Evaluation Question 2

EVALUATION QUESTION 2By Jack Huntridge Dixon

My magazine provides a representation of my target audience, as well as other fans of rock and metal music. As my magazine has been designed to appeal to these particular social groups, it acts as a representation of them and their interests. I have used different shades of black, blue and grey on my front cover – all colours that my target audience said they would like to see in a magazine when they completed

my target audience survey. The colours were also chosen for their aesthetic merit, which I added to ensure the magazine looks attractive to any impacts it may achieve when placed in public locations such as newsagent shelves. If it did not look attractive then people’s eyes would simply glaze over it and they may not even notice the magazine at all – this would be detrimental to sales.

I have learned about and put to use several written, technical and symbolic codes during the production of my magazine. An example of this is the mise en scene I employed when I photographed my subject. The sunglasses represent my target audience’s desire for anonymity. Sunglasses are also stylish among my target audience, this will therefore leave a stylish impression of the magazine in their minds.

When I was taking the picture for the front page, I made sure that my subject did not look at the camera. I also wanted him to have his arms crossed. This leaves an impression that the subject does not want to be there and may be in a mood – just like a real teenager! Because of the polysemic nature of these signs, I decided my subject should wear a neutral expression for the cover page – this should help prevent the sign being decoded incorrectly and misunderstood.

The musician I chose to interview and put on the front cover is named Ricky Robson. I think I have represented his personality well on the double page spread (dps) for a number of reasons. Firstly, I have created a psychedelic pattern to go behind Ricky – this represents his unusual personality. Secondly, in the image (on the dps), Ricky is smiling – this represents his cheery disposition. Thirdly, his arm is resting on a guitar amp – this represents his love of playing guitar and music in general. And finally, with his left hand, Ricky is displaying the ‘Sign of the Horns’ – this represents his love rock and metal.