As Media Foundation Portfolio Unit3: Evaluation

In what way does your music magazine use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real music magazines?

My music magazine follows the conventions of a real magazine by the way I have followed the same structure of a real magazine. I have made sure my masthead ‘Open MIC’ is displayed at the top of my front cover, so that the reader automatically knows what my magazine is called. The font of ‘Open MIC’ is big and bold, which makes it stand out and appeal more to my target audience. Just like most magazines, the masthead and cover lines link to the colours of what the model is wearing; whereas for me, I have made sure that my models lipstick and dress match the colour of the masthead I have placed my model almost in the centre of the front page to challenge the idea of the optical centre. The front page is also flooded with cover lines, selling line and date line under the masthead and a barcode in the bottom corner to follow the conventions of a typical hip-hop magazine.

For my double page spread and contents page, I have also obliged the conventions of a music magazine. When creating my double page spread, I looked at one with Nicki Minaj. I placed my model on the left page but used similar colours (pink, grey, mauve) I have made sure my colour scheme link to the contents and front page, to give it a brand identity. I made sure the questions made it seem as if I was an interview; I kept it urban and modern so it slightly written informally. The contents page is structured in two columns. One side contains images and the other side contains the page numbers and references.

How does your music magazine represent particular social groups?

My music magazine is about Hip-Hop, I have made sure that it represents a particular social class that is all about self-image. In this stereotypical society, males are known to wear baggy jeans, wife-beaters, snap-backs, watches and expensive gold chains. Whereas for the females’ they’ll be wearing make-up; jewellery and body-hugging clothing. In my magazine, I have included both female and male models wearing clothing that a music artist would wear. To help me design my front cover, double and contents page the right way, I have analysed other hip-hop music magazines such as ‘VIBE’ and ‘XX’. I have used those two because their layout and format is something that should be easy for the audience to read which it is and I hope to aim for the same result when creating my magazine. By the way I have structured and created my magazine, it is able to know the genre is hip-hop. The model I have taken pictures of and have placed on my front cover, her facial

expression holds the emotion that gives attitude and demands respect, just like Nicki Minaj.

As for my contents and double page spread I will be following the same procedure. The contents page will contain images on the model on the front cover slim-fit bodice dress to infatuate her curves, which will highlight sex appeal and grab my target audience’s eye. There will be another image of a group of young male rappers; they’ll be dressed in black clothing and gold chains. Also their facial expression almost aggressive and violent like most male rappers are- Lil Wayne and Drake. The double page spread will contain varies of poses of the model from the front cover. By the way she is angled, gives a sense of what genre I’m trying to portray. The headline is ‘Life changing decisions for Paula D’ I have chosen this because it’s something that everyone can relate to and is especially something that a lot of music artists go through. I included relevant questions and answered it as if she would, and something that could inspire her ‘fans’.

What kind of media institution might distribute your music magazine and why?

A magazine store could be the only media institution to distribute my music magazine. The reason is because store sell magazines and customers/my target audience are able to buy it. Even in corner shops could be able to sell it because they sell a range on magazines that attract varies of audiences. Any store that sells magazines (especially music ones) can distribute my music magazine because stores is a great media source that millions of people go to get any gossip they can about celebrities to feed their curiosity or to help them relate to their own problems. The store is a middle-man because stores help people to buy what they need and want, whilst they are making money off of it.

Who would be the audience for your music magazine?

My target audience for my music magazine would be aged from 15+, unisex and who are interested in music and rap. This is because my music magazine contains information about music and would interest both male and females. I have chosen this age group because a lot of HIP-HOP magazines are about image and sex appeal. I think 15 is the right minimal age limit because as the society has changed, young minds have matured and adapted to things that the media has revealed to them, through music lyrics, videos, magazines, images and many more. The type of language and text that will be in my magazine is informal language. It will be easier for my target audience to understand. To attract my audience’s attention, the fonts on my front cover page will be bold in bright colours, so that it is more eye-catching and well-known music artists in the cover lines, so my magazine is worth buying; and the colour scheme will be a limit of three to four colours, so that my magazine will look professional and appropriate for my audience.

How did you attract/address your audience in the forms and conventions used in your music magazine?

I have attracted my audience’s attention by making sure my magazine contains appropriate images, which refer back to my chosen genre. My front cover contains cover lines which are in variety of colours but still sticks to the colour scheme. Some are different, to highlight the importance of certain ones. My colour scheme is grey, pink and purple, which is a mature and urban colour scheme to attract the right audience. For my contents page, I have included varies of images that will relate to the younger audience. The images contain youth in similar clothing to what music artists would wear, which links to the genre hip-hop. In the list of contents, I have included only relevant topics that are interesting to my target audience, such as tweeter feeds, top music charts, competitions and many more. Similarly to my double page spread, I have included varies of poses because from the questionnaire, a lot of people prefer images and relevant information, which I have included.

What have you learnt about technology from the process of constructing your music magazine?

Throughout this time of doing media, I have learnt how to work photo shop and to improve an image using certain tools. I now know how to take a picture and work a professional camera. However, I find it sometimes hard to edit certain images and to fully construct a front cover. It was also complicated to upload certain files onto my blog because there was times when it would crash or just the link would appear on my blog. Overall it was an interesting experience using different technology that has pushed me out of my comfort zone.

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

Looking back from my first task, I have learnt how to follow the conventions of a real music magazine and have used those skills to adapt my own music magazine. Before I never used neither a Mac nor the software in which it contained and from creating my college magazine I only knew the basics. Now I am more confident with using certain software and able to create my music magazine with hardly any problems. If I stayed behind more to catch up on my work, it could look and be better and follow more of the conventions. Overall, I feel more certain and assured when creating a music magazine.