exam

Using any media texts that you have studied, evaluate the way media texts either challenge or reinforce dominant ideologies. (20 marks)


In the media, dominant ideologies are represented through the use of Visual Codes, for example in the Mens Health magazine, we can see that the dominant ideology that is being reinforced is the idea that men, in order to be masculine, must be in great shape and be muscular. I can tell this because, not only in every mens health magazine there is a strong man, but also because of the use of shot angles creating the idea that men when muscular, are the more dominant gender. For example the use of the low angle shot positioning the audience to look up at the person on the front cover, gives the idea that we are below this person in terms of we are not stronger, as athletic, or fit (healthy) unless we buy in to this magazine and learn the persons secrets.

The idea of learning the persons secrets on how they have become so strong and got a body like they have is also a marketing technique that the magazine company uses itself to also re-enforce the idea that men are the dominant / stronger gender and also allows the company to create more revenue so that they can keep producing magazines, allowing them to constantly be producing their media texts and mediating them to enforce their ideologies.

Also in the mens health magazine, the use of cell lines  is also used to enforce the ideology of men as being irresistible and desirable. For example in the Kevin Hart mens health magazine, i can see a cell line which says "Date Any Woman - the simple secret". what this shows is that the magazine is trying to tell men that by buying in to this magazine and reading the simple secret, they will be desirable to women which is a dominant ideology in which the media tries to represent when it comes to men, they try and create the idea that all men are desirable, as kind of an ego boost in a way, as it also helps the men running the media feel better about themselves too.