Evaluation

FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP, OR CHALLENGE

I have challenged forms and conventions of real magazine products, by using the typical conventions that are used in every magazine, but making it my own. Throughout all three pages of the magazine, I have stuck to a similar layout. This convention is very simple, yet effective. It gives the magazine a clear image to prevent confusion, and to give a ‘neat’ touch. The layout conveys a very similar, structured convention to any magazine. On the front cover, the masthead is placed at the top. This is an important convention so that it is the first thing that people will see when it is on the shelves. I wanted my magazine to look feminine and attractive, so that it would fit in well with the genre in order to appeal to my target audience. My magazine is based on the genre pop. A typical convention of a pop magazine usually consists of a ‘messy’ layout, filling the page up, in order to appeal to the target audience. I challenged this form into my own magazine by using a variety of fonts in order to gain this ‘full’ effect. Magazines usually consist of no more than 3 different fonts on the front over. I however, decided to go against this rule, as I myself used a total of 5 fonts. I wanted to achieve a ‘crowded’ look to make the page look full. I also wanted to use a variety of different fonts, consisting of both fancy fonts, and simple fonts. I used a range of attractive fonts that were both fancy and plain, yet all fit in with the genre in order to attract the target audience. I used a separate font for the masthead, to make it clear that this is different to the rest of the page, making the title individual and unique. The masthead consists of a fancy font, to give that feminine appeal. I came up with the title ‘Muze’ for my magazine by shortening and abbreviating the word 'Music', so that it linked to my magazine as it is a music magazine. Although I originally wanted to use a wide range of bright, yet different colours, I decided to change this and stick to a colour scheme of three colours. I based the colours around pink, using two different coloured pinks (one lighter and one darker) in order to give that feminine touch that I wanted. These colours also went well with the models clothing. I decided to use the colour black, mainly for the fonts, so that they could stand out against the pink colours, whilst also matching to the colour scheme at the same time. The model’s clothing fits in with the colour scheme. On the front cover image, the top is a pale pink colour, worn with a black skirt to match the rest of the page. The effect I wanted to achieve here was to use a pale colour, yet different to the colours I would be using on Photoshop, so that the image of the model didn’t blend in with the background. By using a pale colour, allowed me to focus more on the editing of the make-up, by using a bright lip colour to make this part stand out most, by attracting most attention. On the contents page and double-page spread, my model is wearing two different black dresses. I wanted my model to look rather formal to achieve a stylish, yet elegant image. This again allows the editing effect of the make-up to stand out most.

HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS?

WHAT KIND OF MEDIA INSTITUTION MIGHT DISTRIBUTEYOUR MEDIA PRODUCT AND WHY?

WHO WOULD BE THE AUDIENCE FOR YOUR PRODUCT?

HOW DID YOU ATTRACT/ADDRESS YOUR AUDIENCE?

Big, bold masthead with a fancy, pretty font. This suits the teenage, girly target market to give a more feminine vibe or look to the magazine.

Takes up the width of the top part of the magazine, which is a typical convention for a magazine, so that it is the first thing that the reader will see when it is on the shelves.

Black to stand out against the bright pink background, and also match the colour scheme.

Star ‘bubble’ to draw more attention to the most important/interesting information. It attracts the audience by allowing them to immediately focus on the best storyline.

Names of famous pop bands and artists featured in the magazine attracts the audience

A bright pink/purple background to match the colour scheme, with a darker tinted colour. The bright allows it to stand out, whilst giving the magazine a ‘poppy’ feel. These colours go well together in order to match (so that they don’t clash) and go well against the black.

Complex, busy design with lots of detail and information which makes the page look crowded to give the idea that it is ‘full’, by making it seem that there is more going on.

Good looking, attractive model to suit the ‘poppy’ look, female to attract the target audience

Bold font and capitalization – stand out, noticeable (attracts audience by gaining attention)

Heading – specific to pop so that it is suitable for the audience to attract the young teenage target market,

A brand ‘new’ magazine attracts the audience by gaining their attention - something new, different, modern and ‘fresh’.

Elegant, stylish pose – looking to the side, away from camera, makes the magazine seem less intimidating and makes the reader feel more confident, hand on hip to accentuate the body and posture, with other hand on head, different, more individual pose.

Fashionable, trendy clothes to make the magazine more appealing to target market

The use of make-up and edits bring out the fullness in eyes, and the colour of lips. Make-up attracts the young, feminine audience.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE

PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?

LOOKING BACK AT YOUR PRELIMINARY TASK (THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE TASK),WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT IN THE PROGRESSION

FROM IT TO THE FULL PRODUCT?