Publisher's Synopsis
Fitness trends and attitudes towards male and female body image are now driven by social media Indeed, Instagram personalities such as Joe Wicks and Kayla Itsines have millions of followers and are regarded as authorities on topics ranging from ageing and exercise, nutrition and bodybuilding to Cross Fit, fitspiration and paleo fitness. In the first book of its kind, Shaping Gym Culture provides both a landmark overview and pioneering analysis of the gym as a popular cultural phenomenon. It draws on recent theoretical developments in art history, gender studies, sports studies and transgender studies as a means to critically investigate ways in which gym culture and fitness-oriented social media platforms celebrate specific body ideas and promote particular lifestyles as healthy, whilst also being essential reading for students.
