Leah's AS Media Studies

Magazine Evaluation

-In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My magazine is influenced by the forms and conventions of a real media product. My magazine is based on musical interest and involves a lot of the typical attributes of a music magazine, starting from the front cover which has a blown up photo of the main article. The cover also has a ‘3 colour scheme’ to keep it simple and to keep focus on the content. The mast head is the largest lettering on the cover and coverlines at the top to indicate to the audience what is inside the issue. Sell lines about the main article are a different font to the rest of the coverlines to establish the significant article. Highlighting behind coverlines create a more finished and graphic look to the cover and makes them stand out more.

My contents page also uses the forms and conventions of a real media product, it has the main article placed at the top of the list and more significant pages are blown up a bit more to indicate this. It includes the regular articles that feature in all issues. The text overlaps the anchor text to give a less restrictive layout to mirror with the attitude of the genre of music. This page also includes links to the website and promotes to readers to subscribe. It keeps the main article relevant by placing an image of the key artist.

My double page spread also uses the forms and conventions of a real media product, it stays consitent with the colour theme and fonts. It also states what the page is about, “interview” at the top as well as a quote from the artist and general typical questions any music magazine would ask an artist. The image is also overlapping the anchor text but is still readable.

-How does my media product represent particular social groups?
My magazine represents rock and indie groups and artists in a positive yet attitudinal light, they don’t act disrespectful but still have that signature careless persona. The people in my magazine are quite young which shows the increase of young, aspiring artists.

-Who would be the audience for my magazine?
My media product is targeted at modern day teenagers who are heavily influenced by the rock/indie/alternative genre of music.

-How did I attract/address my audience?
I attracted my audience with bright and engaging colours and bold lettering, including generic poses and exciting phrases.

-What have I learnt about technologies from the construction of this product?
I started experimenting with Adobe Photoshop which I found quite complicated so I found Adobe Fireworks which was more easy and helpful to use. By getting familiar with Fireworks, it enabled me to look into more depth with graphics and different features to use for different projects as well.

-Looking back at my preliminary task, what do I feel I have learnt from in the progression from it to the full product.
I have learnt to use more appropriate fonts and graphics to make the product fit more into the market and make it more appealing to audiences.

The iconic band The Clash here is photographed by Ross Halfin as well, it shows the famous, now very generic, pose guitarists like to pull in their photos. It shows a sense of dominance and chaos, no control. The blurred darkness gives a mysterious and brooding attitude to the image.

This photo by Ross Halfin shows the friendship between two different artists, Miles Kane and Alex Turner who formed supergroup The Last Shadow Puppets. What Halfin has done is captured their friendship in one photo, here you see Miles laughing at Alex which gives us an idea of their personalities. Miles is a bit of a joker, whereas Alex is more cool and serious. The photo is set in what looks like an urban area, the brick walls gives off a more natural and casual theme, this makes the photo and relationship look more genuine and real. The only thing which is posed really are what they're wearing and where they are. Miles is genuinely smiling in the photo which gives us an idea on what the photo is generally about.