My magazine evaluation[1]

My magazine evaluation

Saba Ballagan

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of

real media products?• My magazine has the typical conventions of a music

magazine as I have used 2 contrasting colours on the front cover; black, white and red. In my opinion these colours associated with rock as red connotes energy , power and passion. Black suggests mystery, as a result the audience want to know more about the magazine. White indicates honesty and purity, revealing the magazine is trust worthy and although this colour contrasts with black, it relates to the content of the magazine as it consists of ‘contrasting’ music.

Magazine name• 'Q' magazine, a very successful

magazine has the same conventions as shown by the use of the colour red which is consistent throughout my magazine, 'Roche.' On the other hand I have challenged the typical convention of many music magazines as I have a French name rather than English. This is relevant to my magazine as it's of the rock genre which is very prominent in the French culture.

Fonts • The font’s I used were Palatino Linotype

and Zapfino. Although this was a risk as they are two very contrasting fonts, it gave my magazine more character and made it less typical, as most magazines tend to use similar fonts.

• My magazine follows the conventions of a music magazine as I have used the same 2 fonts through out the magazine, as a result my magazine has a theme which the audience will recognise. This is affective and allows the magazine to be more simple and less confusing.

Language • In my magazine I have used both formal and informal

language in an interview, this gives a relaxed tone but also targets a wider audience. The audience feel more laid back when reading the magazine, as they may also be able to relate, which enables them to stay interested. Many magazines also take this approach as I gathered from my research. The laid back tone is affective as the audience my magazine is aimed have high profile jobs and therefore need to relax in their free time, as a result my magazine will be a good substitute.

“It was a pleasure working with Wayne”

“It was just so random – popped up in my head aha.”

informalformal

Light coloured background

Kicker in same position

Both magazines use pug

pug

Same barcode position

more emphasise on magazine name

More simplistic, to the point and isn’t to complex for the audience

A variety of fonts

LayoutI have used the conventions of a magazine on my font cover through the use of my main image, barcode, alignment, pugs, kicker, straplines and a masthead. These allow the audience to be aware of the magazine genre and the content of the magazine.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

• My media product represents a mid age, open minded, classy individual. The style of the magazine conveys this as it incorporates a variety of music genres. The magazine price also shows that the buyer is sophisticated as they may be career based in order to buy I high priced magazine. Also as a glam magazine the style of the magazine is vital and I have shown this through the black and white design I have used.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Mise en scene and image• The artist in the image is conveyed as

confident she has her arms on her hips and is looking at the camera directly. This represents a middle class and professional women, which my magazine is aimed at and is also something my audience may want and admire or want to achieve.

• Also the artist is wearing affordable, high fashion clothing which attracts audience as they can copy the artists fashion, indicating she is a role model, consequently more people are attracted to the magazine.

• The use of a black and white image portrays sophistication, which my audience can relate to as they also are.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Content and language• I have used mostly formal language as the

social group my magazine is aimed at may also use this language and thus be able to relate.

• On the other hand I have used informal language such as ‘that hectic drive to my moms for starters.’ This also represents my audience as they have professional jobs and therefore will own a car.

What kind of institution (company that publish your magazine) might distribute your media

product and why?• •‘Q’ Magazine, a magazine similar to mine has

publishers such as Bauer Media Group, who would also produce and distribute my magazine. They publish many popular magazines internationally, hence 'Roche' would have a wider audience.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

• Due to the name ‘Roche’ (French for rock) my audience will be interested in rock, but my magazine intertwines a variety of music, as is aimed at open-minded and mature individuals, and as a result is aimed at people 18+. It appeals to this age group due to the majority of formal language, however I have still included informal language such as ‘that hectic drive to my moms for starters,’ this is the content of the magazine which reveals the artists everyday life and the audience are able to relate. I have also used italics as it is sophisticated, as is the images due to the sleek colours.

“It was just so random – popped up in my head aha.” Informal

language

How did your attract/address your audience?

• I attracted my audience through image, content and language of my magazine to represents a ‘laid back’ yet hard working individual.

How did your attract/address your audience? Formal and simple

informal

• The image is of a popular artist who is portrayed as confident as she is directly looking at the camera with her arms on her hips; something the audience may want and admire. The language I have used is ambiguous, however this draws a wider audience.

How did your attract/address your audience?

• The magazines is aimed at a sophisticated audience, who have an income that allows them to attend events such as concert which I have included on my front cover.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

• I have improved my skills in Photoshop as I learnt to use tools such as a magnetic lasso tool which cuts around photos, giving a plain white background. This allowed me to make a clear background and continue with my colour scheme (black and white). I also learnt how to adjust the brightness and contrast, which made my magazine look unique and stylish.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression

from it to the full product?• My research into music magazines allowed me

to understand the conventions of a music magazine, through the uses of colour language, image, content and style to make my magazine appeal to an audience. For instance I learnt the image of the magazine is important and usually centred as this is what will attract audience that it I aimed at and resulted in my magazine to have a more sophisticated layout compare to my preliminary task. As I feel the layout of my preliminary task looks unprofessional due to the block colours as my research reveal this is unconventional of magazines.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression

from it to the full product?• Through the use of Photoshop I have

gained more skills into making my magazine look professional compared to my preliminary task, such as the brightness and contrast making my magazine have an elegant look. I also gained more practise in Photoshop during making my music magazine and as a result there is a vast improvement between both magazines, as my Roche magazine has a conventional layout and image editing as I also developed my skills of using digital cameras and editing.