As someone who has been actively training for years, I am a direct witness of the changes brought about by the popularization and commercialization of fitness culture and bodybuilding on a global level.
The Modus Vivendi video focuses on one, perhaps the most obvious, aspect of that change, which is the imposition of standards that essentially mean the complete objectification or sexualization of women. The standard I’m talking about has absolutely nothing to do with the issue of body culture, but is entirely related to the way goods (in this case, the body) are marketed and circulated on the image market, which has become a valid and necessary measure of success in the field. Namely, it came from a specific equalization of the idea of quick and easy earnings, which comes with that ideal and beautiful body, and emancipation. Which is, of course, absurd because although one thing does not necessarily exclude the other, in this case it is a deception.
In a general sense, modus vivendi is an agreement that enables cooperation despite mutual disagreement. In the case of this video, the most obvious discrepancy is between the picture and the sound. What makes the image and sound incongruous is our previous experience, which directly affects our perception and places sighs of this type (pleasure) in the context of sexual enjoyment and not work on oneself, especially not work, ie. activities in public space. Bringing them into a direct relationship maps not only the position but also the attitude towards women (in the gym) today.
The video lasts 46 seconds and essentially does not provide any information.
The observer cannot know which exercise is in question, whether it was really done in the right way, the observer cannot conclude anything by himself. The video completely takes the model of how fitness influencers operate today and puts the entire focus on the mirror and the lights. Thus, the video becomes as instinctive and false as the very idea of essential emancipation only through a beautiful and ideal body that came with the global popularity of fitness.
Symbolically LIFE FITNESS is the only message we see.