Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
cant write my first essay...
still havent fully finished my primary research... well... i have but havent
My initial hypothesis was “The representation of men and women in advertising” however after feedback from my teacher it was decided the topic area was too broad. To narrow the focus of my research it was decided to focus on the representation of men primarily in domestic product advertising. Yet after reading some background information from the recommended secondary source http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/sections/advert04.html which I first accessed on the 14th March I changed my hypothesis to the range of interpretations of masculinity within contemporary print advertising. The recommended source was very easy to access with a section focusing predominantly on gender in advertising.
(first paragraph of the essay so i dont lose it)
My initial hypothesis was “The representation of men and women in advertising” however after feedback from my teacher it was decided the topic area was too broad. To narrow the focus of my research it was decided to focus on the representation of men primarily in domestic product advertising. Yet after reading some background information from the recommended secondary source http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/sections/advert04.html which I first accessed on the 14th March I changed my hypothesis to the range of interpretations of masculinity within contemporary print advertising. The recommended source was very easy to access with a section focusing predominantly on gender in advertising.
(first paragraph of the essay so i dont lose it)
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Email results...
I emailed my participants an image of Abbey Clancy, a model, who posed in the Lynx advertorial I am looking at as I feel that the Lynx product itself promotes masculinity through the following page elements:
* In the main page title - "Nuts man tests Lynx 3 on Real Girls" through the description of gender, which I have highlighted in the title, suggests a somewhat patriarchal approach to the advert in some respect. for example the use of "girls" suggests younger naive individuals. whereas "man" frequently used as a prefix to words such as "mankind" suggests stronger individuals and is thought to connote the idea that men are more important thats why the prefix "man" is used to describe larger inclusive categories.
*Abbey Clancy is used as a sex symbol. My participants felt that although Abbey was feminine in term of her body, dress and her hair. the use of Abbey in the advert was somewhat masculine. one participant said "she wouldn't pose in that way for women". yet what is surprising is that in the copy they use the phrase "when a lady like Abbey tells you to do something, you don't say no" this is contrasting to the idea of femininity as it appears Abbey is taking on a dominating role usually associated with men. especially as earlier situation comedies such as the likely lads set during a particularly patriarchal time said that women "should lay back and think of England". due to earlier attitudes with women not being able to enjoy sex, the article suggests feminst perspectives that women are able to enjoy sex and even potentially be the person in the relationship that controls sex both in bed and in the initation.
*the colour scheme - the colours are what are usually considered manly colours such as blue green black and grey
* In the main page title - "Nuts man tests Lynx 3 on Real Girls" through the description of gender, which I have highlighted in the title, suggests a somewhat patriarchal approach to the advert in some respect. for example the use of "girls" suggests younger naive individuals. whereas "man" frequently used as a prefix to words such as "mankind" suggests stronger individuals and is thought to connote the idea that men are more important thats why the prefix "man" is used to describe larger inclusive categories.
*Abbey Clancy is used as a sex symbol. My participants felt that although Abbey was feminine in term of her body, dress and her hair. the use of Abbey in the advert was somewhat masculine. one participant said "she wouldn't pose in that way for women". yet what is surprising is that in the copy they use the phrase "when a lady like Abbey tells you to do something, you don't say no" this is contrasting to the idea of femininity as it appears Abbey is taking on a dominating role usually associated with men. especially as earlier situation comedies such as the likely lads set during a particularly patriarchal time said that women "should lay back and think of England". due to earlier attitudes with women not being able to enjoy sex, the article suggests feminst perspectives that women are able to enjoy sex and even potentially be the person in the relationship that controls sex both in bed and in the initation.
*the colour scheme - the colours are what are usually considered manly colours such as blue green black and grey
my hypothesis
An investigation into the strategies used by advertisers in contemporary Lad Mags.
Particularly focusing on the representation of masculinity and how this representation is constructed.
Particularly focusing on the representation of masculinity and how this representation is constructed.
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
ok so change of plan
instead of showing the audience the actual adverts im going to show them extracts of the parts of the advert i feel represent masculinity. such as abbey clancy... or football... etc
yes?
yes?
Friday, 2 May 2008
i think i have finally selected my adverts....
ok so the adverts im going to be focusing on and why are:
Zavvi - the advert features 6 DVD's 4 of which are TV and 2 of which are film.
one film (balls of fury) is a comedy and the description underneath mainly focus' on the DVD extras. the other products appear to have masculine values. for example two pints... although it is a tv show that women would watch the idea of lager and crisps seem to appeal more to men as it is commonly seen as a mans drink. This is particularly interesting as on average Nuts readers buy just 6 DVD's per year.
RAF - this advert does not appear in womens magazines. it seems to appeal to the "big headed" aspect of men by saying "use your intelligence" which seems to test the males ability of thinking. there is also an element of relay in the advert as in the copy at the bottom it also features "intelligence" which creates mental shortcuts for the reader a theory though of by Danielle Miller (gender targeting in print ads - i have a list of quotes from her on my blog...)
MTV fur TV - this is an interesting advert as the product is sponsered by Frosty Jacks cider. there are three retro characters and a dot to dot on the page which when completed would reveal an image of a scantily clad woman. there is also media equipment (TV and some form of dvd player?)
Lucozade Sport competition - the advert has a fairly dark tone connoted by the colours used... the advert is for football which is a big focus of Nuts. it also says "your team" acting under the presupposition that the reader is part of a football team.
Lynx - i chose this because i was looking for something slightly different... as the lynx advertisement is an advertorial i felt it would be interesting to look at the linguistic element of the representation of masculinity. considering the advert seems to focus on sex (abbey clancy) and the ambiguity of the phrase "show me your moves" at first glance this could imply sex however when the reader reads the copy it is clear to see they are talking about the way in which you would apply the lynx 3 product. i thought it would be interesting to see how men respond to the ambiguity and which interpretation would be most common.... im assuming sex...
I plan to scan these images and when conducting a second questionnaire and show the audience the adverts and ask them to identify the elements of the adverts that they find appealing in terms of visuals and the ideology represented. if any. which raises a question, when men engage with adverts are they aware that there is a complex ideology being represented? for example with the lynx adverts the girls are pretty and slim, he smells good and seemingly has the confidence to ask random women to smell him after spraying himself with lynx... with the copy there is the implication of luring women "perfect pecs" something which is only achievable through using the product. the use of a cartoon male seems to suggest the idea of having an element of body definition. he also has a popular hairstyle... (spiky hair).
so do men understand this? or do they notice it and choose to ignore it
Zavvi - the advert features 6 DVD's 4 of which are TV and 2 of which are film.
one film (balls of fury) is a comedy and the description underneath mainly focus' on the DVD extras. the other products appear to have masculine values. for example two pints... although it is a tv show that women would watch the idea of lager and crisps seem to appeal more to men as it is commonly seen as a mans drink. This is particularly interesting as on average Nuts readers buy just 6 DVD's per year.
RAF - this advert does not appear in womens magazines. it seems to appeal to the "big headed" aspect of men by saying "use your intelligence" which seems to test the males ability of thinking. there is also an element of relay in the advert as in the copy at the bottom it also features "intelligence" which creates mental shortcuts for the reader a theory though of by Danielle Miller (gender targeting in print ads - i have a list of quotes from her on my blog...)
MTV fur TV - this is an interesting advert as the product is sponsered by Frosty Jacks cider. there are three retro characters and a dot to dot on the page which when completed would reveal an image of a scantily clad woman. there is also media equipment (TV and some form of dvd player?)
Lucozade Sport competition - the advert has a fairly dark tone connoted by the colours used... the advert is for football which is a big focus of Nuts. it also says "your team" acting under the presupposition that the reader is part of a football team.
Lynx - i chose this because i was looking for something slightly different... as the lynx advertisement is an advertorial i felt it would be interesting to look at the linguistic element of the representation of masculinity. considering the advert seems to focus on sex (abbey clancy) and the ambiguity of the phrase "show me your moves" at first glance this could imply sex however when the reader reads the copy it is clear to see they are talking about the way in which you would apply the lynx 3 product. i thought it would be interesting to see how men respond to the ambiguity and which interpretation would be most common.... im assuming sex...
I plan to scan these images and when conducting a second questionnaire and show the audience the adverts and ask them to identify the elements of the adverts that they find appealing in terms of visuals and the ideology represented. if any. which raises a question, when men engage with adverts are they aware that there is a complex ideology being represented? for example with the lynx adverts the girls are pretty and slim, he smells good and seemingly has the confidence to ask random women to smell him after spraying himself with lynx... with the copy there is the implication of luring women "perfect pecs" something which is only achievable through using the product. the use of a cartoon male seems to suggest the idea of having an element of body definition. he also has a popular hairstyle... (spiky hair).
so do men understand this? or do they notice it and choose to ignore it
Thursday, 1 May 2008
better picture of self image.perception
dimbleby and burton aspects of the self and the image constructed
date accessed: 1/5/08
How adverts work
gender targeting in print ads - nicola batchelor
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source:http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/nrb0001.doc
"adverts work by creating a complex relationship linking the reader and the product , the product and the desire and the desire and the reader"
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source:http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/nrb0001.doc
"adverts work by creating a complex relationship linking the reader and the product , the product and the desire and the desire and the reader"
Essay Quotes - number three
Gender targeting in print ads - Nicola Batchelor
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/nrb0001.doc
"perceive themselves"
"aspire to"
"how they want to be perceived by members of their own and the opposite sex"
THIS RELATES TO DIMBLEBY AND BURTON
HOW I SEE ME
HOW OTHERS SEE ME
HOW I WANT TO BE SEEN
"adverts present a particular version of reality which is tailored to fit the presumed attitudes and values of the targeted audience"
"associating the product with desirable qualities"
"men are allowed to see themselves as dominating and strong"
"familiar icon of masculinity, independence and ruggedness"
"men have to be shown as being men, they cannot be effeminate"
"good looking, calm and cool guy"
"idea of masculine power and seriousness as opposed to the female relaxed carefree attitude"
"adverts often portray the denders as opposites"
"advertisements have the difficult task of stressing gender difference in an era characterized by a loosening of rigid gender distincions"
"the complexity of individual character into a set of simple, socially definied distinctions"
"adverts do not create these values out of nothing but instead they draw on our desires and aspirations"
"men compete for success and women"
"men do not identify with images of men as easily as women identify with images of women because it is not considered to be the norm"
"men in adverts are shown to be doing the achievable; they often feature in a working enviornment aor at the gym because it is what they can do and achieve"
"men are often shown just the product. this is because men are less likely to want to identify with images of men"
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/nrb0001.doc
"perceive themselves"
"aspire to"
"how they want to be perceived by members of their own and the opposite sex"
THIS RELATES TO DIMBLEBY AND BURTON
HOW I SEE ME
HOW OTHERS SEE ME
HOW I WANT TO BE SEEN
"adverts present a particular version of reality which is tailored to fit the presumed attitudes and values of the targeted audience"
"associating the product with desirable qualities"
"men are allowed to see themselves as dominating and strong"
"familiar icon of masculinity, independence and ruggedness"
"men have to be shown as being men, they cannot be effeminate"
"good looking, calm and cool guy"
"idea of masculine power and seriousness as opposed to the female relaxed carefree attitude"
"adverts often portray the denders as opposites"
"advertisements have the difficult task of stressing gender difference in an era characterized by a loosening of rigid gender distincions"
"the complexity of individual character into a set of simple, socially definied distinctions"
"adverts do not create these values out of nothing but instead they draw on our desires and aspirations"
"men compete for success and women"
"men do not identify with images of men as easily as women identify with images of women because it is not considered to be the norm"
"men in adverts are shown to be doing the achievable; they often feature in a working enviornment aor at the gym because it is what they can do and achieve"
"men are often shown just the product. this is because men are less likely to want to identify with images of men"
first rough draft of questionaire
Questionnaire
In 5 words or less, describe how you understand the definition of masculinity. (How do you see it?)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………In 5 words or less, describe how you think the mass media understands the definition of masculinity. (How do you see it?)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Out of the following choices indicate what you feel to be more masculine. (Indicate this through use of numbers)Family
Friends
Love
Sex
Naked Women
Shopping
Fitness
Emotions
Action Films
Gaming (Both PC and console formats)
Name 5 products that you feel embody masculinity. (Can be toiletries, clothing etc)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name one real-life character (such as an actor) who you feel embodies masculinity.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Name one fictional character who you feel embodies masculinity.
………………………………………………………………………………...
Do you feel it is possible for women to be masculine?
…………………………………………………………………………………..
If so, how?
………………………………………………………………………………......
If not, why not?
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Which sport do you feel is more masculine? (explain why)
Football versus Rugby…………………………………………………………………………………...
Tennis versus table tennis…………………………………………………………………………………...
Hockey versus Polo…………………………………………………………………………………...
Golf versus Formula One Racing…………………………………………………………………………………...
Gymnastics versus Dancing…………………………………………………………………………………...
Show Jumping versus Horse Riding
……………………………………………………………………………….......
Thank You for participating.
In 5 words or less, describe how you understand the definition of masculinity. (How do you see it?)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………In 5 words or less, describe how you think the mass media understands the definition of masculinity. (How do you see it?)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Out of the following choices indicate what you feel to be more masculine. (Indicate this through use of numbers)Family
Friends
Love
Sex
Naked Women
Shopping
Fitness
Emotions
Action Films
Gaming (Both PC and console formats)
Name 5 products that you feel embody masculinity. (Can be toiletries, clothing etc)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name one real-life character (such as an actor) who you feel embodies masculinity.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Name one fictional character who you feel embodies masculinity.
………………………………………………………………………………...
Do you feel it is possible for women to be masculine?
…………………………………………………………………………………..
If so, how?
………………………………………………………………………………......
If not, why not?
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Which sport do you feel is more masculine? (explain why)
Football versus Rugby…………………………………………………………………………………...
Tennis versus table tennis…………………………………………………………………………………...
Hockey versus Polo…………………………………………………………………………………...
Golf versus Formula One Racing…………………………………………………………………………………...
Gymnastics versus Dancing…………………………………………………………………………………...
Show Jumping versus Horse Riding
……………………………………………………………………………….......
Thank You for participating.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Possible Reading?
Manliness
Date accessed: 30th April
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manliness_%28book%29
Being a Man Harvey Mansfield ponders the male of the species. by Christina Hoff Sommers 04/10/2006, Volume 011, Issue 28
Date accessed: 30th April
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/041bqgoo.asp
The manly mans man - Christopher Shea
March 12, 2006 - The Boston Globe
Date accessed: 30th April
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/03/12/the_manly_mans_man/
Date accessed: 30th April
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manliness_%28book%29
Being a Man Harvey Mansfield ponders the male of the species. by Christina Hoff Sommers 04/10/2006, Volume 011, Issue 28
Date accessed: 30th April
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/041bqgoo.asp
The manly mans man - Christopher Shea
March 12, 2006 - The Boston Globe
Date accessed: 30th April
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/03/12/the_manly_mans_man/
Areas Of Masculinity
Janet Saltzman Chafetz (1974, 35-36) describes seven areas of masculinity.
Date Accessed: 30th April
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masculinity
Physical — virile, athletic, strong, brave. Unconcerned about appearance and aging;
Functional — breadwinner, provider for family as much as mate
Sexual — sexually aggressive, experienced. Single status acceptable;
Emotional — unemotional, stoic, the proverb says boys don't cry;
Intellectual — logical, intellectual, rational, objective, practical,
Interpersonal — leader, dominating; disciplinarian; independent, free, individualistic; demanding;
Other Personal Characteristics — success-oriented, ambitious, aggressive, proud, egotistical; moral, trustworthy; decisive, competitive, uninhibited, adventurous.
Date Accessed: 30th April
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masculinity
Physical — virile, athletic, strong, brave. Unconcerned about appearance and aging;
Functional — breadwinner, provider for family as much as mate
Sexual — sexually aggressive, experienced. Single status acceptable;
Emotional — unemotional, stoic, the proverb says boys don't cry;
Intellectual — logical, intellectual, rational, objective, practical,
Interpersonal — leader, dominating; disciplinarian; independent, free, individualistic; demanding;
Other Personal Characteristics — success-oriented, ambitious, aggressive, proud, egotistical; moral, trustworthy; decisive, competitive, uninhibited, adventurous.
What to ask? Yet More questions... (asking more than I am answering...) questionnaire one - male understanding of masculinity
In 5 words or less, describe how you understand the definition of masculinity. (How do you see it?)
In 5 words or less, describe how you think the mass media understands the definition of masculinity.
Out of the following choices indicate what you feel to be more masculine. (Indicate this through use of numbers)
Family
Friends
Love
Sex
Naked Women
Shopping
Fitness
Emotions
Action Films
Gaming (Both PC and console formats)
Name 5 products that you feel embody masculinity.
Name one real-life character (such as an actor) who you feel embodies masculinity.
Name one fictional character who you feel embodies masculinity.
Do you feel it is possible for women to be masculine?
If so, how?
If not, why not?
Which sport do you feel is more masculine? (explain why)
Football versus Rugby
Tennis versus table tennis
Hockey versus Polo
Golf versus Formula One Racing
Gymnastics versus Dancing
Show Jumping versus Horse Riding
In 5 words or less, describe how you think the mass media understands the definition of masculinity.
Out of the following choices indicate what you feel to be more masculine. (Indicate this through use of numbers)
Family
Friends
Love
Sex
Naked Women
Shopping
Fitness
Emotions
Action Films
Gaming (Both PC and console formats)
Name 5 products that you feel embody masculinity.
Name one real-life character (such as an actor) who you feel embodies masculinity.
Name one fictional character who you feel embodies masculinity.
Do you feel it is possible for women to be masculine?
If so, how?
If not, why not?
Which sport do you feel is more masculine? (explain why)
Football versus Rugby
Tennis versus table tennis
Hockey versus Polo
Golf versus Formula One Racing
Gymnastics versus Dancing
Show Jumping versus Horse Riding
Advertisements In Nuts Magazine
What Adverts Did I Find In Nuts?
Grand theft auto 4 – Xbox 360 – Jump In
Gillette Fusion – the best a man can get
Blockbuster – I am legend – 300
Play.com – Cloverfield – Balls of fury – We own the night – 10.2MP camera – Sony Bravia TV
HMV – Get closer
Jacamo – make clothes shopping painless
888.com – enjoy the game
Young persons railcard
O2 contract X 2
MTV Fur TV
Borstal Boy – HMV
Lynx
Lucozade – Be more premier league X 2
3 Mobile – Short & Sweet
RAF
WKD Nuts football awards
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Essay Quotes - Number Two
Gender targeting in print ads – Danielle Miller
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/dnm9901.html
“Men tend to rely on more mental shortcuts”
“Simplicity”
“What you see is what you get”
“Men do not seem to want to read about all the reasons why they should use a certain product”
“Men are less likely to process complex metaphors”
“FHM… that is why the ad is so up-front”
“Rough n Ready”
“Women look to seek beauty, and men, strength”
“Impress the women and show off at the same time”
Date accessed: 17/4/08
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/dnm9901.html
“Men tend to rely on more mental shortcuts”
“Simplicity”
“What you see is what you get”
“Men do not seem to want to read about all the reasons why they should use a certain product”
“Men are less likely to process complex metaphors”
“FHM… that is why the ad is so up-front”
“Rough n Ready”
“Women look to seek beauty, and men, strength”
“Impress the women and show off at the same time”
Gestalt theory
The idea that we as readers tend to background somethings and foreground others.
Date accessed: 29/4/08
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology
Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt of the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies; or, that the whole is different than the sum of its parts. The classic Gestalt example is a soap bubble, whose spherical shape is not defined by a rigid template, or a mathematical formula, but rather it emerges spontaneously by the parallel action of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. This is in contrast to the "atomistic" principle of operation of the digital computer, where every computation is broken down into a sequence of simple steps, each of which is computed independently of the problem as a whole. The Gestalt effect refers to the form-forming capability of our senses, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of just a collection of simple lines and curves.
Date accessed: 29/4/08
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology
Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt of the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies; or, that the whole is different than the sum of its parts. The classic Gestalt example is a soap bubble, whose spherical shape is not defined by a rigid template, or a mathematical formula, but rather it emerges spontaneously by the parallel action of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. This is in contrast to the "atomistic" principle of operation of the digital computer, where every computation is broken down into a sequence of simple steps, each of which is computed independently of the problem as a whole. The Gestalt effect refers to the form-forming capability of our senses, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of just a collection of simple lines and curves.
Essay Quotes - Number one ( I try to think of jazzy titles but fail...)
The portrayal of men and women in TV ads – Danielle Limpinnian
Date accessed: 17/4/2008
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/del0001.html
“Patriarchal mass media”
“Women – good domestic ability”
“Men – tough, rough n ready, competitive”
“54% of women with pre-school children… full or part-time employment”
“3% of directors are women”
“Toilet Duck – housewife’s attempt at cleaning the toilet is unsuccessful… by his top hat and tails we are encourage to believe him to be male, indicating that the woman needs a man to invent products in order for her to do the work well”
“94% of voiceovers are male”
“Man’s man image – strength, skill, guts, success and having a strong self esteem”
“Masculinity means strength and power but it also means being lady and laddish”
Date accessed: 17/4/2008
Source: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/del0001.html
“Patriarchal mass media”
“Women – good domestic ability”
“Men – tough, rough n ready, competitive”
“54% of women with pre-school children… full or part-time employment”
“3% of directors are women”
“Toilet Duck – housewife’s attempt at cleaning the toilet is unsuccessful… by his top hat and tails we are encourage to believe him to be male, indicating that the woman needs a man to invent products in order for her to do the work well”
“94% of voiceovers are male”
“Man’s man image – strength, skill, guts, success and having a strong self esteem”
“Masculinity means strength and power but it also means being lady and laddish”
More Questions - Rather than answering the original...
Is being the traditional the new radical? Or is radical now traditional?
Can the following aspects have an impact on what men buy?
Colours
Images
Copy
Models
Humour
If so to how great of an impact can these be affected?
Do men prefer extra strength products?
Do men feel pressured to have certain values such as strength?
What is masculinity?
- What are men’s views and description of it?
- What do magazines and adverts suggest?
Do men see the central male character in an advert as a role model?
Are there certain jobs and tasks that are “male” or “female”?
What role appeals most to a male audience?
- Weak Mr Muscle
- Strong men (seen in Flash adverts)
Is being useful around the home a desirable aspect? If so is this represented in male magazines?
How do men view “Lad Mags” on a basic level and the ideas they present?
Do men copy adverts? If so are they aware of this?
Is there a crisis in masculine roles?
Can the following aspects have an impact on what men buy?
Colours
Images
Copy
Models
Humour
If so to how great of an impact can these be affected?
Do men prefer extra strength products?
Do men feel pressured to have certain values such as strength?
What is masculinity?
- What are men’s views and description of it?
- What do magazines and adverts suggest?
Do men see the central male character in an advert as a role model?
Are there certain jobs and tasks that are “male” or “female”?
What role appeals most to a male audience?
- Weak Mr Muscle
- Strong men (seen in Flash adverts)
Is being useful around the home a desirable aspect? If so is this represented in male magazines?
How do men view “Lad Mags” on a basic level and the ideas they present?
Do men copy adverts? If so are they aware of this?
Is there a crisis in masculine roles?
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Your focus
The range of versions of masculinity in contemporary advertising. You can look at ads that target men, ads that target women, and also at the issues around trying to get men to buy products such as perfume/cleansers etc.
Media Gender and Identity - the men chapters.
Primary research:
1. Collect a big range of ads - from print media
2. Select some with my help and analyse them in terms of their reps of masculinity. (Relate your reading to this part).
3. You'll end up with a summary of the starategies which you have identified being used. You could then try out these strategies on a male audience to examine how successful they would be in practice.
Media Gender and Identity - the men chapters.
Primary research:
1. Collect a big range of ads - from print media
2. Select some with my help and analyse them in terms of their reps of masculinity. (Relate your reading to this part).
3. You'll end up with a summary of the starategies which you have identified being used. You could then try out these strategies on a male audience to examine how successful they would be in practice.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Your first ideas
Advertising
Reps of men and women in advertising.
This would be too broad. How about focusing on men? Would be more unusual than women. Even then you’d need to narrow it down further. You could focus on, say, men in domestic product ads, for example. You could use some of the stuff we looked at in the Magazine Industry and I could give you some more reading ideas too. Men in domestic product ads would be a nice study, as it takes in a lot of stuff. Look here:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/sections/advert04.html
For primary research you could get male audience members to discuss their attitudes to domestic labour and to the ads themselves.
Reps of men and women in advertising.
This would be too broad. How about focusing on men? Would be more unusual than women. Even then you’d need to narrow it down further. You could focus on, say, men in domestic product ads, for example. You could use some of the stuff we looked at in the Magazine Industry and I could give you some more reading ideas too. Men in domestic product ads would be a nice study, as it takes in a lot of stuff. Look here:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/sections/advert04.html
For primary research you could get male audience members to discuss their attitudes to domestic labour and to the ads themselves.
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