PRELIM

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MAGAZINE

E V A L U A T I ON Q

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Q1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge codes and conventions of media products?

Similarities between my cover and a real-world example.

Use of sans-serif copy throughout the cover

Main cover line & cover lines

No use of puffs

Both use a person for the main image with anchored main cover line

Neither use a secondary image

Both utilise a masthead

Differences between my cover and a real-world example.

I have included a dateline/ issue month, issue number and barcode, GQ do not.

I have used a non-symmetrical main image

My model doesn’t use direct address, unlike GQ’sMy model is wearing casual attire, whereas GQ’s model is wearing a sharp suit.

I have no tagline

How I followed codes and conventions.When creating my cover, I chose to follow most codes and conventions. For example I anchored the main cover line to the main image so that the audience could associate the two subjects and used many main cover lines to preview what subjects are covered within the issue. This is also exhibited on the example cover of GQ. I also followed the rule of thirds by positioning the subject’s eyes around the top right hotspot, so that the audience would associate themselves with the image. This was done to also section the magazine into horizontal thirds, where I kept the third horizontal third blank to de-clutter the look of the cover and make the model’s body visible. This is similar to GQ’s use of the rule, however they have used a more symmetrical image so are able to make the torso the centre of the cover. They have also kept a third clear to allow the main image to still serve it’s purpose. Another magazine cover convention that I followed was the use of a barcode, issue number and dateline. These were placed to indicate that that the magazine is monthly and this is issue one. These are a group of conventions that GQ chose not to follow, likely because they are a popular brand and their audience is already aware of these details. In comparison to my draft cover, I didn’t follow any extra codes or conventions. I did, however change the subject of the main image from male to female, so that nobody would be put off by the magazine, for example feminists. I also believe that it adds to the connotation of calmness and happiness that has been spread throughout the cover and contents page.

How I challenged codes and conventions.When creating my cover, I chose not to follow some codes and conventions. For example I chose not to include a puff or pug, I did this because I wanted the cover to seem minimalistic in appearance and not overwhelm the reader with advertisements or offers.. Theoretically, if the cover had a pug and puff the cover would be more full and messy and would likely look less attractive. GQ also appears to have done the same, as these two features are also absent from their cover. Another way in which I broke conventions was by using an asymmetrical main image in which the subject did not use direct address. I chose to do this because it causes the cover to, alongside the garden background, look more natural and less staged. By doing this, the subject also seems more relaxed so draws in more audience members seeking to de-stress. This is completely contrasted on the GQ cover where they have chosen to go with a more staged, symmetrical image which focuses on the model’s fashion choice. The final code that I chose not to follow was the inclusion of a tagline. This is because it was very difficult to try and summaries college, stress, exams etc. in a few short words in the space I had near the masthead. Again, GQ has followed conventions by including theirs underneath the logo. In comparison to my draft cover, I decided to disregard the puff in the third horizontal third. This was done to declutter the cover and decontaminate it from advertisements, as there is nothing my target audience hates more. It was also done to ensure that enough of the main image was viewable to make it still connote the relaxation and de-stressed nature it is meant for. I also chose to do away with the tagline which can be seen underneath the masthead. This was done to deliberately breakconvention, as a magazine that doesn’t break convention in some way seems extremely boring and not interesting enough for the audience to pickup. I chose to keep the off-centre, asymmetrical image to keep the connotation of freedom and happiness which was aimed to be run throughout the cover and contents page.

Similarities between my contents page and a real-world example.

dateline

Logo/masthead visible in top left

numbered/ anchored

summaries to images.

Bright, tasteful colours

Differences between my contents page and a real-world example.

I have no editorial

I have a social media section

I don’t have content headings

I don’t use columns for

content

I have stated that this is the contents page

How I followed codes and conventions.When creating the contents page for my magazine I followed the majority of codes and conventions. For example I included the masthead of the magazine, to give some continuity and branding to the rest of the magazine. This is also done in GQ’s contents page, most likely for the same reasons. I have also included the dateline and issue number here, so that those who may have missed it on the cover can see it more easily. It has also been done to add some colour to the page and give sense of continuity throughout. Another code that I have followed is the use of anchoring between a content summary and an image. I have done this by using number next to the text and on each image. GQ has done the same thing, however it has only done it with a few summaries as they have far more than I do. The final convention that I followed was a relatively newer one, the use of social media usernames to expand the popularity of the brand. The sections fits well at the bottom of the page and is absent from GQ’s contents page, showing that they already have an expansive audience and have no need for social media coverage. It is pretty evident that my draft contents page didn’t include a social media section or anchoring to the images, where this has been rectified in the final product. This is because I wanted the product to connote professionality and not look like an un-considered mess. The anchoring of the images also helps the audience to find what the text is talking about, where in the draft it would have been more difficult for them to do so. I also added the masthead/ branding, as well as the dateline and issue number. This was done to conform to more conventions than I already was, simply to make the magazine look and feel more mainstream.

How I challenged codes and conventions.When creating the contents page for my magazine I ignored very few codes and conventions. The main example is the layout of the contents page. Instead of having columns and columns of articles and summaries, I chose to feature the three main ones, anchoring them to pictures in an abstract layout. This connotes freedom to the audience, rather than the strict regimented fashion seen in GQ’s page. Another minor challenge to the conventions of a content page was the choice not to include an editorial. Although it would have looked okay on the page, it wouldn’t look as good, or be as important as the social media section. If both had been on the page they would both have been squashed onto the page, making it aesthetically displeasing. The social media section makes the magazine seem more in tune with it’s teen audience, as most students have smartphones through which they would access the social media pages. An editorial is likely something that someone in the target audience would skim over, rather than interact with. In comparison to my draft consents page, I didn't challenge any extra conventions and chose to stick with the column less design, for the same reason as stated earlier.