L.I.I.A.R-Kerrang

Language- The content of the magazine includes cell lines to tell the audience the stories that will be inside of the magazine which may entice them to buy the magazine. The genre of the magazine is rock, this is shown by the common use of the colour black which connotes a rock theme, the colour red which connotes danger and the colour white to contrast against these two colours to make it stand out. The font of the masthead is a particular convention of this magazine as it is the same on each issue, and the font itself gives the effect of shattered/smashed writing. The main image takes up most of the page and even overlaps the masthead a little bit. However the cell lines overlap the main image to make them more clearly visible to the reader. The layout is a similar convention to many magazines of this genre with a skyline and a footer, a main central image and cell lines on one or either sides of the main image. The models seem to be looking directly at the camera but it's difficult to see because the majority of them are wearing sunglasses. Looking directly at the camera makes the reader feel like they're looking at them which directly entices them.

Ideology- The attitude of the magazine is generally perceived as careless and fun, the main image usually gives the impression that the various bands and artists are having a good time because they're smiling and laughing, as shown above. This magazine keeps up to date with modern trends because people who read this magazine are usually attracted to it because of the band/artist featured on the front cover, for instance, people wouldn't buy this magazine if a picture of Justin Bieber was featured on the front because it wouldn't connote the same message as usual and the conventions of the magazine would have been breached.

Institution- The company is clearly Kerrang, which is a well known, established brand. The fact that this brand is so well known would be an obvious source of profitability. The advertisement of this product would also be a key area to enhance sales, in order to appeal to the correct target market the company would have to advertise on television, radio and through social networking sites because these methods of advertisement all contribute to the daily events that this target market undertake. Advertising in the newspaper would attract few customers because not many people of this target audience read newspapers.

Audience- The product is targeted at people who are interested in this genre of music mainly teenagers and early 20's, maybe some older or younger but not as common in these age groups. The models on this particular cover may entice boys who like them or want to be like them or girls who like the music or like the look of this band. The design is quite chaotic and possibly clustered but this reflects the genre of the magazine well because the people featured in it may have the same characteristics as the magazine itself. For example, the difference between this magazine and 'Hello!' is that the people featured on it aren't airbrushed to unrealistic perfection, whereas in 'Hello!' the models are all unrealistic and they set false ambitions for readers.

Representation- The colours, as mentioned earlier, reflect the genre of the magazine perfectly, black connotes death, red connotes danger and white contrasts these colours to make it easier to read. The main image shows a front man holding a chain which also reflects the genre of rock well because they are often perceived as almost violent in the way that their music sounds/is played. The black clothing is seen as a rock portrayal because usually people who listen to the music, who would be the specific target market for this magazine, would wear black on one garment of clothing or another. The magazine as a whole entices a customer because the main image is the first point of eye contact and the band are looking at you so makes you feel like you are involved just from looking at it, also the cell lines would entice a customer because the stories featured in one would be relevant and may make people want to read and finally the skyline and the footer which include extras that would entice a customer further.

Prezi

I created this Prezi to present the information, and questions I have asked myself about the particular genre I want to use for my music magazine. I feel this is an effective way of showing information because it engages people.

Eric and Georgina talk about genres by georginabishop97 on GoAnimate

The Brief

Main Task: The front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you - minimum of four images.

College Magazine – Evaluation

College Magazine – Evaluation

            I have used the generic conventions of a magazine to ensure that readers know where to look for each element of my magazine. For example I have placed the masthead at the top of the magazine centrally and I have made the text larger than that of the sell lines for example. I have done this because the masthead gives the name of the magazine and it is usually the first point of eye contact of any particular magazine. I have used a plug and placed it just under the masthead and just above the cell lines in order to attract my target audience of students and teachers to buy the magazine. I have also used a different contrasting colour for the plug because this is an instant eye catching element. The modal I have used in a medium long shot is dominant on the cover because she is larger than the text which again, would attract people to buy the magazine.
            The sell lines I have used are mainly college focused which reinforces the genre of the magazine for example ‘Have you signed up for any extracurricular activities? List inside’ this is college focused and may entice people to take part in any other activities which may enhance their university applications in the future. I also used a direct quote from my model ‘I passed BTEC Sport with no qualifications before I came to Wyke’ which would entice those who may not be so academically gifted but they have other talents such as sport and dance. This directly appeals to all elements of my target audience.
            The house style of my magazine is dominantly blue and red, the blue represents the sport department at Wyke because the blue jumpers they are given to represent the college at sports events are effective. The colour red contrasts completely with blue, making the magazine colourful and eye catching, which are both important factors when attempting to sell a magazine. The skyline of my magazine mentions the new building that is being built in November 2013 to expand the college and make it less crammed and more spacious which may attract those who are appealed to more space and possibly smaller classes. The footer on my magazine directly names some trips that people will have the chance to attend such as New York, Naples and South Africa. I have done this because trips entice many people when they are attending school and college, especially places so geographically interesting.
            The photo was taken directly outside of the front entrance to Wyke because I feel that this is a direct advertisement of the college instead of the photo being taken somewhere else inside college such as ‘Rose Garden’ which may create the wrong impression of the college or even worse somewhere in town wouldn’t be the best place to have in the background because it is not a direct advertisement of the college.
            The masthead of my magazine is ‘Wyke-ly’ I called it this because it shows that the magazine is issued weekly and it also includes the name of the college which is always a good thing when encouraging people to buy the magazine. It gives a direct impression that the magazine is college focused and to narrow it down further to Wyke. The date and price are directly underneath the masthead because this is a particular convention of a magazine. I have priced it at £1.50 because it is a college magazine so has to be affordable for even those who are unemployed because otherwise these people may be deterred from the magazine and the institution wouldn’t make any profit on the magazine. However, if the magazine was monthly a higher price may be an option because £1.50 a week may not seem a lot but it adds up to approximately £6 a month and if it was monthly the charge may be about £3 so a monthly magazine may be slightly more affordable however, the masthead wouldn’t be as effective in that context.
            To conclude I think that the masthead is enticing because it fuses the words ‘Wyke’ and ‘weekly’ to create a sense that it is a weekly magazine. I think the cover looks slightly rushed and I feel that I have learned a better understanding of using Photoshop to enhance my magazine image. I think that in the future I may change the house style as well because I think two slightly less harshly contrasting colours could be used in order to entice my target market to a better extent.

My Mag

my magazine...

My Mag contents page

This is a mock up of the contents page for my college magazine. I have kept the masthead the same to help to establish the magazine repeatedly for the reader. i have kept similar conventions to other contents pages that I have researched because everything is where the reader would expect it to be. I have used the same plug as the front cover to emphasise the competition. I used actual Wyke pictures to establish the places and the name of the magazine.

Initial Ideas

My own examples of shot types...

Over the shoulder shot: Also a cantered angle...
Looking from behind a person at the subject. This particular shot is good for things such as TV Dramas when two people are having a conversation and the subject is the one creating the conversation. The cantered angle is also apparent in this particular shot because the photo is clearly not straight.

Two-shot: 

This is a comfortable shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot. This would be good in a TV Drama because there are often scenes when two people are needed to be in a shot, such as if someone is having a fight then both people should need to be in the shot to allow the audience to see the action.

Wide shot...also a cantered angle:

The subject is visible but the emphasis is still on placing her in her environment. This is good for a college magazine because the environment is shown clearly as is the subject. This would then entice people to buy the magazine because both the college and at least one student is visible.

Point of view shot:

Shows a view from the subjects perspective which is useful to make the audience feel involved and like they are in the subjects shoes (pardon the pun) which would entice an audience because they like to feel involved.

Weather Shot: 

The subject is the weather, usually the sky. Can be used for other purposes. This is useful to set the scene of a particular shot for example if there is a horror scene the weather shot would show a thunder storm rather than a bright sunny sky.

Established Shot