ESPN the Magazine released their 3rd Annual "Body Issue" this past week. The series is meant to explore and celebrate athletes' bodies. It is similar to our discussions about perception of the body and how society forms our ideas of what is "hot" and what is "not."
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/09/espn-the-magazine-3rd-annual-body-issue-alicia-sacramone-hope-solo-blake-griffin-jose-reyes-steven-jackson-gretchen-bleiler-sylvia-fowles-apolo-ohno/1
I think their idea of promoting the muscular build of professional athletes is a constructive move for the media. The bodies the athletes have acquired are perhaps not more realistic for the readers but more natural as they have been naturally built through hard work and training. The fact that the issue "is only about the athletic form" and "to celebrate athletes in the condition that [the athletes are] in" is respectable. The hype of the public surrounding the release of this article each year is a sign of not only the popularity of the photos but the publics equal appreciation of the representation of these athletes as to say the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated. The stereotypic "hot" is being challenged, instead of an ultra skinny almost-adolescent, there are images of people who fit and healthy being promoted. The images, instead of being degrading, are inspiring to the reader.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading this article, and definitely agree that promoting the muscular building of professional athletes is a constructive move for the media. In addition, I feel the bodies that are portrayed by the models serve as a motivating force to get people inspired to get in shape, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle.
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