Instruction
-For this assignment, you will observe, collect data, and critically analyze how
masculinities are portrayed in advertising.
-You will then compose a 750-1000 word write up of your findings based on the following questions:
• Find two current advertisements that depict masculinity/masculinities. These can be
advertisements from magazines, newspapers, websites/social media, or television
commercials (YouTube commercials are acceptable). You must use at least two different
types of advertisements, for example you could use 1 TV commercial and 1 print
advertisement. But do not simply use one type of advertisement for both of your example.You must include a copy of the media or a link to the source with your paper.
• Explain: who is the target audience for this ad? What is the ad selling?
• What events are taking place in each of your advertisement selections? For example, what is the setting, who are the characters involved, what is the situation?
• What models of masculinity do you see in the ads? Who is performing masculinities? Who is presented as “masculine”?
• What are the attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and thoughts expressed regarding what constitutes masculinity/masculinities in the ad? Is it explicit or implicit? Who is perpetuating these views in the ad?
• How are the masculinities framed in the ad? Are they seen as positive, negative, neutral, etc? How?
• Are there any masculinities seen as negative, or as not “really” masculine? Why?
• Compare and contrast your ads. What overall message do you believe society receives from these ads about what it means to be a “man” or to be “masculine”?
Make sure you address these questions for each ad, and critically consider these questions about each, and how these two ads together present a particular image of how masculinity is viewed and defined in the United States.