Summer Movies Distort Male Body Image

It’s quite clear that no one is safe from the pressure to conform to an ideal body image, even men.  The Los Angeles Times recently published an article about new summer movies and their emphasis on brawny, muscular males.  In some cases, these actors have gained at least 30 pounds of muscle to play their parts.  The difference between these actors and the average male are extreme and may contribute to body image dissatisfaction, and as the article suggests, possible steroid use.  The muscular bodies achieved by these actors are not only the product of intense workouts.  They are also achieved by production tricks, and in visual advertisements, many of these actors are digitally enhanced.

While many people know that these are not the bodies of normal men, the visual effect can be overwhelming.  As Emily Fox-Kales, a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard, was quoted in the article saying, “You can say to a kid it’s unreal, and he’ll get that intellectually.  But that doesn’t change the way they want to look, because it’s so reinforced as what’s masculine.”¹

Because of this powerful visual effect, parents should be cautious when they take their kids to these summer blockbusters.  At the very least, these movies should spark discussion about body image, appearance, and self-worth.  For all of us, males and females alike, we should understand that the images we see are not always reality, and that our media diet can have a major impact on how we see ourselves.

Reference:

¹ Keegan, Rebecca. “Muscle Summer – the men of ‘Captain America,’ ‘Thor’ and ‘Conan’”. The Los Angeles Times. 01 June 2011.