Final Draft

Johnny Quizhpi
Professor Bogacka
English 101. 0800
October 5, 2010

Masculinity and its form of views

Everyday we are likely to encounter advertisements. Subways, Traffic billboards etc.

These advertisements purposes are to influence us into purchasing a good or service.

What most people don’t realize is the message that the advertisement is insinuating.

Especially men who purchase a good or service will have influence on their masculinity.

An advertisement from Men’s Health magazine October 2009 ed. has this ad for the

Newbalence Company that is promoting running sneakers called “1226”. 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 suggest masculinity.

My advertisement has this male model running down a path in his Newbalence

sneakers, he is a thin man but his body is in shape. To be masculine is to love sports and

work hard and show no intimidation to anyone. His look is just so care-free, he is so

confident in himself, the look that comes along with being a man, just so unstoppable. It

is as if the Newbalence ‘1226’ sneakers boost up his confidence up even further.

He has on loose fitting clothes, perfect for running outside with. His face is clean with no

facial hair and what the ad makes stand out even more are his thins legs that look shaved

and on his feet the sneakers “1226”. His look just promotes masculinity, women like a

thin man with shaven bodies. Just by the way he looks promotes masculinity, the man he

is and his mindset being he his the most dominant species on the face of the earth.

Another reason why my advisement promotes masculinity is the setting itself.

The wind seems as if it blows lightly against him to refresh him because he is running

towards the distance. This shows the model like being outside just being a sporty man,

his clothes hang loosely on him and his thoughts down the road going as fast as

his ‘1226’ 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. Liking the great outdoors like any real man would, not being cooped up in an

office or being lazy indoors with the television on. His setting lush green everywhere and

the pavement moving fast underneath him. The Newbalence ‘1226’ will take the man and

his pride down that road as long as he can endure. He knows females like winners and

not bums. The advertisement’s message to those who see it try to promote that this is the

kind of masculinity men have to pursue.

Masculinity is to be a man strong, fit and sporty. With the sneakers he has on he

knows he can go the distance and look the part when he does. His masculinity is present

and his confidence are of the charts. The advertisement also has words on it that read

“nothing hurts more than sitting on a couch.” The ad with these words show the viewer

the well being that is running and the healthy results escaping obesity and other major

health issues. No male wants to be overweight so pick up a pair of ‘1226’s sneakers and

be on your way, is the idea that the advertisement wants the male reader to pick up on. I

agree that the “sporty look” is what masculinity the ad is showing. Almost as if the ad

wants the viewer to become the man model. It is just easy as putting on the Newbalence

sneakers and taking of to the distance. The kind of man who knows how to feel good

about himself and the confidence to know what women like, strong masculinity.

To conclude my thoughts, throughout your lifetime you will all see countless

advertisements. We can’t help that but we can differentiate the advertisements and the

hidden subliminal message that they hold, that’ll affect the masculinity that we have.

It will be up to you decide what they mean and the masculinity trying to influence to the

viewer. Masculinity can take many different views and forms but what the Men’s Health

magazine advertisement shows is that a fit sporty, outdoor loving man is the definition of

masculinity. The Newbalence ‘1226’ sneakers make you feel like that male model just

pumped up to get up and just run the distance and show the world that you have that

strong sense of masculinity within you.




Work Cited

NewBalence. Advertisement. Men’s Health October 2009 N.p