Men's Health Language & Representation: blog tasks

Men's Health Language & Representation: blog tasks

Language

The entirety of the magazine cover is written in San-serif font. This could be used to represent how the magazine is easy-going and casual. It is not a news magazine and it doesn't include politics. This is shown by the front cover. Additionally, the San serif font gives a modern feel to the magazine. The central image features the famous actor Vin Diesel. Including such a popular celebrity, who is well known for playing hyper-masculine characters in movies, will grab the attention of Men's Health's target audience. 

Conventions: 

Front cover: 

• Vin Diesel
• Blue colour scheme
• 'Ways to build metabolism', 'How to lose 8kg fast'

Editor's Letter and contents page:

• Motivation to achieve goals
• Feels more personal (Personal relationships, personal identity)

Feature - True Grit - 'The Marathon Man': 

• Additional motivation
• Phillip Howells (69)
• Anecdote

Theories:

Todorov's equilibrium theory: The disequilibrium would be the consumer feel as if they haven't reached their goals, the new equilibrium would be the consumer purchasing the product and then working to achieve their desired fitness level.

Propp's Character Theory: The reader of the magazine will be considered as the main protagonist or the hero. The magazine that offers health and fitness information will be the helper or the donor. 

Barthes' action/enigma codes: Enigma codes are used on the front cover to incite audiences to purchase the magazine. Cover lines such as 'Ways to build a stronger core' makes the reader intrigued to read on. This will increase sales.

Men's Health ultimately creates male insecurities. Men's Health commonly features men that are very built and have an intense muscular definition. The cover lines often mention weight loss or burning fat, this will create thoughts in the reader's head that will need to alter their body to look like the man that appears on the cover; even if they never initially had that thought.

The 'Marathon Man' feature page offers an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning repetition and difference. Running is a common sport that would be featured in a health magazine so that would be considered as the repetition. However, the fact that the man featured isn't necessarily young, that would be considered as the difference.

Representations

Representations: applying theory

Gauntlet believes that Views of gender and sexuality, masculinity and femininity are all in slow but steady processes of change and transformation. This transformation is seen in Men's Health. Men's Health addresses topics such as mental health, this shows the development of the views of masculinity. A few years ago, mental health issues in men were ignored and disregarded. However, that has now changed. 

Van Zoonen suggests that media enforces sex-role stereotypes. This is seen within Men's Health. The men featured on the cover of the magazines are presented as hyper-masculine and dominant. This is similar to the way that men are portrayed in other media texts.

Bell Hooks work on 'corrosive masculinity' addresses the effects that toxic masculinity have on men and the exception from society that they face. This is seen in Men's Health, body standards are set for men continuously by the men displayed on the front cover. 

Representations: academic analysis

Men's Health is defined as a lifestyle magazine because it features topics that are often considered as a priority in men's lives.

Advertising is significant in helping to shape masculine identity because it subtly tells males how they should behave and what they should look like. 

The article suggests that the representation of masculinity in Men's Health is not fixed or natural and is subject to constant change. The article references the men featured on the front covers of the magazine, it implies that there's a direct link between the way that magazines showcase male bodies and masculinity in magazines and the construction of men as consumers.

The article suggests that today's men are encouraged to be 'active consumers'. This is seen in men's health as many of their customers purchase many male grooming products. Statistics of 'active consumers' are shown within the article: “the global market for male grooming products grew by an impressive average annual rate of 5.7% between 1997-2005”

The male body is often the highlight of Men's health magazines. The male bodies featured are muscular and toned, they are usually seen positioned next to articles about fitness and health. The article suggests that the objectification of men, seen in magazines, links to how society values the importance of external beauty.

Metro-sexuality is the idea of men being more aware of their physical appearance and maintaining it by grooming and beauty treatments. 

The homogeneous bodies section highlights the fact that men that are featured in MH are presented as dominant and manly with the intent to ensure the heterosexuality of the readers.

I think that Men's Health is hyper-masculine and undermines men's confidence. This is because it features men with bodies that are extremely built and toned. They do not feature men that have a natural body type. Men's health does this to promote products for weight loss and muscle gain. This strategy is effective as men will feel insignificant in the bodies that they are in and will want to adapt it to be like the men featured on the front cover.