Objective Synthesis
In “HARD BODIES” by “STUART EWEN” and “THE SPORTS TABOO” by “MALCOLM GLADWELL” outlines particular sports in addition to the differences between the athletic individuals and the ways in which they experience extracurricular activities. The first article listed begins by introducing a man named Raymond who is hoping to achieve the body figure in which he has always dreamed of having. It goes through his daily workout in detail in which he accomplishes after a long day in his office.
To achieve his long wanted goal, he works on parts of his body piece-by-piece, practicing repetition in a room surrounded by full-length mirrors. The author then begins describing various advertisements with pictures of quote-on-quote perfect bodies. Both men and women pose together showing off their tone and completion with a light coating of oil. Men generally expose their upper half, as women tend to expose their arms, shoulders and stomach. The author believes that these advertisements undergo more meaning then just the exercise in which they advertise.
They are more to attract viewers into wanting what they see and spending the money in order to achieve that particular body figure. After reading this article, my mind brought me to think back to many advertisements that I have viewed on shelves of stores as well as gym membership pictures. These figures we see, as they appear toned and have perfection, are never the raw images of these particular individuals. When an advertisement states that the reader should start a new physical training in order to achieve this goal, it includes a denomination of false advertising.
These images of these built individuals claim to have recently started new workout habits when in reality these models have kept in shape all their lives and have worked out daily in order to achieve their body types. Women in the workforce viewing these advertisements wanting to appear as these younger more fit women believe they too, can achieve such a body if they begin a new workout routine. The last article discusses the concerns of mainstream sports, while taking a further look into psychology as well as the social identity of an African American athlete.
He explores the subject through various data, experiments and observations and captures conclusions within his text using style and formality. Endearing the racial views of sports in society, author Malcolm Gladwell seems to strive to change the reader’s view on this particular aspect throughout his wording. He wishes to illustrate a cause for race not to stand as a criteria position in American sports, but instead for the athletic ability to form as a leading role in such opinions. In the course of his detailed argument, he proposes ideas of equality and nonjudgmental aspects of athletic stereotypes.
These two particular articles differ in many ways, one being the opposite perspectives of the body image. Given in the first article, Stuart Ewen had a perspective displaying the importance of body image by telling the story of the man named Raymond. In the second article, however, Malcolm Gladwell displays the non-importance. Ewen gives perspectives from the eyes from Raymond, and his lifelong journal of workouts in order to achieving his goal weight and body muscle. Translated through the second article by Malcolm Gladwell, he perceived a perspective of the aspect in difference.
His article proclaimed that the race and amount of money individuals had could have a say in sports as well as who belongs to what category for each. He does not believe in the stereotypes in which people create based off race, nor does he believe in the theory of success at sports depending on money. What I find to be important about the differences of these two opinions as well as views on this particular subject is the reasoning for each viewpoint. Perhaps the background of the author as well, contributing as a factor of the standpoint in which their opinion exists.
Could the background of the author, Malcolm Gladwell, contribute to his reasoning to the stereotypes of sports players? As well as the perspective from Raymond? The author may also have these strong opinions because of their ethnicity or religion, or opinions of their friends and or family. I, for one, stand from a similar viewpoint as Raymond with the concern of working out and keeping the body as wished. Achieving one’s desire body type can be of life’s most inspiring goals yet. It tells any average person that if they persevere, they can reach their goals.
From a similar viewpoint, both authors did have a strong belief relating to the importance of a subject pertaining to sports. One believed that it is important to look the way you want, and to work extra hard to get there, while the other mentioned the unimportance of how society today sees many stereotypes of how certain people are meant to play certain roles in sports. Many similar people stand evenly gifted according to each other without reasoning. He fights that there is no other side to the previous statement. Lyons, Gregory T. Body and Culture. Hard Body. 1950. Print. Lyons, Gregory T. Body and Culture. The Sports Taboo. 1950. Print
