Men's Health Analysis: Blog Task
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 genre is easily communicated through the typography, colour scheme; which heavily represents contemporary masculinity, the themes represented on the front cover, and the mise en scene. This is due to the fact that the costume that Vin Diesel is wearing is what a typical Men's Health reader may wear when doing sporting activities as well as carrying out day to day activities. The lighting clearly highlights Vin Diesel's muscles, which refers back to the idea of hypermasculinity. The cover lines of the magazine help display how masculinity has adapted over time as it refers to losing weight, as well as deals with themes like mental health, both of which would not have been seen on a Men's health cover 20/30 years ago.
Media Industries (e.g. Hearst Communications)
H.C publishes Men's Health, as well as other huge magazines worldwide, such as Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, ELLE and many more. As an industry, they also publish newspapers and newsletters. On top of this, they have other events and products for readers and audiences of their media products to consume, that of which include: Men's Health Vitamins, Country Living Sofas, and events like Cosmopolitan's self-made and Country Living Fairs.
Media Audiences (e.g. demographics, psychographics, pleasures)
Men's Health mainly has a middle-class audience but does have readers in the C2DE category. The Men's Health readership is approximate: ACB1 64%, AB men 32%, C2DE 36%. I think that the standard Men's Health reader is an "Aspirer" or "Succeeder" as aspirers are interested in their image, persona etc. so they may read Men's Health to try and gain weight/muscle (which is an audience pleasure), and a succeeder may read Men's Health due to the fact that they may want to reach the goal of having a good physique, and Men's Health will be the tool needed to help them get there.
Media Representations (e.g. masculinity)
Masculinity is represented as always changing as the themes represent those that may have been seen in a magazine aimed in more female aimed magazines. In addition to this, these themes would have almost definitely not been touched upon in that of issues of Men's Health in the '90s. At the same time, masculinity is still displayed with the intent of being buff and having a good physique as that is a lot of the cover lines intentions.
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
Cover Lines: The cover lines of the front cover are important due to the fact that it can be argued that they do not represent traditional masculinity, in the sense that the themes of them are to do with losing fat and staying in a good position mentally, which as it seems by the cover line "Slay Winter Blues," some of the Men's Health readers aren't. Furthermore, it can also be argued that these themes may have not been explored in magazines such as Men's Health 30 years ago, due to the fact that the idea of masculinity is changing as we know it.
Colour Scheme: The colour scheme is very representative of masculinity due to the colours used, being blues, blacks and greys, which are typically quite strong, bold colours. The use of these colours can suggest the importance of masculinity in men and the added masculinity that comes with reading Men's Health perhaps.
Central Image: The central image is very important due to the fact that it is Vin Diesel, an action hero, which is already quite a masculine profession and role is clearly flexing to draw attention to his muscles, which is quite stereotypical of a man to do, which creates a clear link to hyper-masculinity.
Editor's Letter and contents page
Contents: The contents part of this page is significant as is very suggestive of the reader's income, this makes sense as Men's Health is clearly catering to their target audience as well as the majority of their readership. This is clear from page 84: thinking that the reader automatically has an iPhone clearly suggests that they have money for an expensive phone, such as an iPhone, whereas the reader may be part of the lower part of the C2DE readership, which may mean that you can't afford products like the iPhone. Another instance of this is page 125 where the contents page suggests that the reader has enough disposable income to go on holidays to do activities like skiing, which once again targets the ABC1 portion of their readership.
Editors Letter: The editor's letter is particularly interesting due to the fact that not only does it have quite a conversational tone, it also uses quite complex and sophisticated language, perhaps targeting the ABC1 portion of their audience, whom may have studied at university, once again. This is clear from the Greek myth references, which is quite a high brow thing to reference in an editors letter.
Feature: True Grit - 'The Marathon Man'
Central Image: The central image is a long shot, which allows the readers to get an idea of what the man being interviewed looks like, perhaps trying to be inspirational, that being to people slightly younger than Howells, as the Men's Healthreadership age range varies from 25-45, meaning that this image of Howells in shape could motivate people around this age, perhaps closer to that of the older ages, to exercise and work out.
"The Accomplishments Section:" This is interesting due to the fact that this arguably targets those who are at the top of "their game," living the best life they can, whether that be financially or in terms of their family, that of which can include the AB demographic. This can, therefore, resonate with them, having achievements to such a degree, which for the audience may be buying a house or car because of hard work.
3) Type up three media theories that you think are particularly relevant to analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
Reception theory: This is the theory that there are 3 ways of analysing things: Preferred reading, analysing things in the eyes of the producer. The counter-hegemonic reading, which is the complete opposite of what the producer intended, and the negotiated reading, which is when you are analysing with the producer's intentions in mind, but take a reading which reflects their own position. I think this theory is significant as there can be different reading on the front cover for example:
Dominant: Men's Health is a magazine for men about health, fitness and lifestyle, helping people interested in fitness reach their goals.
Counter-Hegemonic: Men's Health is an overachieving magazine that is hypermasculine and over exaggerates how easy it is to live the lifestyles of the people involved.
Negotiated: Men's Health is a magazine for the middle class which deals with themes that people in this social class may deal with.
Uses and Gratifications: This theory suggests that readers use media products for the intentions of Diversion, enjoyment/distraction from their lives. Personal Relationships, developing affection/relationships with the people associated with the text. Personal Identity, seeing yourself represented in that of the people in the text. Surveillance, there is information useful for living in the text.
This theory is important as it may explain peoples intentions behind reading MH.
Diversion: Someone may read MH as they enjoy learning about new ways to stay fit
P.R: The reader may like the magazine/the people involved in the magazine, e.g. Vin Diesel on this issues cover.
P.I: Readers may identify with the people on the covers of MH, in that they may also be people invested in their body and fitness.
Surveillance: People may read
David Gauntlett: Gauntlett suggests that the idea of masculinity is always changing from what it used to be. This heavily links to Men's Health due to the fact that on the front cover of our CSP, there are cover lines which support Gauntletts ideas, due to the fact that masculinity is represented differently to the readers.
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' connotes a notation of battle" This is useful as it gives us a talking point for 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 editor's 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 editor's letter, perhaps saying that it contributes to the insecurities of men.
Media Language (e.g. conventions, narrative, genre etc.)
The genre is easily communicated through the typography, colour scheme; which heavily represents contemporary masculinity, the themes represented on the front cover, and the mise en scene. This is due to the fact that the costume that Vin Diesel is wearing is what a typical Men's Health reader may wear when doing sporting activities as well as carrying out day to day activities. The lighting clearly highlights Vin Diesel's muscles, which refers back to the idea of hypermasculinity. The cover lines of the magazine help display how masculinity has adapted over time as it refers to losing weight, as well as deals with themes like mental health, both of which would not have been seen on a Men's health cover 20/30 years ago.
Media Industries (e.g. Hearst Communications)
H.C publishes Men's Health, as well as other huge magazines worldwide, such as Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, ELLE and many more. As an industry, they also publish newspapers and newsletters. On top of this, they have other events and products for readers and audiences of their media products to consume, that of which include: Men's Health Vitamins, Country Living Sofas, and events like Cosmopolitan's self-made and Country Living Fairs.
Media Audiences (e.g. demographics, psychographics, pleasures)
Men's Health mainly has a middle-class audience but does have readers in the C2DE category. The Men's Health readership is approximate: ACB1 64%, AB men 32%, C2DE 36%. I think that the standard Men's Health reader is an "Aspirer" or "Succeeder" as aspirers are interested in their image, persona etc. so they may read Men's Health to try and gain weight/muscle (which is an audience pleasure), and a succeeder may read Men's Health due to the fact that they may want to reach the goal of having a good physique, and Men's Health will be the tool needed to help them get there.
Media Representations (e.g. masculinity)
Masculinity is represented as always changing as the themes represent those that may have been seen in a magazine aimed in more female aimed magazines. In addition to this, these themes would have almost definitely not been touched upon in that of issues of Men's Health in the '90s. At the same time, masculinity is still displayed with the intent of being buff and having a good physique as that is a lot of the cover lines intentions.
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
Cover Lines: The cover lines of the front cover are important due to the fact that it can be argued that they do not represent traditional masculinity, in the sense that the themes of them are to do with losing fat and staying in a good position mentally, which as it seems by the cover line "Slay Winter Blues," some of the Men's Health readers aren't. Furthermore, it can also be argued that these themes may have not been explored in magazines such as Men's Health 30 years ago, due to the fact that the idea of masculinity is changing as we know it.
Colour Scheme: The colour scheme is very representative of masculinity due to the colours used, being blues, blacks and greys, which are typically quite strong, bold colours. The use of these colours can suggest the importance of masculinity in men and the added masculinity that comes with reading Men's Health perhaps.
Central Image: The central image is very important due to the fact that it is Vin Diesel, an action hero, which is already quite a masculine profession and role is clearly flexing to draw attention to his muscles, which is quite stereotypical of a man to do, which creates a clear link to hyper-masculinity.
Editor's Letter and contents page
Contents: The contents part of this page is significant as is very suggestive of the reader's income, this makes sense as Men's Health is clearly catering to their target audience as well as the majority of their readership. This is clear from page 84: thinking that the reader automatically has an iPhone clearly suggests that they have money for an expensive phone, such as an iPhone, whereas the reader may be part of the lower part of the C2DE readership, which may mean that you can't afford products like the iPhone. Another instance of this is page 125 where the contents page suggests that the reader has enough disposable income to go on holidays to do activities like skiing, which once again targets the ABC1 portion of their readership.
Editors Letter: The editor's letter is particularly interesting due to the fact that not only does it have quite a conversational tone, it also uses quite complex and sophisticated language, perhaps targeting the ABC1 portion of their audience, whom may have studied at university, once again. This is clear from the Greek myth references, which is quite a high brow thing to reference in an editors letter.
Feature: True Grit - 'The Marathon Man'
Central Image: The central image is a long shot, which allows the readers to get an idea of what the man being interviewed looks like, perhaps trying to be inspirational, that being to people slightly younger than Howells, as the Men's Healthreadership age range varies from 25-45, meaning that this image of Howells in shape could motivate people around this age, perhaps closer to that of the older ages, to exercise and work out.
"The Accomplishments Section:" This is interesting due to the fact that this arguably targets those who are at the top of "their game," living the best life they can, whether that be financially or in terms of their family, that of which can include the AB demographic. This can, therefore, resonate with them, having achievements to such a degree, which for the audience may be buying a house or car because of hard work.
3) Type up three media theories that you think are particularly relevant to analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
Reception theory: This is the theory that there are 3 ways of analysing things: Preferred reading, analysing things in the eyes of the producer. The counter-hegemonic reading, which is the complete opposite of what the producer intended, and the negotiated reading, which is when you are analysing with the producer's intentions in mind, but take a reading which reflects their own position. I think this theory is significant as there can be different reading on the front cover for example:
Dominant: Men's Health is a magazine for men about health, fitness and lifestyle, helping people interested in fitness reach their goals.
Counter-Hegemonic: Men's Health is an overachieving magazine that is hypermasculine and over exaggerates how easy it is to live the lifestyles of the people involved.
Negotiated: Men's Health is a magazine for the middle class which deals with themes that people in this social class may deal with.
Uses and Gratifications: This theory suggests that readers use media products for the intentions of Diversion, enjoyment/distraction from their lives. Personal Relationships, developing affection/relationships with the people associated with the text. Personal Identity, seeing yourself represented in that of the people in the text. Surveillance, there is information useful for living in the text.
This theory is important as it may explain peoples intentions behind reading MH.
Diversion: Someone may read MH as they enjoy learning about new ways to stay fit
P.R: The reader may like the magazine/the people involved in the magazine, e.g. Vin Diesel on this issues cover.
P.I: Readers may identify with the people on the covers of MH, in that they may also be people invested in their body and fitness.
Surveillance: People may read
David Gauntlett: Gauntlett suggests that the idea of masculinity is always changing from what it used to be. This heavily links to Men's Health due to the fact that on the front cover of our CSP, there are cover lines which support Gauntletts ideas, due to the fact that masculinity is represented differently to the readers.
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' connotes a notation of battle" This is useful as it gives us a talking point for 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 editor's 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 editor's letter, perhaps saying that it contributes to the insecurities of men.
Comments
Post a Comment