3. Masthead?
• My masthead used conventions which were similar to other magazines. It clearly links to the music
industry ‘noise’ and is designed to show that the articles, reviews and details in the mag are not like
other magazines. The use of “through” shows an audience that it is different to other music
magazines because it cuts through the nonsense and gets straight to the current, gritty and exciting
information the audience would want to know. It is a no nonsense, hard hitting magazine which is
not intimidated by aspects of the music industry as some other magazines may be. In this way the
name tries not to conform.
• As the genre of the magazine was alternative rock I wanted a masthead that was balanced between
both rock and pop, but also had an indie feel. I thought a lot about my target audience I wanted to
do some thing different to the current magazines and develop a USP. The positioning of the
magazine conforms to the traditional layout, due to audience expectations and possible Point Of
Sale stocking of similar magazines in which the Masthead would need to be visible in a shelving
unit. The skyline adds to the sales potential of the mag through further promotion of the
magazine. The masthead is the largest aspect of the mag as it needs to carve out an identity and be
recognisable to its target audience. Brand awareness is especially important for a new magazine as
it helps the audience explore the concept of the magazine further.
4. Mise-en-scene of the images
• I am once again looking at the main image of my front cover. I decided to
only use one main image for my magazine, I decided to do this so there is
more emphasis on the main article and people would be more interested
in reading the main article as they would recognise the main image more
if it was by itself. Furthermore, the setting of the main image is quite
basic, I used a black background so the artist stand out on the front cover
and used lighting to signify his importance. The main image of my
magazine challenges the conventions of the music magazine as the artist is
holding a pair of drum sticks. I believe this challenges the conventions as
the male is mainly portrayed as being more masculine yet, with my image
he is being portrayed with a music talent, being able to play drums which I
believe challenges magazine conventions.
5. Costume and props
• I have chosen my contents page to show the props and costumes and the way in which they challenge/follow the
music conventions of a magazine. I will start with the use of costume used by the models, from first look you can
see the models wearing costumes that is seen as casual, in which people would generally wear instead of
impractical costumes designed just for photo shoots. This was a deliberate choice in which people that are reading
the magazine could relate to in real life. I chose to us clothing that would represent the genre I am talking about in
the magazine that I would be creating, for this I decided to use a lot of very informal and durable clothing, as you
could see by the hoodie/ shirt worn by one of the male models. Moving on to the other male model you can see
he is wearing chinos which are durable and breathable this uses music conventions as he is seen as wearing his
best clothing. The other male model is wearing more informal clothing which is challenging music conventions as
he has seemed not make an effort unlike the previous male model, this allows him to have a more better
connection with the audience which also follow the conventions of a magazine as he is relating to the audience.
Taking a look at the props used in the photos, two have only been used, both being guitars. The use of the guitars
are stereotypically related to alternative rock music. Having these instruments does not challenge the music
conventions of a music magazine, yet it does conforms them.
6. People
• I have again decided to use my contents page in order to show the similarities of people used in my
magazine. As you can see, there is not a lot of difference of both models age’s and I believe that this
is a good talking point. For me I believe that my music magazine uses the conventions of how
people are used, there is no variation of age groups between the models used, therefore displaying
that the magazine is set for a specific age group, this is an aspect of what most music magazine
tend to use when creating a magazine. Another concept to take into consideration when reading
my magazine is the male dominance on this page, although not deliberately, I believe it is
something to talk about. I believe that the use of males in the magazine illustrate that males have a
bigger part in the magazine and the main basis of the magazine, thus attracting more male readers.
7. Title font and style
The title font and style is quite develop and advanced. It does however, challenge to
the conventions of a magazine through the use of bold lettering and colourful
lettering. This is furthered by the fact that I have used a basic font in which gives the
target audience and more comfortable vibe. However, I have made the title more
dynamic by giving it a shadow in a different colour, which then gives out a more sharp
and futuristic feeling towards the target audience, which then in turn alerts them that
not everything is what it seems in the magazine therefore making it challenge the
conventions of the music magazine. Furthermore, the use of a white font and a red
shadow conforms the convention of a music magazine as it is seen as fun and
engaging towards the audience, the white and red is overpowering over the black
background and does not develop the conventions of the music conventions as it does
show there is a need for bold colours to stand out in the magazine.
8. Written content
The written content of my magazine is conforming to the standard layout of a magazine
article. It uses the standard question and answer format with the one person and one
answering. The use of the pull quote is essential for a magazine as it sets the tone and
importance of the articles. I decided to use a controversial one, to make readers thinks of
different scenarios, in which would make them more eager to find out what actually
happened. I could also say that the title also develops magazine conventions as it has been
written to make the article appeal to the audience, I believe this is effective as again it
makes the target audience create different reasons on what it could mean and who it is
aimed at.
9. Music genre and how your magazine
suggests this?
• My music magazine conforms to the way in which the music genre is suggested,
this is shown through the use of musical instruments. Alternative rock, tend to be
related to electric guitars. I used a well known instrument to display to my target
audience that it is a alternative rock magazine. The suggestion of the genre is also
presented through the use of the various alternative rock band and musicians. The
suggestion of genre is also shown through the title Through the noise, which I have
pasted on every page except the interview page. I though this was suitable as it
enforces the genre of alternative rock through the whole magazine. The
suggestion of alternative rock is then carried on further through the use of
clothing in the magazine, with the use of causal clothing representing the genre.
10. Layout
• The layout of the magazine defiantly conforms the conventions of a
magazine, I personally believe that it is very difficult to challenge or
even develop the conventions mainly of the vast variations in styles
of magazines, different magazine have different layouts. However, I
did actually use numerous of different ways to develop the
conventions of the magazine. For example, I added a pull quote to
engage the reader and make the article more exiting as double
page spread are meant to be seen as interesting for the reader,
giving them information on a certain person or topic.
11. Contents page
• My contents page mainly conforms the conventions of the music magazine. Yet, one thing that my
magazine develop is the amount of images I used in my contents page, this is something that not
many magazines use whilst designing an issue of a magazine yet, by doing this it allows me to freely
express the genre my magazine is representing and the design of my magazine is more noticed.
• I have also conformed the conventions of a music magazine by splitting my contents page into four
separate columns, this is a good presentation technique as it very clear to the reader whilst reading
it and very easy to understand. I have emphasised the two main articles on the right side of the
page to signify their importance to that issue and to also notify the reader there are the main
articles also. Furthermore, as you can see I have split the main images with the features, this
creates a much more organised page which is easier for the audience to use, after all the contents
page is a tool, which allows easy access to different parts to the magazine.
