.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
  18. ^"GQ Men of the Year - Home".Gq (Uk).Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2016.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
  19. ^"How Deepika, Shahid and Akshay will save the world".GQ India.November 5, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon December 15, 2015.RetrievedDecember 11,2015.
  20. ^"Hombres GQ del año".Revista GQ.Archived fromthe originalon December 22, 2015.RetrievedDecember 11,2015.
  21. ^"GQ traz Men of the Year ao Brasil".Meio e Mensagem.November 16, 2011.RetrievedMay 11,2024.
  22. ^"GQ Men of the Year Awards".Vogue Australia.Archived fromthe originalon November 8, 2016.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
  23. ^abAndreeva, Nellie."Racy 'Glee' GQ Shoot Creates Controversy".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 28,2015.
  24. ^de Moraes, Lisa."Racy GQ photo spread gives you all the 'Glee' you could expect to see, and so much more".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on March 21, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 28,2015.
  25. ^Anderson, Scott (September 2009). "None Dare Call It Conspiracy".GQ:246.
  26. ^abcFolkenflik, David(September 4, 2009)."Why 'GQ' Doesn't Want Russians To Read Its Story".Morning Edition.NPR.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2009.RetrievedJuly 16,2020.
  27. ^Snyder, Gabriel."Эй, вы можете прочитать запрещенную статью GQ про Путина здесь"[Hey, You Can Read the Forbidden GQ Article About Putin Here].Gawker.Archived fromthe originalon September 7, 2009.
  28. ^"None Dare Call It Conspiracy".Ratafia Currant.September 4, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2014.RetrievedMarch 23,2014.
  29. ^"21 Books You Don't Have to Read".GQ.April 19, 2018.Archivedfrom the original on October 15, 2020.RetrievedOctober 12,2020.
  30. ^abBryant, Taylor (April 20, 2018)."White Men Are Mad That This 'GQ' List Dismisses Books By White Men".Nylon.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2018.RetrievedApril 21,2018.
  31. ^Schwartz, Dana (April 20, 2018)."GQsuggests people not readCatch-22,Catcher in the Rye,more — and it's totally fine ".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on August 1, 2020.RetrievedJuly 16,2020.
  32. ^"Karol G critica los retoques que han hecho a su imagen en la portada de la revista 'GQ':" No me representa, mi cara no se ve así "".20minutos - Últimas Noticias(in Spanish). April 7, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
  33. ^Garcia, Thania (April 6, 2023)."Karol G Calls Out GQ Mexico for 'Disrespectful' Magazine Cover: 'My Face Does Not Look Like This'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
  34. ^Bloomgarden-Smoke, Kara (January 23, 2017)."What to watch: The future of men's magazines is in flux".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  35. ^"GQ: January to June 2019 – Circulation (average per issue)".Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK).August 15, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on March 24, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  36. ^"GQ: July to December 2018 – Circulation (average per issue)".Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK).February 14, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  37. ^Plunkett, John (February 13, 2014)."FHM circulation drops below 100,000".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
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