Public service broadcasting: blog task

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

It was a marketing strategy to attract men and gain their interest in the last century as they previously were not as it contains health tips and lifestyles along with latest trends. 
2) Why is advertising significant in helping to shape masculine identity?
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 trend in men's grooming is increased as products grew at a 'average annual rate of 5.7% between 1997-2005'.
5) What representations of the male body can be found in Men's Health?
7) What is 'metrosexuality' and how can it be applied to Men's Health?
8) What representation of men in Men's Health is discussed in the section 'Homogenous bodies'?
they are profiled as young, white, middle-class, physically well built and sexually attractive. They are categorised into their physical appearance, external look and dress sense and lifestyle.
9) What are the conclusions drawn by the article with regards to the representation of masculinity in Men's Health?
The magazine is popular as they offer questions of identification, expressing countless depictions of male identity. The magazine understands where it maintain controls of their audience. They use their advertisements and the products to promote a visual identification, a specific identity.
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?

Advertising promotes consumption of a product, which is used for personal fulfilment as the repetition makes you want it or to do things in a certain order. These goods help men find their of identity effectively as it can bring up interests e.g. cars.

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?

Masculinity is socially constructed and there can be multiple versions of masculinity.for example gender roles are 'a performance' and are 'socially constructed'.

'A perfection which is assumed as a social obligation', where attractive celebrities are seen as glorified gods. as they live a glamorous life with hot women it'll impact the viewer to think that they have to live their life styles (health and dress) to enjoy them things in life as women prefer it. Also to show a fit body to show the external consequence of self-discipline, effort and commitment. 

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

They are objectified as an 'erotic spectacle' and are used to sell products to other men, to increase consumerism. The sexual objectification of men has increased in the media.

Meterosexuality: A heterosexual man who enjoys shopping, fashion and similar interest normally associated with homosexuals or women. Men's Health goes against that as they use men to promote consumerism, men buy these products to look like a carbon copy of the men objectified in the magazine. This includes grooming product or fitness supplement to build a better body as they are physically aware of how they look which shows masculinity.

Men's Health has to promote  products to sell them, their advertising brings in a lot of money for them. So their ideal representation of masculinity will always be used to promote products by using a visual identification and that appeal to men and that show masculinity and power. The products at this stage will always promote a hypermasculine identity as this is their core demographic.