Task 5

Task 5

3 Genres Strengths and weakness’Genre Strengths Weakness’

Alternative Rock • Popular music genre nowadays

• Open colour scheme choice

• Many artists/group specialising in this

genre

• Both Kerrang and NME successful

examples

• Costume choices open for the genre

• Clear instrument props: Guitar,

microphone, drums

• Many Sub-genres of alternative to choose

from

• Unlimited topics in songs

• Not many magazine specialise in

Alternative rock

• Many Rules to this type of magazine

• Makeup and props may be advanced

• Expressions is vital for this genre

• Majority male dominant bands

• Hard to establish particular target audience

from

Pop • Most popular music genre

• Countless artists and groups to choose from

• Loads of new pop stars annually

• Custom, makeup and props can vary

• Majority radio stations and TV dedicated to

pop

• Charts dominated by pop

• Suitable for all ages

• Pop can be about many different topics

• A lot of magazines already release pop as

their genre

• Can be hard to show a magazine is pop

• Reaching out to a certain target audience

can be hard with pop

• Can be overwhelming with many song

titles, albums being released all the time

• Instruments vary, most the times just vocals

from the artists.

R&B • Many well known and dated songs are

R&B

• Relaxing, sensual

• Also quite popular

• Many different instruments used

• Set stereotypically costume

• Hard to distinguish target audiences

• Difficult to choose colour scheme

• Themes less open than other – usually

about freedom, relationship, aspirations

etc…

• Can be hard to make a magazine seem

R&B straight away

Public Results (Genres)Genre Frequency (Total: 12)

Alternative Rock 4

Pop 4

R&B 4

I asked a total of twelve people whether they prefer rock, pop or R&B and asked for response

in the form of an audio file. The youngest age being 11 and oldest being 47 so there was a

range of ages asked within my research. I asked five boys and seven girls so it was reasonably

equal and I considered both genres. For each genre there was at least one male which preferred

it showing that they all appeal to males and females. The reason I think all the genres have the

same frequency is because they are all popular genre choices today appealing to any age and

gender. I had hypothesised that the results should be similar as I purposefully chose the most up

to date popular music genres.

Confirmation of Genre

I have chosen to do the genre of Rock, more specifically the sub genre Alternative Rock. I chose

this because I personally have an interest in this type of music and so should be more effective

that I do something I enjoy. Also, technically it should be quite challenging to portray this genre

and fun to display it through costume and makeup of model – it allows you to be more creative

with this genre. In terms of research, the feedback I collected did help to confirm me doing this

genre as since all the genre totals were equal it showed that it’s still popular and should be good

to do. In addition after doing independent research I found there isn’t many Alternative rock

specialised magazines so it should spark more interest with me doing one.

Name Ideas• Shatter: Using a verb as a magazine can be seen as daring and unusual like the music genre. Rock music

can stereotypically be associated with things shattering. The word “Shatter” has a harsh sound to it which

can be associated with rock. Using one word as a masthead can be effective and is common. Also, the font

of shatter an relate to the word making It more effective.

• Rock out: a simple option which denotes the genre of the magazine. Both words are short and sharp

making it more memorable.

• Alter: this idea stemmed from the main focus being alternative rock and I’ve cut the word “Alternative”

into alter, considered a play on words effective to young target audience?

• Titanium: a strong, powerful, mineral rock which can relate to rock music as it emits that feel too.

• Distortion: a musical technique used in rock also adds a different meaning as well as it links in with

themes in rock music and what rock can represent.

• Mercury: connotation of poison and danger which rock lyrics can denote or imply.

• ARP (Alternative rock press): Using letters to spark interest and being more memorable and catchy.

• Phantom: mysterious tone set and makes the magazine itself more of a mystery

• Paradox: creates an inquisitive, illusion like tone to the magazine an implication of rock

• Ebony: Can relate to rock as its typically black and strong and valuable

• Amps: short for amplify – a musical term

• Oblivion: sets an unknown, anonymous tone to the magazine

• Solar: relates to astronomy a connotation that rock is out of this world as is the magazine as well as being

a short unusual name

• Ignite: A powerful verb perhaps relating to rocks strong forces and fire and rage side. Also makes the

magazine appear more dominant.

Colour Scheme IdeasColours Effect

Black, white, Electric blue Bright contrasting colours that will

make each other stand out. Black can

be heavily associated with rock, white

can contrast rock and electric blue is

lively and the connotations of “electric”

can refer to electric guitars – a main

instrument to rock

Black, White, Red The colours juxtapose each other and

instantly stand out. The bright red can

connate, pain as well as romance

common themes in rock.

Black, white, neon green These colours make each other stand

out and the bright green holds

connotations of poison, toxic and nature

which can relate to rock themes

Black, White, Yellow Each colour would stand out from each

other. Yellow is commonly used with

rock as it is sharp, bright and powerful

in some way.

Black, white, Electric blue, bright

purple

A mix of four colours could be

effective. Mix of colours could be seen

as too soothing or a good colour

combination

Fonts

Font is a very important aspect to print products. This is because it is used to portray a particular

message to the audience and can be manipulated to suit genre and target audience aimed. Font

can help to extinguish the magazines branding and establish their house styles.

Sans Serif is one of the basic fonts that is commonly used in the body of the magazine – the

article. It is considered a new, modern font which can attract a teenage target audience due to its

sleek appearance. The clear spacing between the letters and equal width creates an appealing,

consistent look as well as being easily readable. I would use Sans serif for the article font as its

simple but effective in terms meeting my niche market of older teenagers.

Strengths:

• Popular and

commonly used

• Can be used in a

variety of areas:

headings, article,

captions etc…

• Effective in

attracting a wider

reaching audience

• More Versatile

• Variety of different

types.

Weakness’:

• Nothing fancy

about it can be too

plain depending on

TA

• Overuse can be

considered boring

• Better at small size

• Better on the

computer then print.

Some popular Serif Fonts

Serifs involve decorative accents on the end of their strokes that make up each character their

characteristics include the iconic decorative accents and the changes from thick to thin strokes

throughout the individual characters so the distribution is not equal. Serif is a font relatable to

older times and has a classic approach through the ages. A more mature audience would approve

of this font as is an authentic old font. Therefore, I will like be using this font as my target

audience is teenage viewers and Serif is old fashioned as opposed to modern which is what

they’d look for. In Addition, the genre of Alternative rock won’t suit this original and classic font

and so a more modern and quirky font is required to meet my genre.

Strengths:

• A lot of choice

differing greatly

• Easy to read on

print products.

• Preferred by

older audiences.

• Been around

longer- more

reliable.

Weakness’

• Less versatile

than Sans serif

• Used less

nowadays

• More limited in

where can used –

mostly just for

bodies of text.

Script font is a joint font style and almost takes the simalarity of hand written writing to some.

This creates a realistic and personal connotation to the text. In addition, the grace and precision of

this style of font creates a better representation of more peaceful or classic subgenres such as jazz

and other classical music form. In addition, can be more of a feminine and older generation target

audience too as it is like a delicate art associated with older possibly ,upmarket, women. Due to

this analysis it is clear I shouldn’t acquire this font style as I needn’t attract an older audience nor

will my genre of rock suit the artistic approach of font.

Strengths:

• Very nice and appealing

to look out

• Great at attracting a

niche market of older

women

• Adds a personal touch

• Gives an illusion that it

is hand written

• Suits the classical genre

well

• Posh and upper class

feel

Weakness’

• Only used

occasionally

• Overwhelming in

huge amounts

• Can be hard to read

• Not attractive to

younger ages

• Doesn’t suit a lot of

music genres.

• Not versatile.

Display Fonts are used to draw attention and emphasize text. Used for important elements on a

magazine such as the masthead, titles and cover lines which highlight the magazine. Should be

used on every magazine at least for the masthead, an effective one preferably to brand the

magazine and make it known – display fonts can suit any genre and a wide reaching audience

depending on the style you choose as you can have an old fashioned style, a modern one, and

quirky one etc… in terms of my magazine I would choose a different abstract type to represent a

rock magazine.

Strengths:

• When used sparingly

is effective

• Great in branding a

product

• Eye catching,

attracting the

audience.

• Variety of display

fonts available

• Can be manipulated

to fit any niche

market

Weakness’:

• Looks horrible if over

used

• Some styles can be

impossible to read

• Determining where to

use it can be difficult.

Hand Lettered font is referred as a freestyle like font and considered relatable to humans as it

gives a personal touch. This is why this style is usually used in editorials due to it being a

personal message as well as potential use in bylines as it refers to actual people so should be hand

lettered. In terms of appealing to certain genres a more classic font style could be used for

editorials and byline and to a older audience like classical music, jazz, opera. Whereas in modern

music genres like rap, R&B, pop the hand lettered would be more modern – it is versatile. I

would use hnd lettered for the editorial and bylines.

Strengths:

• Personal touch,

audience feel more

welcome to it

• A variety of styles

to choose from

• Precise to editorial

and bylines

• Can suit any niche

market depending

on which you

choose.

Weakness’

• Only used

sparingly

• Can be difficult

to read for some

Article Analysis

Magazine: Kerrang issue 1540

Article title: Ace of Waves

Page: 4-5

This particular article is in the form of question and answer and the interviewee is a rock star:

Lemmy. I like the language use throughout this article as they’ve given it a particular theme of

pirates due to the “Ace of waves” tour title and so this has rein enforced words and phrases

such as: “Shiver me timbers”, “Rock n role Pirate”. In my opinion is adds a fun, relaxed,

comical tone to the article which is always enjoyable for the young target audience. In addition,

the language is explicit in that it contains swearing this is admirable as it keeps to the accurate

responses of the interviewee and makes it more realistic as opposed to sugar coated. In addition

it makes it suitable for the target audience and adds another comical element to it. In addition, I

like the language used in the interrogatives in that the interviewer also matches the comical,

fun theme of this Q& A: “ Did you feel like captain lemmy?” This links in with the theme and

is an unusual question making it more interesting to see the response. Also; “Meow.So.What

was it like playing a boat” The onomatopoeia “meow” further expands the comical feel and the

interjection “So” makes the interview more realistic as its portrayed word for word making it

more effective. Furthermore the article itself is a reasonable length for a interview as there is a

lot of content and so makes it a successful interview. Also the variety of interrogatives was

another plus point as feelings, plans, memories, downfalls, positives etc… were covered within

the interview as the audience got to find out as much as possible.

Magazine: Kerrang

Article title: Secrets of the lyric books

Page: 2-3

The purpose of this article I’ve chosen is to reveal true meanings and implications behind

parts of lyrics written by the bands covered within the music genre of the magazine. The

article provides the original copy from the lyric book, annotations on what certain lines meant

to them and a summary for each. I like the idea of this article and its format I believe it truly

engages the audience and the noun “secrets” in the title itself automatically draws the readers.

In a way this article is a mix of free flowing and question and answer as the artists explain the

inner meaning to the lyrics and there is general article text too. I find incorporating a mix of

the free flowing and interview style interesting and captivating. I admire the use of annotation

to these images as part of the article it pinpoints the certain areas needed and its incongruity

makes it effective and stand out. I like the freedom of language as explicit language is used

occasionally and the magazine is professional about it and include it since it is suitable due

the age range of teenage onwards. The article layout is quite good as it is dissected into part

sections so each lyric book has its own area, so there is a clear distinction and its easy to read

and follow as well as organised and appealing. There is little writing to the article which can

be a positive where so its not overwhelming and easy to read. In addition, I like the added

touch of including doddles within the article to match the hand written lyric theme – it seta

fun atmosphere which is always good for a potentially young audience.

Magazine: Classic Rock

Article title: Nickelback explain the album title

Page:7-8

The main title itself is quite interesting as the use of proper noun “Nickelback” using the band

name as the first word instantly draws attention. The imperative “Explain” is interesting too as

the reader would be increased in knowing the explanation and it hints more then “tell” but isn't

over like “discuss” explain was the right one to use. In comparison to the Kerrang magazine the

language was more formal which can make it more comfortable to read to some as it signifies

respect to both the reader and the artists of interest. I liked that the article included “the album

title” as well as listing the songs within this particular album as it makes sense that the title

involves the album to which is expanded on later. I like how the article included dialogue from

the Nickelback members to where they did what the title said they would. The article contains a

lot of statistical information: “ follow ups to the 2011’s”, “November 17” – enough to impress

and create a nostalgic tone and not too much and so it doesn’t overwhelm or bore the audience. I

also like the image given with this article of a middle shot from a live performance of

Nickelback it engages the audience and make them feel involved within the article.

Article Ideas

Interviews on:

• Performances

• Newest

Albums/singles

• Tours

• Their story

Story behind

the making of

the band/artist: How they

became

interested in

music, how the

band formed…

The latest hits Legends of rock

article - history

News &

gossip on

bands/artist