G.I joke?

It is obvious that these two articles are contrary to each other. The first article, Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys, is promoting the idea that children are virtually influenced by the conspicuous growth of the muscular male physique through action figures. The authors of this article aren’t necessarily saying that these men are becoming anorexic but “the prevalence of body dissatisfaction is striking”. If we take closes look at GI Joe, Star Wars, Superman, Spiderman, and Batman, we can conclude that over the years there has been a vast alteration in their body sizes and muscular physique. The authors explain that “not only have the figures grown more muscular, but they have developed increasingly sharp muscular definition through the years”. This applies also to women through Playboy magazines and beauty pageants. Over the years these women have become smaller and smaller and thinner and thinner. It’s not going to get any better. This article suggests that one someone grows attached to their idols, whatever or whoever it may be, seeing the image they are portraying will have even the slightest bit of effect on its idolizers.
The second article, G.I Joe’s Big Biceps are Not a Big Deal, suggests that not only do these action figures have no impact on anyone, but it would be considered imbecilic to believe it could have any impact on someone. Through her use of language she makes you feel like an idiot if you really believed that these action figures are altering everyone’s images; “but a plastic doll? Please.” “will this foolishness ever stop?” She suggests that kids can be influenced by REAL people like Mark McGwire and Bill Romanowski and their magnificent muscular, rather intimidating, physique.
Ultimately anything that the media has to offer will trigger, even the slightest bit, of “hmm why don’t I look like that?” especially for women. We look at those BEAUTIFUL celebrities and models on the runway and think “my god I hate her for being so beautiful” then engage in some sort of eating disorder. Although I do not think that action figures have such a massive impact on young children, I can completely understand where the authors would come up with a notion like that. I have five brothers and when they reminisce about those action figures that they use to play with, never have they brought up the idea that they were traumatized by them or intimidated by them. However it is so clear that just like the media pursues excessively thin model bodies and exaggeratedly muscular men, that it has found its way to the action figures. GO FIGURES