1) Write an analysis of the media language choices on the cover of Men's Health - e.g. colour scheme, typography, language, photographic codes etc.
The magazine cover overall looks straight up like a magazine for men. The colours used on the cover are associated with male gender, the font is really bold and the text is really straight forward, focusing on the aspect of building a muscle, 'getting bigger' and heathy livestyle. You can see the progress throughout years in the headlines because of the fact that they also talk about mental health.
2) Identify three specific aspects/conventions/important points (e.g. cover lines, colour scheme, use of text, image etc.) from each page of the CSP that you could refer to in a future exam. Explain why that particular aspect of the CSP is important - think about connotations, representations, audience pleasures, reception theory etc.
Front cover: Definitely the front image. The model is usually someone that people admire for their well build body and active livestyle. The model is obviously well build, in power pose, showing off his muscles.
The headlines are very agressive when it comes to the font, and text. They're trying to motivate the reader. Also the colour of the headlines is associated with male gender.
Editor's Letter and contents page: it's somehow a motivation speech as well. It's definitely making audience feel like they're not alone. It's definitely connected to the 'personal identyty' theory.
Feature - True Grit - 'The Marathon Man': it's definitely a motivational article, showing the impossible, leaving the audience. The central image is shown simling and in a bright, positive surrounding.
3) Apply narrative theories to Men's Health - Todorov's equilibrium, Propp's character types, Barthes' action or enigma codes.
You can say that the disequilibrium is the audience member being unfit, unheathy and dismotivated, where the new equalibrium is audience being up to date with the magazing, eating heathy and being fit.
The hero is the reader being fit, the helper is the magazine, the false hero is a bad diet and a villain is being uheathy and unfit.
4) Read the cover lines and the Editor's Letter. Does Men's Health offer a cure for male insecurities or does it create male insecurity?
I think that the magazine offers a 'cure' but tips for a better lifestyle. It's definitely wants to pressure the reader by the language that it's using and the social norms for men to be 'strong' and well build.
5) How does the 'Marathon Man' feature page offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?
For the repetition side I'd say that it's boosting the positive light of fitness and staying healthy that men's health magazine tends to advertise, but not so much the struggles to keep fit particularly at that age, could imply placing their audience in a fake sense of hope, as it is proven to be quite simple.
For the difference it's simply that they're using an older person for the main focus of the story.
1) How can Gauntlett's ideas on masculinity, gender and identity be applied to the Men's Health CSP we have analysed?
Slay Winter Blues ' focuses on mental health and depression that wouldn't have been discussed in previous generations as it doesn't fit the masculine picture. This cover line supports the point where Gauntlett makes Men's health magazine focus on the problems that men face today, and they're not embarrassed to speak about it.
2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to Men's Health?
She proposed that women's sexuality depiction is usually submissive and disempowering. On the other hand, male sexuality representations are based on strength and power. This is especially obvious in health magazines for men
3) How could bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to Men's Health?
The roles of gender are built, not ' natural. ' In reality, she indicates that patriarchy (a male-dominated society) indoctrinates early-age people so “gender becomes a set of connotations that have become naturalised”. The idea of masculinity is what the Mens health is trying to present as 'healthy lifestyle.
Representations: academic analysis
Read these extracts from the journal article exploring the representation of masculinity in Men's Health magazine and answer the following questions:
1) Why is Men's Health defined as a 'lifestyle magazine'?
The concept of' lifestyle' relates to the magazines that can be included under the label of' generalinterest-for-men magazines.' This word ' lifestyle' was created as a marketing strategy to capture the attention of men, as magazines that were not' lifestyle' in the past were purposely placed in this manner to attract the male audience's interest.
2) Why is advertising significant in helping to shape masculine identity?
Companies encourage different demographics for certain products. For instance, by including high-end fashion clothing, accessories, food and alcohol (i.e. beer) products, the reader would see all these goods and create parallels between how these products reflect the masculinity picture.
3) The article suggests that the representation of masculinity in Men's Health is not fixed or natural and is subject to constant change. What media theorists that we have studied previously can be linked to these ideas?
You can connect it Gill, who speaks about the masculine gaze, can be added to this as there is a focus on the masculine body, i.e. the picture of the perfect physique and appearing toned, strong and "in shape," which reinforces how the perfect male in today's culture should be depicted.
4) What does the article suggest Men's Health encourages its readers to be? What examples and statistics are provided to develop the idea of men as consumers?
The global market for male grooming grew by 5.7% between 1997-2005. It shows how men are starting to change and take care of themselves diferently.
5) What representations of the male body can be found in Men's Health?
It's definitely representing the male beuty as well build, youthful man. It encaurages them to be healthy and actually take care of themselves. It's a lot different then MH used to be, but it's definitely better.
6) What does the article suggest regarding the objectification of men?
Men are instrumentalized objectified as well as there are now different kinds of male beauty, not only the masculate one but also feminine
7) What is 'metrosexuality' and how can it be applied to Men's Health?
It's a lifestyle of a typical, metropolian man that is very popularised. It can be perfectly applied to MH because metrosexuality revolves around being healthy and well built.
8) What representation of men in Men's Health is discussed in the section 'Homogenous bodies'?
Men's representation in the magazine can be analyzed in three ways: physical appearance, internal appearance (in terms of style), and lifestyle (values). As a young white middle-class person, he is generally profiled, physically well-built, and sexually appealing.
9) What are the conclusions drawn by the article with regards to the representation of masculinity in Men's Health?
It has some peculiarities which make it unique and worthy as a focus of inquiry. It has a lot of similarities, but overall it's a good magazine.
10) What is your own view of the representation of masculinity in Men's Health? Is it a positive representation that encourages men to the best they can be or is it a hypermasculine, consumer-driven representation designed to undermine men's confidence and objectify their bodies?
I think that it's on a perfect line between being healthy but still having that popular, wanted lifestyle. As long as a magazine encourages the readers to be healthy and active, it is a good magazine for me.
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