Bibliographic details and abstracts are available to all. Downloads of full-text dissertations are restricted to University of Portsmouth members who must login. MPhils may be accessed by all.

Abstract

This dissertation explores the presentation of the 'fit' body by fitness influencers on Instagram through the use of qualitative secondary analysis. It discusses themes and discourse surrounding the presentation of the 'fit' body and how they intertwine such as: the biocitizen, the consumption of fitness, gendered body ideals and the body within the media. This research undertook a social constructive perspective and utilised a Foucauldian theoretical framework to uncover an understanding of how the 'fit' body was both presented and constructed. Both purposive and quota sampling was conducted to select the images. Qualitative secondary visual analysis was then conducted using a combination of social semiotic, multi-modal and thematic analysis in order to analyse discourse. The main themes which emerged from the analysis were: gender performativity, commodification of the body, absence of health and the morality of the biocitizen. The findings which emerged from the images analysed created sub-themes and interlinked with each other to address the research aims and gap within the existing literature.

Course: Sociology - BSc (Hons) - C0315

Date Deposited: 2020-02-10

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13529.html