Johnny Quizhpi
Professor Bogacka
English 101. 0800
October 1, 2010
Masculinity and its form of views
Everywhere we look and the places we are, we are likely to encounter advertisements. These advertisements purposes are to influence us into purchasing a good or service. But what most people don’t realize is the clever manner in which the ads are presented to us. For example an advertisement promoting cross country sneakers while showing a man running the distance shows great masculinity in the sense that a man loves sports and the great outdoors. Being strong and a physically fit, sporty man defines masculinity. The author Susan Bordo has her own views of what masculinity is and the various conclusions she comes up with in her chapter “beauty (re)discovers the male body”.
In a chapter called “beauty (re)discovers the male body” from the book entitled The Male Body written by Susan Bordo, one of her examples of masculinity is being “the rock” (pg 188). This chapter is important because her view of this kind of masculinity is a stiff, rock-solid figure and independent male. I agree with her because to be masculine is to love sports and work hard and show no intimidation to anyone. The advertisement I focus on shows a male model that I believe to be that “rock” figurine. My advertisement shows a man running cross country while endorsing sneakers. The ad clearly shows him with a confident look that comes along with being a man and this man is physically fit and enjoys what he is doing, all the aspects of “the rock” figure that Susan Bordo was referring to. A man who enjoys sports and has a good physique is “the rock” kind of masculinity.
My advertisement also shows the model as “the rock” by the way he is dressed. He is shown wearing loose fit clothing for working out. The wind blows lightly against him as if to refresh him because he is running towards the distance. His clothes hang loosely on him and his thoughts down the road going as fast as his sneakers on his feet take him. This is what masculinity simply is, no time for being laid back. In my opinion the ad subliminally tells the viewer “you have things to do so get up, get out and go do them.” He (the model in the ad running) certainly looks strong in the sense that he is up found the time to run and he is going to do whatever comes next. Susan Bordo’s idea of “the rock” (pg 188) is great completely is relatable.
Masculinity is to be a man strong, fit and sporty. Men are usually the ones who like being out in the great outdoors. My advertisement shows this man out breathing the fresh air, enjoying the sights of green meadows just being a man. The pavement moves fast underneath his feet because he wants to go the distance. His eyes are set towards the distance like a real man would with no fear in his eyes. The man in the advertisement knows he is masculine with out a question specifically “the rock” the Susan Bordo described in her chapter “beauty (re)discovers the male body” (pgs 168–225). A man that is solid and shows no intimidation is considered that “rock” figure.
In conclusion.
I feel that your essay connects to the task very well. Your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion all refer to the point on masculinity. You brought out facts on different aspects such as a man is suppose to be strong, fit, and sporty. Check for a few grammar issues and your fine.
ReplyDeleteyou may want to give certain information about the product: for example, the name brand; the magazine it appeared on, to make a comparison in how this particular product stands-out from the rest. you may want to give a suggestive conclusion to make the reader think about what you just said. what i like is you don't sway away from the "rock-hard" aspect of the musculinity you are describing. i just commented on the content and clarity of your essay.
ReplyDeleteOverall, this is a well written essay with focused paragraphs but it sounds like you are actually showing similarities between what Bordo says about ‘men acting, and women appearing’ in ads, rather than ‘rock’ pose of male models. Also, you never mention the brand of the product advertised.
ReplyDeleteYour introduction contains a thesis which identifies sporty masculinity as the type being advertised in the advertisement for cross country sneakers. But what is the brand? The sentence about Bordo’s chapter does not seem to fit in your introduction. Your introduction simply restates the assignment question. Try to compose an introduction that reflects what analysis of the ad for cross country sneakers and masculinity.
Your first body paragraph focuses on the male model in the ad, and overall is well written. But instead of beginning your paragraph with Bordo and her chapter, start with what this paragraph is truly about and that is the male model in the ad for cross country sneakers. Also remember that Bordo identifies the ‘rock’ male models as the one’s who stand still, face the camera and look intimidating. Is this what the model in the ad you selected is doing?
Instead of beginning your second body paragraph with ‘My ad’ why don’t you refer to the brand the ad is for? Your analysis of the model’s work out clothes and here you should probably focus/ provide more analysis of the product, the sneakers. You seem to be thinking about the traditional portrayal of male models, which Bordo mentions, specifically that men are always doing something, acting in ads, while women stand still and show off. ‘is great is completely relatable”? This needs proofreading.
In the third body paragraph, you analyze the man’s activity in the ad, and I like the observation about the pavement moving fast; it sounds like the pavement could be a treadmill. But this idea once again seems to support the traditional ‘men act, women appear’ that Bordo mentions in her chapter. Please review this. Reread the first sentence-‘masculinity is to be a man strong,…” or “masculinity means a man is strong,…”?
Thank you all I will rewrite this one (especially Ms. B) those points really gave me ideas I was way off the majority of this essay. I'll get it better now.
ReplyDelete