Rough Draft

Jessica Izzo

English 201

February 11, 2016

Rough Draft

Society has created strict guidelines over time in regards to an individual being perceived as “healthy.”   Through articles, movies, and interviews these perceptions have been developed and molded into individuals minds.  Many define health as having a balance in all aspects of life.  One that is secure and stable, both physically and mentally.  Furthermore, society has made it clear that an individual should be able and self-sustaining in order to be considered a healthy human being.  Figures such as Roxanne Edwards, an inspirational bodybuilder, and Stuart Ewen’s who recorded an individuals journey to the perfect body through his work, “Hard Bodies,” both demonstrate different aspects of “health.”  

Roxanne Edwards is a 5’3” 138 pound professional bodybuilder.  She began her bodybuilding career at the age of 30.  With the use of a strict workout regimen, vitamins, and steroids, Edwards has flourished in the bodybuilding community.  Does she possess all of the characteristics of an individual at the peak of their health?  Someone with the perfect body?  No.  Society has rigid guidelines for an individual with the perfect body.  Edwards body may be “peeled” however, she did not go through healthy measures to get these results.  Steroids have a negative connotation when brought up in a conversation.  In Roxanne’s interview, “Roxanne Edwards is Superhuman” conducted by S. Adrian Massey, Roxanne was asked if she had ever used steroids.  In response, she stated “the steroids I use make me harder on stage, twice as hard.  All I am is muscle, and eyes, and teeth (Massey).”  Someone regarded as “healthy” would not need to take steroids to reach their fitness goals.  Although steroids are used to help an individual perform better, it does not demonstrate a balanced lifestyle, rather one of artificially inserting a drug into the body helps them to perform better in that instance.  

There is definitely a relationship between a spectator, either someone looking at pictures or watching Edwards perform, and Edwards herself.  Roxanne brings up the idea of insecurities in her interview with Dis Magazine.  Where a spectator may be judgmental in regards to Roxanne’s body, Roxanne does not have any regrets with her decision to become a bodybuilder.  When asked about her views on bodybuilding she states, “its the best thing you cold ever do for yourself (Massey).”  Furthermore, Edwards comes across as an extremely confident individual.  She recognizes the insecurities other women struggle with and wishes she could do something to fix them.  She mentions that she still has insecurities, they are just different; not physical like most people, rather mental and emotional.  Her body is at its peak. She makes sure her audience is aware that she is a strong individual and does not need anyones approval to continue her routines. 

Furthermore, Stuart Ewen’s work “Hard Bodies” brings the audience on a journey through an individual’s life through his experiences while exercising.  Raymond H. is a “single, young, urban professional- whose life has become a circle of work, money culture, and cultivation of an image (Ewen 62).”  This image, the image of the perfect body, is obtained by Raymond through repetition.  Repetition every single day, in the same exercise and the same diet.  

When Raymond looks into the mirror to admire his progress he can’t help but notice the imperfections of his body.  Although he is in prime condition he notices every aspect of his body that is not absolutely perfect.  His life revolves around an image.  An image of his body being in ideal condition.  An image created by society and the media of what the perfect body is supposed to entail.  No imperfections and no flaws.  Even though the advertisements are full of touchups and models full of makeup to cover their imperfections, todays society still idolizes these models.  Raymond seems to be brainwashed by workout facilities and the advertisements.  The thought of failure is not an option in his life.  He has a constant need to workout and improve his body because there is always something to remind him of what the ideal body is supposed to look like.  

Overall, the guidelines for a healthy individual are standard through out a society.  They are mostly developed from our take on media and advertisements.  The media generalizes how one can be healthy.  For example, advertisements make it seem as though there is a form of health that applies to everyone.  In “Hard Bodies,” the advertisement for at home gym equipment  describes a man with “his identity situated below the neck, an instrumentally achieved study in brawn (Ewen 63).”  This man’s body comes across as perfectly sculpted.  The author states that “the airbrush has done its work as well (Ewen 63).”  This man’s “perfect body” is not real.  While the audience sees a flawless body, it is stated to the audience that this body is full of makeup.  All in all, the perfect body does not exist.  

“Hard Bodies” emphasizes the idea that although society sees advertisements full of models with perfect and flawless bodies, they are not real.  Ewen brings light to the idea that there is a lot of makeup and touchup work done to these models.  The idea of a healthy person and the perfect body are generally closely linked together.  The perfect body does not exist.  Although body builders such as Roxanne Edwards have extreme muscle definition and essentially no body fat, this does not necessarily mean she has the perfect body.