In this essay I am going to show and explain how gender is represented in two extracts which have been provided for us, one is a front and back cover for a game CD box for the Lara Croft Tomb Raider Anniversary game, and the other extract is a front cover, contents page and a double page spread from a Men’s Health article starring Vin Diesel on the front cover.

Both CSP’s represent gender in a different way. In Men’s Health magazine, on the front cover is gym enthusiast and popular actor Vin Diesel. On the cover, Diesel is staged in a way which using the lighting effects, exaggerates the muscle and the definition within his arms to make them stand out. This is an indexical sign linking to the dominant ideology that this is the norm look for men within our society today. This common look within inspirational and well known actors and people such as Vin Diesel, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Martyn Ford, this creates a negative representation as it causes the majority of people to misinterpret and stereotype all men with having this physique. The main image can be interpreted as advertisement use as men who see this may aspire to look a certain way, and with the help of the magazine and the contents will be able to achieve that.

Similarly in Tomb Raider the main image of Lara Croft has been made and portrayed in such a way to draw attention to her exaggerated looking bottom and breasts, as well as the camera angle the use of wardrobe also draws your attention to specific parts of her body, such as her short and tight shorts along with the tight top she is wearing. Much like in the Men’s Health magazine this creates a negative representation, as people will believe that this is the norm for body types with females globally. But the use of adding the handguns along side her challenges the dominant ideology that this is a reactionary text as not every person owns a gun, this makes the character more badass and not someone to be messed with.

I believe that both texts are a radical representations of common stereotypes which are common along side gender and body images within different texts, whilst Men’s Health supports and continues to use this in order to gain popularity and Lara Croft Tomb raider challenging the common ideologies through body manipulation and exaggeration.

• Positive and negative stereotypes = A positive stereotype is a favorable belief or trait held about a social group or individual. A negative stereotype is negative traits and characteristics that are associated with a social group or individual.
• Counter-types = A counter-type is a positive stereotype.
• Misrepresentation = when somethings represented wrongly.
• Selective representation = Is representing something in a particular way including certain elements.
• Dominant ideology = the main/dominate system of ideas and ideals.
• Constructed reality = a reality that is created
• Hegemony = Dominance or leadership by one social group over another.
• Audience positioning = the way in which the audience is positioned to understand the text and its meanings.
• Fluidity of identity = shows the ability to and changeability of identity
• Constructed identity = The creation and development of an identity.
• Negotiated identity = an identity that is discussed and agreed upon.
• Collective identity = individuals who share a sense of being in a group due to similar characteristics and identities

• Positive/negative stereotypes:
  • Positive stereotypes are things that present a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea. Negative stereotypes are things which present a bad image or bad message about whatever the subject is.

• Counter types:
  • A counter type is similar to a positive stereotype, meaning it is an assumptions or a group of people which shows a positive trait. A counter type could be that all Indian people have to study to be a doctor.

• Misrepresentation:
  • Misrepresentation is when you present something and people misinterpret the message you’re trying to send to your viewers.