Magazines: Men's Health - Language & Representation

Language

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 main colour scheme in this men's health magazine is blue, black and white. This colours are often associated to quite masculine characteristics of media texts 
• the typography is very heavy and capitalised that,again, reinforce traditional masculine stereotypes of strength and  power 
• the language used is quite informal and uses many '!' so generate emphasis and entice the audience into what is inside the magazine.
• The photographic codes have the actor Vin Diseal as the magazines cover star who is mostly know for starring in films such as the fast and furious franchise and he usually plays quite hyper masculine characters that are the stereotypical male character. In the cover he is standing in a very power striking stance that could be seen as quite intimidating. the cover star also makes direct eye contact as a form of direct mode of address  with the audience which is seen as quite stern and serious as if the brand wanted to promote the fact that people need to be serious and strong minded about losing weight.
• the cover lines   use quite destructive language such as "demolish", "blast" and "slay" which are quite aggressive verbs.

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:

• colour scheme- conventional, every conventional magazine chooses to use the maximum of 3 colours as there colour scheme to prevent and "messy" looking cover 
• cover lines : cover lines are also important to magazines as they hint to what is inside the magazine and entices the target audience to be more curious and find out more about the magazines . they are also often solutions to audiences life problems such as on the mens health  the problem would be losing weight and the solution offered through the cover line is "LOSE 8KG FAST". they can be seen as enigma codes
• image-the image is also a key aspect of a conventional magazine cover as the offer the audience gratifications of learning of the cover star featured aswell as if the audience know the star it offers the gratification of world knowledge 

Editor's Letter and contents page:

• contents page- the content page is in almost every magazine making it a key aspect because it offers a more specific insight to the content ,aswell as page number, of the magazine. 
• cover star  - the addition of vin diseal creates the audience to feel to aspire to his visuals which is also the gratifications of personal identity 
• direct address- the editors letter is a direct letter aimed at the reader and it uses quite informal friendly language to help in engage the reader into the magazine 

Feature - True Grit - 'The Marathon Man':

• Q&A layout - the question and answer format is a conventional aspect of articles especially for magazines as they get to the point/ answer quickly and arent that long to read that it bores the readers
• quotes- the quote helps the reader engage and understand and hopefully be inspired by the article feature. the font also helps with the professional aspect with the serif font 
• Gratifications for the reader- the reader ,when seeing the elderly marathon runner, is intrigued and inspired to persevere like the article feature.

3) Apply narrative theories to Men's Health - Todorov's equilibrium, Propp's character types, Barthes' action or enigma codes.

• Todorovs theory of equilibrium can be linked to this CSP through the idea that the disequilibrium is the fact that the reader is unfit and by reading the magazine and being inspired the reader is now fit and health which is the new equilibrium 
• Barthes action and enigma codes can be seen through the the cover lines such as "blast body fat " to which the reader would respond with as to how to do so.
• Props character types - the character types present could be vin disease as the hero as he provides an aspirational aesthetic, the editors letter being the donor as they provide insights into how the reader can be the better them.

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 cover lines address the male insecurities and in some aspect they create male insecurity as they address them with the heavy capitisled typography but I also think that the editors letter offers the cure for it by promoting the magazine contents and being 'relatable' with the language it uses.

5) How does the 'Marathon Man' feature page offer an example of Steve Neale's genre theory concerning 'repetition and difference'?

• The marathon man feature does offer an example of Steve neales genre theory of repitition and difference as the article features a senior male who are often seen as less capable and less determined than he younger demographic but the article strongly subverts this stereotype as the article star is seen accomplishing a marathon, being fit and able even though he has faced many troubles. This is seen as the difference regarding neales theory of repitition and difference as the stereotype (repitition) is being subverted ( difference )

Representations
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Representations: applying theory

1) How can Gauntlett's ideas on masculinity, gender and identity be applied to the Men's Health CSP we have analysed?

Gauntlett: “Views of gender and sexuality, masculinity and femininity, identity and selfhood, are all in slow but steady processes of change and transformation.” Gauntletts Comment suggests that as generations age the societal expectations on socially constructed ideas such

• gender, masculinity and femininity etc.. Are going to change for the better. To link to the men's health magazine, the front cover can be seen to subvert this idea as it heavily reinforces traditional male stereotypes through the use of the actor vin diesel who has a very hyper masculine persona who doesn't express any form of femininity in his looks nor does he subvert 
• many traditional masculine stereotypes. Someone like the popular you tuber  manny Gutierrez 
• wouldn't be featured on the Magazine as he heavily subverts the hyper masculine stereotypes as he does makeup and is openly gay which the magazine of men's health doesn't really touch upon .
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2) How could van Zoonen's work on feminist and gender theory be applied to Men's Health?

• Van zoonen  suggested that the media reinforces sex role stereotypes which is evident in the  men's  health cover  due to the heavy hyper masculine promotion through the actor Vin Diesel as well as the cover  lines that use aggressive language often associated to  masculine traits. She also suggested that both male and females can be sexualised by the media but women  often have it worse as they are portrayed as more submissive but men are portrayed as having lots of strength and power which is very evident in the men's health magazine 

3) How could bell hooks's work on 'corrosive masculinity' apply to Men's Health?

•  Bell hooks work on corrosive masculinity applies to the men's health CSP as she suggested that gender is a set of connotations That then society normalises which can lead to things like normalised  traumatisation that creates many problems within genders especially males and masculinity as they can create mental health issues as men are seen to be emotionless and expressionless to prove their strength which has been the case for years resulting in many men feeling lost and lonely which is then past down through generations creating the term normalised traumatisation 

Representations: academic analysis

1)Why is Men's Health defined as a 'lifestyle magazine'?

•  Men's health is regarded as a lifestyle magazine as it offers solutions for on ways to love their lives efficiently and 'fashionably ' 

2) Why is advertising significant in helping to shape masculine identity?

• advertising allows men to identify themselves with products being advertised in the magazine such as men fashion , jewelry and technology

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?

• the theorists bell hooks and Judith butler have similar ideas on gender in that they believe that "gender is a performance" and that "gender roles are constructed and arent natural" 
• these link to the CSP as all the representations in the magazines about men  are all what society have perceived men to be and they are all socially constructed to fit societal expectations 

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 article suggests for men to be "active consumers" in that they should be willing to try new things  to better their lifestyles with the help of magazines like mens health 
• research conducted by Euromonitor International which shows that “the global market for male grooming products grew by an impressive average annual rate of 5.7% between 1997-2005”

5) What representations of the male body can be found in Men's Health?

• bodies that are strong 'heavy' and built are often portrayed on the mens health issues. this help inspire reader to improve their bodies and lifestyles  

6) What does the article suggest regarding the objectification of men?

• the article suggests that men are just as sexualised/objectified in the media as women. a quote that is is evident in is “Men are increasingly and unapologetically objectified, both in terms of erotic spectacle and as targets of advertising for products beyond cars and beer, including many items once thought to be marketed for women alone”

7) What is 'metrosexuality' and how can it be applied to Men's Health?

• meterosexuality is often referred to talking about the new depictions within men’s magazines since it refers to a man who is extremely aware of his physical appearance and is devoted to it by buying cosmetic and fashion products.
• it can be applied to the magazine as the magazine offers tips and solutions on how to better ones physical appearance etc..

8) What representation of men in Men's Health is discussed in the section 'Homogenous bodies'?

• homogenous bodies refer to how in the mens health magazine men are represented as the mainstream depiction of maleness with the strong persona and heavy built bodies that are desirable in the mainstream media  

9) What are the conclusions drawn by the article with regards to the representation of masculinity in Men's Health?

• there are multiple visions (not types) of masculine types portrayed in the magazine that focus on health and fitness  

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 the representations of the males in mens health are positive but can be perceived negatively and as if hyper masculinity is trying to push its way back into the mainstream depiction of a male.
• i believe that with the various products and tips promoted in the magazine it helps men see what they can become if they want to.