Use of hashtag to link to social media and perhaps trying to access a younger demographic
Reactionary, stereotypical text colouring through the different shades of blues and black. A typical symbolic (arbitrary) sign of masculinity
Semantic field of power and strength, connoting to something that needs to be destroyed. – “Lose, Demolish, Slay, Blast, Burn, Detox, Reboot”
Alliteration and plosives through ‘blast body’
Stereotypical representation of masculinity through the man as the dominant signifier on the front cover. He seems strong, physically fit and physically intimidating which mirror the masculine traits often portrayed in the media -‘what defines a man’
Alpha male – Muscles, standing pose, perhaps an enhanced/ edited image – “not a true window into the world”
‘Gender as performance’ – Judith Butler (Gender is constructed through a repeated set of actions, sex is a biological factor)
Contents Page
Links to online website ‘menshealth.co.uk’, perhaps encouraging readers to move online to view the magazine – Moving into the digital world of social media.
Reactionary representation of exercise, strength and fitness through links to articles within the magazine on the contents page. This is shown through image signifiers such as pictures of trainers, weights etc. Creating this unrealistic ideal that to be a ‘real’ man you must be physically at top performance. Although there is a radical representation through the inclusion of men of different ages and races.
Typical male characteristics displayed through linking to an article with a picture featuring spanners, lock and key, cogs etc. Perhaps, men are ‘meant’ to be good with construction etc.
Article (within magazine)
Main image of ‘The Marathon Man’ running.
Inclusion of a quotation from him – Motivation and drive – “Your only limit is your self-belief”
Q+A style interview signposted through bold font for question and different for answers.
Iconic sign of a arrow, clearly marking that he is the topic of the conversation.
