Week #3 activities

1. Whose message is this? Who created or paid for it? Why? 

This is the cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine. The stakeholders are the magazine that sells the image of the alpha male and the movie that is advertised in the article inside.

2. Who is the “target audience”? What is their age, ethnicity, class, profession, interests, etc.? What 

words, images or sounds suggest this? 

The target audience is young white men from 20-35 that have the disposable income to buy a magazine that takes a half hour to read. Their interest is looking good for women. The advertised articles are for fast fitness tips. 

3. What is the “text” of the message? (What we actually see and/or hear: written or spoken words, 

photos, drawings, logos, design, music, sounds, etc.) 

That the "top dog" of guys has big arms, short hair and a serious look.

4. What is the “subtext” of the message? (What do you think is the hidden or unstated meaning?) 

That being large helps one be in charge. 

5. What kind of lifestyle is presented? 

That extreme fitness will make one more impressive.

6. What values are expressed? 

That personal fitness is paramount.

7. What “tools of persuasion” are used?

Different fonts to draw attention to different messages circling the focused picture of their idea of a fit man. Capitals for "YOU" to make the message personal

8. What positive messages are presented? What negative messages are presented? 

The positive message is that fitness can help with the buyer's appearance. However, the message is lost in the extreme lengths that this magazine pushes it through overexposure.

9. What groups of people does this message empower? What groups does it disempower? 

How does this serve the media maker's interests? 

This magazine empowers the body builder as the type of body to have. It disempowers the slim, fit distance runner type of body. It serves the media because it takes years to see the results of power lifting.

10. What part of the story is not being told? How and where could you get more information about the 

untold stories? 

The biggest part of the story is how Arnold got to be so ripped. He was a career body builder for years before he competed in contests, and then he had to work even harder to get to the top. I saw a documentary of his body building career from a buddy that worked for years to get big muscles. A simple google search can show you Arnold's body building career before he was cast into movies.