Reflective Statement

My intention behind this poem, as a young male myself who is very into the world of bodybuilding and powerlifting, is to raise awareness about the downsides of steroids, with the target audience for this message being young men of any age who may be considering hopping on gear. I encourage guys of various backgrounds and races to think twice before pursuing this path - as they most certainly may be victims of this - which possibly broadens the demographics of my readers a little more. This poem comes from a place of personal experience with this issue. It opens peoples’ eyes to the fitness influencers who preach false dichotomies and reminds them that their bodies are naturally capable of many great things if only they believe. This hopefully makes it that much more solid and relatable. Now referring to Plutchik’s (1980) wheel of emotion, I believe the two main emotions I have relied on for maximum engagement are: Fear and Trust. My style of poetry instills a warm sense of fear by highlighting the risks and dangers associated with steroids. It warns of the physical and mental health consequences, as well as the potential for deadly outcomes like strokes and HIV infections. Also, by referencing professional sources to defend the information I share, I establish trust with my audience as they are able to see authority and credibility. However, even with all that being said, I have, of course, adhered to codes of ethics. The most relevant ones to my chosen communication element is that of the Media, Entertainment & Arts alliance, or MEAA, in multiple ways. a) Independence: The poem demonstrates independence from external influences, and personal or commercial interests do not compromise the content's objectivity. Having self-awareness, and asking for other’s input as well is very important for this step. b) Accuracy: The poem presents legitimate facts that are based on credible sources found within well-revised evidence-based articles.

Behind The Scenes / vlog