Ideological Artifact

IDEOLOGICAL CRITICISM

This artifact is a picture of a trainer, Stacie Leavitt, mid-workout at Crossfit Dixie, a local gym in St.George.  I chose this picture because of what it suggests to me about the beliefs and values of a certain group of people.  I'll analyze this from what I believe the perspective is of the young girl sitting in the background eating the banana, whom I'll call Anna.

As for background, Crossfit is an up and coming trend among fitness enthusiasts.  It is a non-traditional style gym that is gaining national attention because of how effective it is for overall strength and endurance.  The mentality of Crossfit is different than most gyms in many ways.   Little equipment is used, no ellipticals, no treadmills, weight machines etc.  Instead you will find pull up bars lining the walls, weighted balls in the corner, a rower machine, and long olympic weight lifting bars with additional weights to add.  The focus of the workouts are strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, core, etc all the while being short workouts using variety, rarely duplicating workouts.

This picture represents the values and beliefs among crossfitters.  I am taking a hegemonic approach to this criticism as the trainer, Stacie is classifying the world to her observer Anna.  I propose that Anna is in the background of this picture idolizing Stacie in a sense, as what she wants to become.

Notice the strength in Stacie's stance, the protruding jugular in her neck, the firm grip of her hand on the heavy weighted wall ball.   It's not easy, yet she has a small smile on her face.  I love the angle of her legs and arms.  Her legs are almost 90 degrees creating a solid base, then her elbow is creating a triangle shape resting on the square.  This portrays solidness, firmness, resolution, not moving.  Stacie's back is flat and her core is tight.  She is not bendable, but believes in her values and believes what she is doing is right.  She almost seems to have to strain to keep her head above the ball, showing that it's tough to keep your head above water during the workout, but she maintains a small space between her chin and the wall ball, clearly showing her determination in staying in control of the situation.  I believe that through this picture, Stacie represents a idolized symbol of who and what a girl can become.   (Sidenote:  this would be interesting to view in a feminist way as well)

  Crossfitters have a strong belief in nutrition and eating clean foods.  The next symbol I want to evaluate is the banana Anna is eating.  This particular trainer typically eats Paleo, which is a caveman style of eating where you consume only fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and meats.  Anna is half-way through her banana which means she has internalized this style of eating and taken it upon herself to believe this is the correct way to eat if she wants to become like her trainer.

I like the angle of Anna's left arm, it's in the triangle shape as well, almost mimicking Stacie in a sense, also resting firmly on her own leg.  I like how she is copying her in that way.  Then follow her arm to her hand and you'll see her finger pointing to Stacie.  I love this symbol which says to me, "I want to be like HER", yes right there, HER.  She knows where she is going as she could be looking at many places around the gym, but she is focused on Stacie and pointing unknowingly at her.  Even the water bottle on the floor signifies a vessel of purity, suggesting an attitude of being clean and pure.  Anna is contemplating her life and has already in my mind accepted the crossfit lifestyle, and is now looking at a perfect picture of what she wants to become.