Evaluation Q1In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms

and conventions of real media products?

Evaluation Q1

Front Cover Front Cover

Mast head: I have super imposed the main image to appear in front of the mast head in the same way other magazines have, shown in the examples.The typography of the mast head also uses a drop shadow to make it stand out.

Uses

Examples where cover lines are made up of two colours.

Uses:The typography of the cover lines uses simple, minimalistic fonts, following the forms and conventions of alternative pop/indie music magazines.

Development:It is usual to see each cover line made up of two colours, however, in order to fit the house style of a simple, minimalistic music magazine, I only used one. But overall, two colours are used.

Cover Lines

Tag: I have used a tag, a form and convention used by magazines in order to engage the reader’s interest in a story, showing that the magazine has high compliments.

Bar code: I have placed a bar code, price and issue number in the bottom right hand corner.

Uses

From top to bottom (left): Q magazine, NME and Rolling Stone. (Right): Billboard, Q magazine.

By using the appropriate lexicon of words a form and convention used, corresponding to the genre, I allowed consumers to recognize and fully surround themselves with the genre of the music magazine. This enables gratifications such as identifying with the genre of music and being educated about current topics in the music industry. It also serves to entertain and initiate social interaction, as people who identify with alternative pop would be able to discuss these topics with other people of the like.

Uses

Examples all use a medium close and a direct mode of address through eye contact.

Main imageUses:The main image is a medium close up of the main artist featured in my magazine. This image has been edited on iPhoto and Photoshop, similarly, to how other music magazines would, in order to create a more aesthetically pleasing picture. A direct mode of address is relayed through the use of eye contact, this increases the chances of engaging with the consumer and ultimately, in them buying the magazine.

The splash has been positioned at the bottom of the cover, in front of the main image. This challenges the forms and conventions, adding emphasis as well creating an aesthetically pleasing composition, fitting well with my magazine’s house style and brand image.

Challenges

Contents page Contents page

Legitimacy is relayed through conforming to the codes and convention of using various images of different artists in different scenes using different props. Furthermore, page numbers, by lines and issue number also strengthen the professional image.

Uses

Brand image (Uses)

Subscription box: I created a subscription box, (for both digital and printed media), contributing to the magazine’s brand image. Colour palette: I carried over the colour palette of blue, orange, black and white to my contents page.Edited images: All of the images are photoshopped in order to create an aesthetically pleasing piece of text.

All of these points help to forge a house style and this case, also contributes to the magazine’s brand image.

Menu: comprised of two pages instead of one, breaking the forms and conventions. This portrays a more creative and more content filled music magazine, appealing to the target audience. Q magazine also breaks this convention for the same reason.

Typography: the format of ‘contents’ challenges mainstream practices of a linear title. This again provides an alternative and creative look, appealing to the target audience whom agrees with these ideals.

Challenges

Double Page SpreadDouble Page Spread

Uses Pull Quotes: to entice readers as well as highlight key points. This also breaks up the large text and makes it easier to read.Main image: takes up the entirety of the second page. This is used by magazines both inside and outside of the music genre to create a sophisticated and effortless touch to the double page spread.Three columns: to create a uniformed structure that would be recognised by the consumer I used three columns. This is structure is widely used throughout all genres of music magazines, for example, Q, Rock Sound and Billboard.By lines: In order to add authenticity, I added by lines giving credit to the author of the article and the photographer to took the image of my artist.

DPS from Vogue DPS from Billboard

Colour palette: I have used black and white which can be found throughout the rest of my magazine so it could be argued that I’m partially continuing with my colour palette. However in many magazines, I’ve seen many double page spreads that cater to only the artists themselves, meaning that the colour palette and typography doesn’t match with the rest of the music magazine, as its primary purpose is to portray the artist’s ‘brand image’.

Developments

DPS from NME, uses pink instead of the usual red, black and white to illustrate the artist’s style.

I have maintained a house style throughout the magazine by keeping a colour palette (of blue, orange, black and white)and layout, which contributed to creating a brand identity. By using a colour palette throughout the magazine itself, adheres to the codes and conventions. However the colours themselves are quite unusual, illustrating the ‘alternative pop’ that challenges mainstream ideals, and in this case, aesthetics. Images have been taken in different scenes, using different props and artists and have then been edited. This makes it seem that these images have been taken in a studio, in the same way a professional music magazine does.The artists are wearing clothing that is simple, fashionable, but different from the mainstream trends. For example the double denim worn by the ‘Queen of Hearts’.

Overall uses