An Analysis of Representation of Masculinity in Music...

An analysis of representation of masculinity in music magazines, with particular reference to Kerrang and NME magazine ‘Representation is the construction and aspects of reality in any medium, especially mass media. It can be presented in speech, writing, still and moving pictures.’ For my research investigation I will be analysing the representation of masculinity in music magazines, and will do this by studying the codes and conventions that cause the representation of masculinity ion two magazines. These magazines are the February 2011 edition of Kerrang and the March 2008 edition of NME, separated by three years to also compare if concepts have changed over the years, I will closely analyse the message these magazines send out to both†¦show more content†¦This large and bold text catches the eye of the audience and will therefore be the first thing that people will recognise the magazine by. In addition to this, the strap lines, placed variously around the main image, allow the audience to gain more information about the issue and its content. An example of this would be â⠂¬ËœTom Clark VS. Faris Rotter’ which grabs the audience’s attention and the fact that the names are of two men gains the appeal of men as they can immediately relate to them. By using the word ‘VS’ also gives the impression of fighting and violence, which is known to be a very masculine tendency as it relates to dominance and control, two things men aspire to become. ‘The Marxist concept of hegemonic masculinity states that the man should have; Physical force and control, occupational achievement, familial patriarchy, frontiersman-ship and heterosexuality’. NME is very powerful and well known in the music industry, especially the ‘indie genre’ of it, ‘Indie (independent) guitar rock is a post-punk subgenre of independent or alternative rock, featuring mainly white, male groups playing mainly electric guitars, bass and drums’ these present what can be seen as stereotypical characteristics of indie music giving the idea that music is a subject for men. Kerrang began publications on 7th June 1981, asShow MoreRelatedAssessment of the View That Mass Media Perpetuates Stereotypes of Gender1265 Words   |  6 Pagesexamples of the male gaze. Females roles in films are extremely limited for most and if they are to be shown it is so that they appeal sexually to males. In 1985 a study was up taken by a male media reporter and the study was based on music videos shown on MTV. They took 300 clips and it explored the position of females in them. 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