The thesis explores the subculture of bodybuilding and how it is reflected in the context of popular cultures. It was important to examine the place of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played an important role in the development of weightlifting through the 1970s and beyond. His muscular physique, which was further reinforced by the documentary Pumping Iron, encouraged many to achieve the ideal of the perfect physique and this allowed bodybuilding to become popularised. At the same time, the subculture of bodybuilding, which in its beginnings did not promote health, has transformed into a globalised fitness culture that promotes health and does not support the use of banned substances (steroids). Moreover, it is interesting to note that, from the time of Schwarzenegger's fame until today, the subject of bodybuilding has begun to appear in other aspects of popular culture - films, literature, the fitness industry, other sports and spectacles, and the arts.
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