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Bodybuilders as a Subculture sample essay
Bodybuilding is a process of developing muscle fibers through special muscle training exercises, increased calorie diet, and sufficient amount of rest. The sport is called Competitive Bodybuilding, where bodybuilders display their physical body to judges and receive points for their musculature appearance (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). Many people believe that in the end of 20th and 21st century bodybuilders have formed a unique subculture with their own set of values, beliefs, traditions, etc. Now, bodybuilding is regarded as a life style, an attitude towards life, people, and the human physique.
As a sport, bodybuilding started back in the 11th century in India. Back then the first dumbbells were created, and the first gyms were opened. The early period of bodybuilding, however, is considered not earlier than between 1881 and 1930 (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). Eugen Sandow from Prussia, now referred to as “The Father of Modern Bodybuilding”, started promoting this type of sport in Europe. He was the first man to display his physique to live audiences in public performances. In those times, the male bodies were simply displayed during in strength demonstrations, and not for simple aesthetics. Wrestling matches were also a part of these performances (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). Eugen Sandow later built several businesses upon the bodybuilding success in his early career, and the bodybuilding sport evolved. Machined dumbbells, spring pulleys and tension bands were also invented by Eugen Sandow (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding).
Sandow was a proponent of the so-called “Grecian Ideal”, which claimed that the perfect musculature of a human was close to the standards set by the Ancient Greek and Roman statues. Many bodybuilders strove to make their bodies close in appearance with the ideal (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). Sandow also organized the first bodybuilding contest in 1901 in London, called the “Great Competition”. It was a great success, all tickets were sold out, and new names appeared on the stage of bodybuilding (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). In 1904 the first American bodybuilding competition took place in Madison Square Garden in New York City. The winner was declared “The Most Perfectly Shaped Man in the World” and won a significant cash prize (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding).
The “Golden Age” of bodybuilding came in the period between 1940 and 1970, during which aesthetic values of more mass, muscle symmetry, and definition appeared. One of the main determinants of such a shift was the World War II, which motivated more and more men to become more aggressive, stronger and bigger in musculature. Some technological changes also accompanied the shift, since better training equipment was invented, more studies on proper nutrition were conducted, and training techniques were improved (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). More contests were established, and the popularity of this sport greatly increased (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). Later on, many important bodybuilding organizations and associations were established, which contributed to the development of the sport, as well as to its growing popularity. A great contribution to the popularity of bodybuilding was the film Pumpimg Iron starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1977.
Also, an important issue of the period was the use of anabolic steroids in bodybuilding. Strict tests for the use of steroids and other banned substances were introduced (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding). In early 2000s there was an attempt to make bodybuilding as Olympic sport. It was unsuccessful, however, because many people argued that bodybuilding does not require athletic efforts at the competition, and that the prohibited steroids are often used in bodybuilding. In 2006, natural bodybuilding became important, and the athletes have strictly been tested for steroid-like substances (Wikipedia, Bodybuilding).
People have argued that bodybuilding should not be an Olympic sport. However, professionals have proved it to be a sport requiring athletic effort during training, a special lifestyle, and being popular among the fans and viewers. Many bodybuilders and the outside viewers of this sport believe that is truly is a subculture of its own. A subculture is a group within a big culture, with its own unique set of cultural values, beliefs and traditional practices. People within a Subcultural group usually intentionally differentiate themselves from a bigger group by their ethnicity, age, race, religion, occupation, political, and aesthetic qualities (Wikipedia, Subculture).
Bodybuilding athletes do differentiate themselves by the athletic appearance, aggressiveness, and the demonstration of strength not only in gyms, but also in private life and in public. Bodybuilders’ values are often very different from those of average citizens, especially in USA and Canada (Berardi). One of the examples of such differences in values is the word “Freak”. In the average society, this word is considered to be rude, negative, and disturbing. When someone is called a “freak”, it is considered negative. But in the bodybuilding subculture, it is the highest praise, a very positive and favorable compliment (Berardi). Another example of differences in values is expressed in the following:
I say "pharmaceutical" because I don't want to confuse it here with recreational "drugs". The truth is, most upper-level competitive bodybuilders are fascinated by anabolic drugs and value them as a necessary part of the subculture. They literally enable physique athletes to become supra-human - and that's very seductive. It further creates delineation between the "average" citizen and the bodybuilder. In great contrast, the "just say no" generation is shocked and dismayed by drugs in general. I think members of the subculture take great pride in learning about and using drugs that shock the average person (Berardi).
Bodybuilding is not simply a sport, but a lifestyle where the main goal is physical perfection. The idea was facilitated by the Sandow’s “Grecian Ideal”, and has formed a significant value of physical aesthetics to be the core value of the bodybuilding society. This value is accompanied by the drive for maximum intensity both on stage and in the gym (Berardi). “Bodybuilding is more a state of mind characterized by excess that is manifest in the gym and on the stage. […] Bodybuilding, by its very nature, screams ‘LOOK AT ME! I'M NOT NORMAL AND I LIKE IT’” (Berardi) An important belief in the bodybuilding subculture is the belief that it is good to differ, and in a sense to protest against the socially recognized conventions.
According to Berardi, any member of the bodybuilding subculture is easily recognizable. And the factors which distinguish the members from the rest of the society are not simply physical and aesthetic. The members share the same appreciation for developed physique and ability to demonstrate strength and musculature, and have a sense of belonging to the smaller group within a bigger society of average people:
My head looks like it's about to rocket launch from my body. In contrast, the bodybuilder views me as "one of us" and is the first one to offer a spot or to start conversation. These are the guys have often become my best friends. It's like being part of a secret society that very few others understand (Berardi).
In the bodybuilding society it is considered to be very good to be different from the rest of the average society. It is good to protest, to show your aggression, and to demonstrate dominance by excess strength and musculature. It is in a sense similar to the values of many marginal protesting subcultures trying to get attention of the public by differing from the rest of the people greatly. In America, the bodybuilding subculture remains very distant from the conventionally traditional part of the society. Culturally accepted values in America are rarely accepted by members of the bodybuilding subculture. Besides, the main idea of this subculture is to differ, to be a kind of a secret society with insiders accepted, and outsiders left out. Therefore, it is unlikely for the members of the bodybuilding subculture to ever “assimilate” into the “normal” US society.
Many famous bodybuilders started their career at an early age having of a strong desire to make themselves different from the “crowd”. Strong and big impressive muscles are a sign of masculinity in most societies, including the American society. Thus, some individuals may start up the bodybuilding practices because of a strong desire to impress everyone around them with the masculinity they achieve with professional bodybuilding training procedures, proper nutrition and good rest. There are many gyms around the country, where young men and women can come and start practicing and exercising. However, it takes quite a lot of effort, patience, and self-determination to get into the professional bodybuilding career, and not simply a hobby.
Once one devotes oneself to the physical aesthetics, one becomes a member of the “insiders”. Young people trying to start practicing bodybuilding need to not only devote and commit to training, but also to learn to share the values of the inside circle. They need to perceive physical body and musculature as instrument for recognition and demonstration of power. They need to place physical aesthetics on the level of highest priority, and appreciate the achievements of those athletes who have already succeeded. They need to be aggressive and learn the little “traditions” and notions of the inner circle, which is very easy to do at an early age. Once a young man or woman develops a strong drive for differing from others, for becoming bigger, stronger, and in a sense a bit “abnormal”, this individual is accepted into the inner circle of bodybuilders and is easily recognized in gyms and sometimes in public places.
Professional bodybuilders regard their athletic activities as deeds which differentiate them from the rest of the world. Most of them believe that in order to achieve success in bodybuilding, one needs to dedicate one’s maximum abilities, strength, desire for work to this sport. Nasser El Sonbaty, an IFBB Pro, once expressed a very common belief about bodybuilding among the professional athletes as the following:
"Professional bodybuilding is a sport of total dedication. You must dedicate every aspect of every day to the attainment of your goals if you want to succeed. It is not enough to merely go to the gym to "work out." You must put all of your concentration and focus on each rep, on each set, on each exercise to have a successful workout" (Cheeke).
Such strong training activities make the athletes stronger in terms of body and spirit. They make the sportsmen more aggressive and confident. It takes very strong dedication and a lot of strongest effort to make one successful in this field. King Kamali, another IFBB Pro, says that one needs to put onelself “through the pain, to make it in this sport” (Cheeke). Claude Groulx, an IFBB Pro, says that pain is one of the common practices a bodybuilder should experience during training:
"Intensity is just another word for pain. You should feel that intensity every time you pick up a weight. If I don't feel the sensation of this intensity down to my bones, then I know that have to increase my focus and my weight. It gives me great satisfaction" (Cheeke).
It is also very important to observe all different practices, including nutrition and rest. Shawn Ray, and IFBB Pro says: "If you don't follow a good nutritional plan, you're bodybuilding with one arm behind your back." Robert Cheeke speaks the following of the significance of bodybuilding in his life:
"Bodybuilding is not just a sport; it's a way of life. If every aspect of your life is not focused on making the sacrifices necessary to build your best physique, you will ultimately fail and never reach your full potential" (Cheeke).
The use of steroids has become a very important issue in the bodybuilding subculture of the American society. Anabolic steroids are most commonly used in bodybuilding. These substances are a class of natural and synthetic steroid hormones which facilitate cell growth and division in bone and muscle tissues of the human body (Wikipedia, Anabolic Steroid). Natural steroids, like testosterone, are not “evil” themselves, but create imbalance in the body when used excessively.
Main effects of anabolic steroids include increased protein synthesis from amino acids, increased muscle mass and strength, increased appetite, increased bone remodeling and growth, and increasing production of red blood cells in the organism (Wikipedia, Anabolic Steroid). Anabolic steroids also foster growth of genital organs of women and children, growth of hair, increased vocal cord size, increased libido, suppression of sex hormones, and other (Wikipedia, Anabolic Steroid). Besides, there are some negative side effects which arise from using anabolic steroids. They include elevated blood pressure, imbalance in cholesterol levels, acne, reduced sexual function, premature baldness, increased aggression, enlargement of heart, and liver damage (Wikipedia, Anabolic Steroid). It is essential for every individual practicing or wishing to practice bodybuilding to understand the positive and negative effects of steroid use. Every bodybuilder needs to understand the danger and risk of the side effects caused by the anabolic steroids. Oftentimes, health of the athletes is damaged by the imbalance due to steroid use. It is essential for the American society to encourage the natural ways of increasing musculature by physical training, nutrition and rest, and discourage the unnatural ways, such as steroids.
It is very difficult to imagine that someday bodybuilding may become a mainstream rather than a marginal movement. Arnold Schwarzenegger once said that “The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain” (Krachenfels). Many bodybuilders claim that it requires a great deal of enormous strength and motivation to become successful in bodybuilding because most of the time this sport is defying natural processes of the human body. Many physicians argue that bodybuilding is very dangerous for the health of athletes, especially when they use steroids and similar chemicals in order to boost the development of their physique. Bodybuilding training and muscle development through pain is perceived as unnatural. Thus, the first reason why bodybuilding may not become a mainstream movement in the American society is that it requires too much strength for an average individual. One needs to feel enormous motivation for being and looking bigger and stronger than others in order to go into bodybuilding.
The second reason why it is unlikely for bodybuilding to become a mainstream in the American society is that most people in the average society do not share the core values of the bodybuilding subculture. Aggressive attitude, value for excessive physique, and demonstration of strength are valued by neither the highly intellectual corporate workers, professionals in science and technology, lawyers, etc, nor by the family-oriented traditional sub-groups, which constitute large portions of the average American society. Thus it is unlikely for the bodybuilding core values to become popular values in the society.
The third reason why it is highly unlikely that bodybuilding will ever become a mainstream in the society is that there is a strong negative stereotype of bodybuilding in the society concerning the use of steroids and chemical supplements in regular training. These substances are banned and very harmful for human health, and therefore are discouraged and treated negatively by many members of the American society. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the bodybuilding subculture will remain at its present status in the nearest future, and probably will not become a mainstream in the American society.
Bibliography
1. Berardi, John. Bodybuilding Subculture. Bodybuilding.com2. Cheeke, Robert. Bodybuilding Quotes. Vegan Bodybuilding.
3. Krachenfels, Joseph. The Arnold Quotes. Quest for Muscle.
4. Wikipedia. Anabolic Steroid. The Free Encyclopedia. April 2006.
5. Wikipedia. Bodybuilding. The Free Encyclopedia. April 2006.
6. Wikipedia. Subculture. The Free Encyclopedia. April 2006.
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