The writer uses surprise endings to keep the writer interested e.g., “perfume, waxing, cosmetic surgery….nineties man…his body image” when perfume and waxing are mentioned the reader automatically thinks of women, but gets quite a shock to discover that the writer is talking about men!
“When my moment of truth came, I took it like a man…non stop snivelling, sulking and self-pity” when “took it like a man” was said, snivelling and sulking aren’t exactly what comes to mind!
There are many more examples of surprise endings to sentences. I think Landesman uses surprise endings because it gives the article a certain edge to it, it’s not what the reader expects and it intrigues the reader.
Landesman uses many humorous visual descriptions throughout the piece, e.g. “get my belly surgically removed…”and “more lines than British rail ways” and “sitting in bathtubs of seaweed”. These help the reader to use his/her imagination to show the length some men will go to, to achieve “beauty”. They also create humour and keep the reader interested.
The use of similes in the article add humour and a more visual picture in the readers mind e.g. “starting to look like Mr blobby” and “like some sot of slice of scary sci-fi feminism”. Metaphors are used in the same way e.g. “ more lines than British railway across his face” and “from primate to peacock”
The writer creates laughter at his own expense, this creates humour but it also gives a more personal feel to the article. The writer is sharing personal thoughts and experiences with you, a bond is made between the writer and reader and you feel like you know the writer and you warm to the article and can relate to it better. E.g. “when my moment came…snivelling, sulking and self pity” and “my wife is so myopic…I will be only to glad to get my face lifted…etc.”
Landesman gains effect by using alliteration e.g. “black, bags, beneath”. “Non-stop, snivelling, sulking and self-pity”. “Finger of fate, flow with the flab”. “Pulchritudinal problems”. “Character, cuddles and conversation” and “ some sot of scary slice of sci-fi”.
Facts and figures are used to create interest and impress the reader e.g. “hairspray is up 5 per cent”. “Men’s fragrance industry is worth £24o million” and “one in five customers for cosmetic surgery is male”.
The use of puns creates both humour and adds effect to the writing e.g. “the sharp-end of the beauty industry” has a double meaning referring not only to the sharp end of the beauty industry but to the sharp end of cosmetic surgery (the knife). “Paying the price” it also has a double meaning because they are literally paying, for the cosmetic surgery.
Irony is use din this piece, creating humour and slight sarcasm e.g. “took it like a man…snivelling…etc”. “Speaking personally I don’t feel that I’ve suddenly became neurotic about my looks…I’ve been that way since I was a teenager…”
Humorous exaggeration is also used by Landesman to create humour in the article e.g. “just look inside any men’s magazine and you’ll see how to achieve the ultimate shave”. “Cosmetic surgery at work to wreck men’s self esteem…”
This piece of writing although full of humour also holds some very interesting facts and shows that times are changing, today it’s acceptable for men to wear perfume and have face-lifts. So in conclusion I think Landesman has made one small step for journalism but one giant leap for all those beauty conscious men out there!
