1) Write a one-paragraph summary of your notes for each key concept from the booklet:
Media Language (e.g. conventions, narrative, genre etc.)
The colour scheme of the magazine is blue, black and white which reinforces typical masculine stereotypes as well as reinforcing the idea of hyper masculinity. The front cover uses a popular action film star 'Vin Diesel' who is dressed casually in order to draw attention to his physique. His expression is quite serious and confident which also helps to reinforce masculine stereotypes. Also his casual clothing allows the audience to create a connection as that is how the typical men's health reader would seem to appear. The use of violent language such as "Slay" and "Blast" reinforces hyper masculinity, however their are 5 cover lines in the magazine about weight loss which are typically seen in women's magazines, reinforcing the idea that masculinity is not in crisis.
Media Industries (e.g. Hearst Communications)
The Men's Health magazine promotes hyper masculinity and hegemonic masculinity through the use of the front cover which the use of colour scheme and choice of clothing reinforces theses ideologies. Men's Health has a significant presence on the health industry as it is considered one of the biggest media conglomerates, along side Hearst Communications which is considered "one of the world's largest diversified communications companies".
Media Audiences (e.g. demographics, psychographics, pleasures)
This magazine would typically be aimed at an ABC1 audience as it features expensive brand advertisements as well as references to expensive restaurants in the cover lines "Detox for foodies". Other references seen in the editor's letter also reference expensive lifestyles such as Ski holidays which would typically be holiday's for wealthier people. The typical Men's Health reader would be succeeders and aspirers as they are the ones who would want a better lifestyle as well as being able to afford them.
Media Representations (e.g. masculinity)
Judith butler's theory of gender performances is reinforced in this magazine as it promotes the stereotypical notion of masculinity, being strong and being in shape. The use of violent language such as 'blast', 'demolish' and 'slay', reinforces these values.
2) Identify three specific aspects/conventions (e.g. cover line, colour scheme, 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: Vin Diesel
A famous Hollywood action film star is used in order to inspire the audience to look like him and follow the magazines ideologies and beliefs (eat healthy and work out). As the audience may be aspirers and succeeders, having Vin Diesel in the cover will allow the audience to be more interested to buy the magazine as well as attempt to look like him.
Editor's Letter and contents page
The editor's letter uses quite a conversational tone however maintains it intelligent and educated language in order to appeal to its audience. The use of featuring advanced vocabulary and Greek puns, appeals to the aspirers and succeeders that read this magazine as they are likely to be university graduates or working in successful high paid jobs.
Feature: True Grit - 'The Marathon Man'
The use of having the achievements "most over active pensioner" is used in order to help influence the audience to work out as Men's Health are trying to send the message of "If he can, you can too" to its audience in order to gain more popularity and encourage people to workout and eat right. The use of the quote "Your only limit is your self-belief", this links to Men's Health working as a mentor/helper to Propp's character theory.
3) Type up three media theories that you think are particularly relevant to analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
Judith Butler theory of gender is a performance, men are seen to have to look in shape in order to feel good about themselves. Men are constantly feeling pressured to live up to societies expectations.
David Gauntlett theory that masculinity is in fact not in crisis. Men's Health have seen to have multiple cover lines about losing weight which are typically seen amongst women magazines. This trend among men and women have shown to reinforce the idea that masculinity is not in crisis and that they have found a place.
Todorov's Equilibrium theory can be applied to Men's Health as the disequilibrium is the audience are unfit and have gained weight, the solution to this would be to exercise and to eat healthy. The new equilibrium would be the audience look like the actor on the front cover and have successfully made themselves fit.
4) Type up three quotes from the booklet that you think are particularly useful for analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
"Verbs such as 'slay, blast' and 'wage' connote a notation of battle" This is useful as it gives us a talking point fo the exam to support the idea of stereotypical masculinity, being strong, fighting etc.
Another useful quote is the demographics of MH, "ABC1 64%, AB Men 32%, C2DE 36%." This is a very useful quote as it can be used to back up points as well as reinforce ideas that I may be trying to prove in my essays.
The third useful quote I picked out is when the booklet claims the editors letter is "creating a sense of inclusivity and a relationship between the reader and the editor." This is particularly important as in the essay you can flip the meaning of the editors letter, perhaps saying that it contributes to the insecurities of men.
