Masculinity the trait of behaving in ways considered typical for men. I believe in this generation that defintion of masculinity has changed dramatically. When I look at ads ,commercials, even in movies. When I am not watching television or reading an ad I noticed that some men do not live up to this definition of masculinity. In my opinion I think men in this modern age have stepped more into metrosexuality. In my opinion I believe that metrosexuality gives men confidence but there are some advertisements that put down men they discover their new found confindence. I've noticed all of the pressure that men take on to for them to live up to the metrosexual image. One ad that i found that shows this form of pressure is a Rocawear ad that I found in a men's magazine called "King ". The Rocawear shows in my opinion the three necessary items a man needs in our to obtain the metrosexual look. This ad gives off the subliminal message of metrosexuality because the ad shows that men need sunglasses,sneakers, and jeans when according to traditional masculinity men are not suppose to care about things like that and it is considered feminine.
Rocawear is a very well known designer company that usually makes clothing for men.
It was created in 1999 by Roc-A-Fella records cofounders Jay-Z and Damon Dash. They produce this image that men should follow which in time begins leading up to metrosexuality. Each and everyone of Rocawears designs all have the logo"RW" imprinted multiple times. This makes the consumer look like a walking advertisement for Rocawear. It also pulls us into a metrosexual look.
In their new collection Rocawear has designed a new line of jeans that suggests men to purchase them so then they can get women. In traditional masculinity men do not care about their appearance but in this Rocawear ad they are promoting a new definition to masculinity and it suggest that metrosexuality is that new definition. In the image the jeans are blown up to maximum porportion to catch the consumers eye. The jeans are complimented by the gold backround to send a message that the wearer of the jeans can feel wealthy and powerful. But with designers like Rocawear it takes more than one new pair of jeans to complete "the look".
On the second page of the Rocawear ad we see three pairs of sunglasses. These glasses are three different colors red,blue and silver but they are all complimented with gold metal on them. Like the jeans the backround of the sunglasses are gold which also gives off the same message of wealth and power. Usually sunglasses are worn to prevent people from seeing you but in this metrosexual image sunglasses are worn to make people look at you but not really see you so clearly. The glasses also give off the message that they are the second essiential item to becoming a real man. What people are unaware of is another hidden message which is men must spend more money to become apart of "the look".
The final essential item to become a real man is on the third page which has Rocawear's new sneaker. The sneaker is blown up to maximum porportion to fit the entire page. The sneaker is black and red and like the other images the backround is gold. The message being sent in this image is that the sneaker is them last item a man would need to become the man of any women's dream. I also think its saying that without the purchase of all three items no man can look the way the public wants to view them.
I believe metrosexuality does give men alot of confidence in appearance. But I also think being emotional and body conscious is due to the fact that the media puts out this image that all of us men should look a certain way. With all the negativitey the media puts into our minds I believe that it goes hand and hand with self confidence. With critisism it helps some men bring out their best but for some it ruins them. With this analysis on one ad from Rocawear I strongly believe that metrosexuality is the new masculinity.
This is an engaging introduction which focuses on the redefinition of masculinity as illustrated in popular media; furthermore, as your analysis of an advertisement for a men’s product deals with metrosexuality, opening with a discussion of how movies and ads shape men’s, and society’s, definition of masculinity is quite appropriate. Metro in metrosexuality seems to come from metropolitan which essentially means city or urban. Therefore, I would suggest you develop and/or explain what the term metrosexual means, and how it is different from ‘typical masculinity,’ which you mention in the beginning of your introduction. Also, maybe you could mention a title of a movie that you feel/think contributed to promotion of metrosexuality? In other words, you have a well structured introduction, which is:
ReplyDeleteA. typical masculinity is being replaced/or challenged by new type of masculinity, metrosexuality
B. this phenomenon can be seen in popular media such as movies and ads
C. The Rockawear ad is a strong example of how prevalent metrosexuality is today because the ad shows…
What I’m suggesting you do, is strengthen your ideas and thesis.
The body paragraph contains several interesting points, such as the brand’s target consumer base, how the brand’s products reflect the metrosexual style, the brand’s jeans make men more attractive to women, and how men’s attention to their clothing was not a part of traditional masculinity. But think about what we said in class about composing paragraphs which focus on one idea. You have several options:
A. You can include the information about the brand and its target consumers in the introduction where you first mention the ad. Here you can describe the ad or you can compose a separate paragraph describing what the ad looks like.
OR
B. You can devote one body paragraph to an analysis of the brand’s name itself as it does appear in the ad. Look at how many times it is featured in the ad. Think about the meaning of the term Rockawear. What words make up this term? Is the brand’s name’s meaning compatible with metrosexuality? If so how?
C. The analysis of the product-the jeans- needs more development. What do the jeans look like? How are they presented in the ad? Are the jeans relatively large or small in proportion to the page? What is it about the jeans that makes the men who wear them appear attractive to women?
I know my comments are quite extensive, but read them, then read your work and see what will prove most useful.
thank you for your comment Miss B I took all of your suggestions
ReplyDeleteThe definition of metrosexuality, which you added to your introduction, is great. But Saturday Night Fever came out in the late 1970s? Also, I’m not sure I understand what you mean in the following sentence “Metrosexuality is when a man cares mores more about his appearance more than regular man and his more body conscious, or emotional.? There are four “more” references in here? Also remember that your thesis needs to clearly state HOW the ad for the product is selling a specific type of masculinity. Please reread your work. The following sentence is unclear because it is a fragment or an incomplete idea “ I've seen how all of these different things that create this metrosexual image that men feel they have to look up to.”? The first body paragraph includes some facts about the brand, but will this help your reader understand your analysis? Why don’t you focus in this paragraph on how the brand- Rockawear is incorporated into the actual ad you are analyzing? Why does the logo of the brand “pull us into metrosexuality”? Also who is “us”? The analysis of the jeans is great but the beginning of the paragraph- men need RW jeans- is unclear? The transition from jeans to sunglasses paragraph is well done and this paragraph contains a great analysis of glass. The analysis of the sneaker needs more work. What makes the sneakers synonymous with metrosexuality and how? Finally in your conclusion you comment on the effects of the ad on men. But can you clarify the positive and negative effects of the metrosexual masculinity that ads are promoting?
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