Magazine: Men's Health CSP analysis
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 front cover features the American actor Vin Diesel, known for his physique and roles in action films which enables the audience to identify and recognise (uses and gratification, 1972) him as he is well-established. His pose accentuates his muscles and his direct mode of address emphasises his confidence in his own body. Placing a well-established Hollywood actor with direct language may then enable the reader to aspire to achieve the same body as Vin Diesel through the products and services published within the magazine. The colour scheme and his stance reinforces hyper masculinity and suggests this idea of what men should look like. There is a change in the way masculinity is represented as Men's Health features cover lines about losing weight which is usually associated with women but instead it is seen here.
Media Industries (e.g. Hearst Communications)
Hearst Communications is a large and successful corporation that publishes daily and weekly newspaper and magazines. Hearst UK publishes 21 brands including ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. Hearst sel over 4 million magazines a month and have 17 million UK digital unique users, reaching 22 million fans and followers through our social media platforms.
Media Audiences (e.g. demographics, psychographics, pleasures)
Men's Health is the world's largest men's magazine brand, It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. Although originally started as a men's health magazine, it currently covers various men's lifestyle topics such as fitness, nutrition, fashion, and sexuality.
Demographics:
Men‟s Health has a largely middle class readership but also attracts readers in the C2DE bracket:
ABC1 men: 64%
AB men: 32%
C2DE: 36%
The target audience is aged around 25-45 of well educated Men who have a lot of disposable income in order to live a lavish life and spend money on expensive products such as nice cars, watches and perfumes.
Media Representations (e.g. masculinity)
The cover of Vin Diesel reinforces the idea of hyper-masculinity because of the way he is presented. However, the magazine does reference Mental Health within the front cover and the editors letter which suggests that Men's Health highlights the changing representation of men. Men are represented in a glamorous James Bond style (Joseph Gelfer) that attracts the ladies. Men's Health does show a change in masculinity because they feature older men which shows that they try to encourage a wide range of men and not just young men.
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
- the image on Vin Diesel and his clothing which is casual but also accentuates his muscles
- the colour scheme of blues, greys and blacks relating to Mental Health
- cover lines about losing weight e.g 'lose 8kgs fast!' or 'reboot your xmas liver!'
Editor's Letter and contents page
- talking about Mental Health once again
- the use of puns e.g 'you can't du pain and gain'
- editors use of rhetorical questions - talking as if the readers are friends
- the ski season guide
Feature: True Grit - 'The Marathon Man'
- the images of Phillip Howells, the black and white portrait picture as well as the full body image
- Q&A style of article/ interview
- mentioning of 'Accomplishments'
- 'Your only limit is your self-belief'
3) Type up three media theories that you think are particularly relevant to analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
Lester and Ross (2003) have listed five reasons why the media continue to stereotype:
1. Advertisers require pictures that can be quickly and easily understood.
2. Reporters do not take the time to view things differently or explore new issues.
3. Not enough people from diverse cultural groups working within the media industry.
4. Those working in the media presume audiences will only accept certain images of a particular diverse group member. - Preferred readings (Stuart Hall)
5. Cultural-ism – the belief that one cultural group is better or worse than another – can control what is worthy of coverage.
Douglas Kellner (1995) suggests: “Radio, television, film and other products of the culture industries provide the models of what it means to be male or female, successful or a failure, powerful or powerless...media culture helps shape the prevalent view of the world and its deepest values: it defines what is considered good or bad, positive or negative, moral or evil.”
Kenneth Mackinnon (2003): 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 - Representing men: maleness and masculinity in the media
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:
Media Language (e.g. conventions, narrative, genre etc.)
The front cover features the American actor Vin Diesel, known for his physique and roles in action films which enables the audience to identify and recognise (uses and gratification, 1972) him as he is well-established. His pose accentuates his muscles and his direct mode of address emphasises his confidence in his own body. Placing a well-established Hollywood actor with direct language may then enable the reader to aspire to achieve the same body as Vin Diesel through the products and services published within the magazine. The colour scheme and his stance reinforces hyper masculinity and suggests this idea of what men should look like. There is a change in the way masculinity is represented as Men's Health features cover lines about losing weight which is usually associated with women but instead it is seen here.
Media Industries (e.g. Hearst Communications)
Hearst Communications is a large and successful corporation that publishes daily and weekly newspaper and magazines. Hearst UK publishes 21 brands including ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. Hearst sel over 4 million magazines a month and have 17 million UK digital unique users, reaching 22 million fans and followers through our social media platforms.
Media Audiences (e.g. demographics, psychographics, pleasures)
Men's Health is the world's largest men's magazine brand, It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. Although originally started as a men's health magazine, it currently covers various men's lifestyle topics such as fitness, nutrition, fashion, and sexuality.
Demographics:
Men‟s Health has a largely middle class readership but also attracts readers in the C2DE bracket:
ABC1 men: 64%
AB men: 32%
C2DE: 36%
The target audience is aged around 25-45 of well educated Men who have a lot of disposable income in order to live a lavish life and spend money on expensive products such as nice cars, watches and perfumes.
Media Representations (e.g. masculinity)
The cover of Vin Diesel reinforces the idea of hyper-masculinity because of the way he is presented. However, the magazine does reference Mental Health within the front cover and the editors letter which suggests that Men's Health highlights the changing representation of men. Men are represented in a glamorous James Bond style (Joseph Gelfer) that attracts the ladies. Men's Health does show a change in masculinity because they feature older men which shows that they try to encourage a wide range of men and not just young men.
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
- the image on Vin Diesel and his clothing which is casual but also accentuates his muscles
- the colour scheme of blues, greys and blacks relating to Mental Health
- cover lines about losing weight e.g 'lose 8kgs fast!' or 'reboot your xmas liver!'
Editor's Letter and contents page
- talking about Mental Health once again
- the use of puns e.g 'you can't du pain and gain'
- editors use of rhetorical questions - talking as if the readers are friends
- the ski season guide
Feature: True Grit - 'The Marathon Man'
- the images of Phillip Howells, the black and white portrait picture as well as the full body image
- Q&A style of article/ interview
- mentioning of 'Accomplishments'
- 'Your only limit is your self-belief'
3) Type up three media theories that you think are particularly relevant to analysing Men's Health and explain why they are significant:
Lester and Ross (2003) have listed five reasons why the media continue to stereotype:
1. Advertisers require pictures that can be quickly and easily understood.
2. Reporters do not take the time to view things differently or explore new issues.
3. Not enough people from diverse cultural groups working within the media industry.
4. Those working in the media presume audiences will only accept certain images of a particular diverse group member. - Preferred readings (Stuart Hall)
5. Cultural-ism – the belief that one cultural group is better or worse than another – can control what is worthy of coverage.
Douglas Kellner (1995) suggests: “Radio, television, film and other products of the culture industries provide the models of what it means to be male or female, successful or a failure, powerful or powerless...media culture helps shape the prevalent view of the world and its deepest values: it defines what is considered good or bad, positive or negative, moral or evil.”
Kenneth Mackinnon (2003): 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 - Representing men: maleness and masculinity in the media
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:
- #SLAY WINTER BLUES Why Social's Going Mental
- BLAST BODY FAT! Vin Diesel's Blueprint To Wage War On Flab
- "I believe the greatest performances in sport come from mental training" - Phillip Howells
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