2014 has just popped its head around the corner and
it is a very significant year for me, this year I will be 40 years old. A Milestone in an individual’s life that for
some men can bring on the much clichéd ‘mid life crisis,’ for example, buying a
sports car or trading one’s partner in for a younger model. Although for me, both
of these are not viable options as I have a modest student income and consider
myself to be in a loving relationship. However, it is still an age that I have
been dreading for a while and has caused me to look at myself with a critical eye.
“In contemporary society, ageing is a process that we have been inclined to
fear and the negative aspects of being old are often held up as justification
for these fears.” (Hancock et al 2000:65) My fear was I was fast approaching 40
and never taken exercise seriously. Even though I am of slim Build, I do not possess
an athlete’s body and to be honest, my inactive lifestyle was causing anxiety
on how I saw my body and how I thought others may view my body. “The physical
body seems to provide a firm foundation for the construction and affirmation of
identity.” (Hancock et al 2000:61) Therefore, a plan of action was needed.
In order for me to become a future cover model for
Men’s Fitness, I signed up to the gym, purchased a huge tub of protein powder
and subscribed to the men’s Fitness magazine.
Due to a lack of knowledge in this area, I hoped the magazine would aid
me in my quest for the perfect body. My
first impression of the magazine was that it was informative and enjoyable to
read. However, since researching for this Blog, I feel that I have been sucked
in by the shirtless man on the cover and am a sitting duck with regards to a
whole range of consumer goods that I can’t wait to buy. “Thus, in the process
of advertising and selling the right kind of body object through consumption,
the bodies of the privileged are legitimated and idealised as moral actors.” (Dworkin and Wachs 2009:11) I interpret this
quote as I am the subject that desires the same healthy body as the object and
this is the ideal image of a man’s body that I wish to achieve. The
objectification of women on the front of magazines is not a new phenomenon.
However, “Since the mid 1980’s, there has been a profound shift in the ways
that men’s bodies are depicted in the media.” (Riley et al 2008:102) The
objectification of the tanned toned male torso is on the increase and could
explain why more and more men are taking an active interest in their body image.
But
how does this relate to me? I just want to get fit and put on a bit of weight. Surely
like I said earlier, I’m a long way of a mid life crisis! Although when I
examine my actions, instead of buying the sports car, I have made extravagant purchases
in gym membership, equipment, protein powder, magazines and Instead of trading
in my partner for a younger model, I am trying to exchange my unhealthy body
for a younger fitter body. This research process as left me confused about my true
motives for wanting to get fit. Although the fact is that I have spent over £100
on gym paraphernalia and I have only put on 1Ib. There seems to be many gaining out
of this but at the minute, I am not one of them.
Reference List
Dworkin, S, L and Wachs, F, L, (2009) Body Panic: Gender, Health and the selling
of Fitness, New York University Press, New York.
Hancock, P, Hughes, B, Jagger, E, Paterson, K,
Russell, R, Emmanuelle, T, W, Tyler, M, (2000) The Body, Culture and society: An Introduction, Open University
Press, Buckingham.
Riley, S, Burns, M, Frith, H, Wiggins, S, Markula,
P, (2008) Critical Bodies: Representations,
Identities and Practices of Weight and Body Management, Palgrave Macmillan,
Hampshire.
