1) Why is Men's Health defined as a 'lifestyle magazine'?
Men's Health is defined as a lifestyle magazine as contains not just healthy questions and articles about healthy living but also includes more topics concerning men as a whole (lifestyle).
2) Why is advertising significant in helping to shape masculine identity?
Advertising was used in order to sell a lifestyle to the audience. The products shown within the magazine add status and are presented in a way for men to aspire to achieve and therefore many people are encouraged to 'work the body' in order to be able to succeed in the public world and relationships.
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?
One theorist that can be linked to that idea that representation of masculinity in Men's Health is not fixed or natural is David Gauntlett. David Gauntlett said that all genders are constantly changing and that representation of each one of them has changed throughout the years. One example seen in Men's Health is the constant reference to weightloss in headlines of Men's Health, these sort of headlines are typically seen in women magazines and are an example of how masculinity has changed.
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?
Men's Health appeal to an audience that are considered to be "Active Consumer" as they are likely to buy repeat purchases of different issues of the Men's Health magazine and likely to stay as loyal consumers. A profitable target market for Men's Health.
5) What representations of the male body can be found in Men's Health?
Men are expected to be fit, active and in shape. These representations are described to be society constructed and are constantly changing over time. The representation of something that is manly or masculine is always changing throughout society.
6) What does the article suggest regarding the objectification of men?
The objectification of men is increasing whilst the objectification of women is seen to be decreasing. As a consequence to this new concepts of masculinity have been socially constructed showing the more feminine side to men whose practices and appearance move away from the traditional manly image.
7) What is 'metrosexuality' and how can it be applied to Men's Health?
Metrosexuality is a term to describe males who are extremely aware of their physical appearance and are devoted to buying new cosmetic and fashion products in order to improve their physical appearance. This can be applied to Men's Health as the front cover of the magazine usually features a famous celebrity who's glamourised by their muscular appearance and physique.
8) What representation of men in Men's Health is discussed in the section 'Homogenous bodies'?
The representation of men in the magazine can be analyzed in three different aspects: his physical appearance, his external look (in terms of style) and his lifestyle (values). These features are the external expression of a healthy, sporty, and successful lifestyle. In a few words, they are the materialization of the man projected by Men’s Health; a hyperbole of the magazine’s proposal.
9) What are the conclusions drawn by the article with regards to the representation of masculinity in Men's Health?
Men's Health portray different visions of masculinity such as new man, new lad and metrosexual. As Men's Health still portray a traditional masculine representation that expect men to be strong, active and in shape however also highlight other aspect of masculinity such as metrosexuality which help attract a wider audience with different readers interested in other aspects of the 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?
In my opinion, Men's Health portray a traditional representation of masculinity that expect men to be strong, fit and active. These hypermasculine representations are shown throughout the magazine through the focus of the front cover as the physique of the model on the front is highlighted. However Men's Health do cover other aspects of masculinity which wouldn't typically be considered as hypermasculine or traditional as they cover issues such as mental health which traditional readers may consider as a weakness.
Men's Health is defined as a lifestyle magazine as contains not just healthy questions and articles about healthy living but also includes more topics concerning men as a whole (lifestyle).
2) Why is advertising significant in helping to shape masculine identity?
Advertising was used in order to sell a lifestyle to the audience. The products shown within the magazine add status and are presented in a way for men to aspire to achieve and therefore many people are encouraged to 'work the body' in order to be able to succeed in the public world and relationships.
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?
One theorist that can be linked to that idea that representation of masculinity in Men's Health is not fixed or natural is David Gauntlett. David Gauntlett said that all genders are constantly changing and that representation of each one of them has changed throughout the years. One example seen in Men's Health is the constant reference to weightloss in headlines of Men's Health, these sort of headlines are typically seen in women magazines and are an example of how masculinity has changed.
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?
Men's Health appeal to an audience that are considered to be "Active Consumer" as they are likely to buy repeat purchases of different issues of the Men's Health magazine and likely to stay as loyal consumers. A profitable target market for Men's Health.
5) What representations of the male body can be found in Men's Health?
Men are expected to be fit, active and in shape. These representations are described to be society constructed and are constantly changing over time. The representation of something that is manly or masculine is always changing throughout society.
6) What does the article suggest regarding the objectification of men?
The objectification of men is increasing whilst the objectification of women is seen to be decreasing. As a consequence to this new concepts of masculinity have been socially constructed showing the more feminine side to men whose practices and appearance move away from the traditional manly image.
7) What is 'metrosexuality' and how can it be applied to Men's Health?
Metrosexuality is a term to describe males who are extremely aware of their physical appearance and are devoted to buying new cosmetic and fashion products in order to improve their physical appearance. This can be applied to Men's Health as the front cover of the magazine usually features a famous celebrity who's glamourised by their muscular appearance and physique.
8) What representation of men in Men's Health is discussed in the section 'Homogenous bodies'?
The representation of men in the magazine can be analyzed in three different aspects: his physical appearance, his external look (in terms of style) and his lifestyle (values). These features are the external expression of a healthy, sporty, and successful lifestyle. In a few words, they are the materialization of the man projected by Men’s Health; a hyperbole of the magazine’s proposal.
9) What are the conclusions drawn by the article with regards to the representation of masculinity in Men's Health?
Men's Health portray different visions of masculinity such as new man, new lad and metrosexual. As Men's Health still portray a traditional masculine representation that expect men to be strong, active and in shape however also highlight other aspect of masculinity such as metrosexuality which help attract a wider audience with different readers interested in other aspects of the 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?
In my opinion, Men's Health portray a traditional representation of masculinity that expect men to be strong, fit and active. These hypermasculine representations are shown throughout the magazine through the focus of the front cover as the physique of the model on the front is highlighted. However Men's Health do cover other aspects of masculinity which wouldn't typically be considered as hypermasculine or traditional as they cover issues such as mental health which traditional readers may consider as a weakness.
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