Tucked between the men’s interest magazines plastered with eight-pack abs and tips on going from fat to flat, is a magazine that challenges the ideas of the others.
Taylor Sant, a senior pre-dental major from Atlanta, one day picked up a copy of Rebel Magazine, a publication that redefines the word “rebel” to illustrate a new position on the media messages sent to men.
“I grabbed the usual, Men’s Health, GQ and Sports Illustrated,” Sant said. “But I picked up Rebel just because the cover looked cool and I was surprised by its content. I really liked what it had to say. It inspired me to want to do more good in the world.”
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“We started Rebel because we saw a void in traditional men’s media, and quite frankly, myself and two other founders were tired of what boys are force-fed through the media,” he said.
Rebellion against pop-culture’s definition of what a real man should be inspired the name of the publication. By redefining the word “rebel,” the website, rebelmagazine.com, said they intend to breed a new sort of mutiny.
“Culture says a rebel is a man defined by independence, personal achievement, sexual conquests and economic success,” the website said.” Our definition of a rebel is slightly different. We believe a rebel is a man of character, defined by humility, dedicated to service and wholly committed to a cause greater than himself.”
The idea behind Rebel came from a Thursday morning bible study group, which fostered a comfortable place for “real dialogue,” something they believe the American culture rarely allows. Wanting to share this chance with other men, they created the magazine.
“If I was to break it down to its simplest form, Rebel hopes to in some small way help men become better men; better husbands, better fathers, friends and leaders in their communities,” Cabral said.
Michael Kelley, CCO of Rebel, said Rebel tackles issues no one else is willing to.
“Men’s lifestyle magazines have been recycling the same externally-driven content for generations,” Kelley said. “We wanted to offer men meaningful content that fully represented their life experience and personal challenges. By examining popular culture in unique and informative ways, Rebel is creating a platform in which men can feel comfortable discussing real issues.”
As an organization devoted to improving the moral standards of the world, it is easy to associate it with religion. But Cabral said they want to keep the magazine open to people from all faiths.
“We did not want Rebel to have a religious label, as we felt it was critical to meet men where they are in life. We are open to all and have a mentality of ‘come as you are,’ so to speak,” he said.
Rebel invites men everywhere to become part of an army of real men.
“Every man needs a mission, and that starts the moment we move beyond ourselves and begin to serve others. But no man can do it alone,” the website said. “Rebel is a community of men who have come together to create change. Isn’t it time some rebels got together to make a difference? Join the movement.”
