MEDIA FOUNDATION PRODUCTION MAGAZINE EVALUATION QUESTION 2

1. HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT REPRESENT
PARTICUL AR SOCIAL
GROUPS?
Q U E S T I O N T W O - E V A L U A T I O N

2. PARENTAL GUIDANCE FRONT COVER
o My feature article photo used crosses boundaries on the stereotypical
rap/hip-hop artist as he has ginger hair and white skin. A stereotypical
rap/hip-hop artist would be black and wear a tracksuit and chains. Therefore
because he isn’t wearing this it shows his class to be above Emergent Service
workers, and more in the social class of Established middle class or Elite
social class. This is conventional as a competitor magazine like XXL would
use an Elite member of society as they believe they are more respected due
to their level of importance in society.
o The shadow covering half of his face is significant as it expresses the idea
that he is kept mysterious to the reader, to suggest that he is from a higher
social class than the reader possibly in the Established middle class or Elite
social class.
o My chosen feature article photo is close but distant to my demographic. I
chose to do this because people look for aspiration from others particularly
in terms of higher social class and importance. Although he is higher in social
class, I wanted to make him appear both higher and similar to the reader. I
did this by the choice of pose he holds as it is quite chilled and relaxed and
this is very relatable for my demographic as Emergent service workers’
personality traits are chilled, calm and very laid back.
o The position of my puff is unconventional as well as the textured writing of
my masthead. This is because a typical masthead would be above the puff
and would be in a block of one or two colours. The gold texture within the
masthead is significant because it symbolises gold chains, watches and rings
which would be worn by a typical member of society of a high social class as
they can afford this type of expensive and bold jewellery. I chose to do this
because I felt that it suggested to the reader that the feature article photo is
of higher social class in the Elite social group or Established middle class.

3. XXL FRONT COVER
o The feature article photo used on XXL’s front cover is a black man,
appearing to be very thug-like with a sweatband, braids and a gold
plate in his teeth. When comparing this to Parental Guidance it is very
stereotypical of what a hip-hop/rap artist should look like. However
Parental Guidance goes against convention because it suggests that
anyone can do anything if you have the talent for it, your appearance
shouldn’t limit you. Unlike XXL, the artist is pointing at himself telling
the reader to look at him because alike Elite social group members,
they have the most importance and money.
o XXL’s feature article photo is lit from the front making him appear
tougher and more striking expressing the view that he is representing
the Elite Social members of society. In comparison, the way Parental
Guidance’s feature article photo has half of his face well-lit makes him
appear angelic rather than thuggish, heightening his level of
aspiration and this shows the artist to be closer to their
demographics' social group of Emergent Service Workers.
o The major tilt in his head makes him look very threatening to the
reader rather than appealing and open as it makes him look like he
has an attitude. In comparison the slight tilt in Parental Guidance’s
feature article photo is significant as it makes him appear friendly with
a slight attitude. However this is expected of the artist in this
magazine as they are more likely to be from the Elite social group.
XXL has chosen to make him appear this way to suggest to their
demographic that your personality traits have to be tough, manly and
arrogant.

4. PARENTAL GUIDANCE CONTENTS
PAGEo The running head used on the contents page relates to the front cover giving it
a chain-like house style with gold representing jewellery.
o The artists used on the contents page cross boundaries as none look anything
like a stereotypical hip-hop/rap artist. This suggests to my demographic that
there actually are no boundaries and appearance can be deceiving.
o Focusing in on the artist used in the bottom left corner is significant as she is
white, ginger, has a shadow covering half her face, and is wearing a black and
checked trousers. This is significant to my demographic as it supports the idea
that you don’t have to look like a hip-hop/rap artist to be one suggesting that
she represents Established middle class members of society rather than the
bottom right hand side image who is wearing the stereotypical clothing
showing that she represents Emergent Service workers or possibly New affluent
workers.
o The use of social media sites at the bottom right hand-side of the page is
relatable for the demographic as they are the highest social class that are very
sociable and spend their leisure time on social media sites. As the demographic
uses these sites the magazine is more likely to get more followers and views on
social media than those who would use the site because of the magazines
pages.
o The feature article photos used on the contents page represent those artists
who are just making it in the industry, they are gaining more fans and their
popularity is increasing. In comparison to a competitor magazine like XXL, they
use the best of the best artists in theirs representing Elite members of society
which is beyond the reach of their demographic meaning they have high levels
of aspiration. But with artists from Parental Guidance, they are part of the
Established middle class and also New affluent workers depending on their
popularity. Although it mentions big names of artists, their focus is on the

5. XXL CONTENTS PAGE
o XXL has used a single image of a duo covering 2/3 of the page. Both artists are
wearing gold jewellery, one with a hoodie and the other with a baseball cap and
plain black t-shirt. This suggests to their reader that they were originally from an
Emergent service worker social class, however wearing the bold jewellery suggests
that they are now in a Elite social class
o The Elite social class is also shown through their pose. The thug-like hand gesture
with a smug facial expression adds to the idea that he has lots of money,
confidence and attitude. This suggests to the reader that they are from a higher
social group from the reader most likely coming from a Emergent service worker
social class or a New Affluent service worker social class. However with their
feature artists coming from the Elite social group makes their reader respect and
aspire to be like them.
o XXL has a running head saying “the A-side”. This would appear that these artists
are more popular and famous, they have more money and attitude and also that
they are from a higher social class than in their second contents page of “the B-
side”. Labelling the contents pages in this way degrades other artists and
suggests to the reader that artists from “the A-side” are from the Elite social class
whereas “the B-side” are from social classes like the Established middle class or
maybe lower in the Technical middle class.
o The pull quote placed in-front of the feature article photo states that if it wasn’t
for the huge influence of a massive artist from the Elite social group, there would
be no existence of an artist who aspired to be like him who respected him as he
was from Emergent service worker social class. Therefore this suggests to the
reader, that without the large influence of Elite social members on lower social
groups, there is no respect for each other.

6. PARENTAL GUIDANCE DOUBLE PAGE
SPREADo The continuation of the gold textured running head is
significant because it helps to heighten the idea that it
represents gold chains, watches etc. that artists in the
magazine wear as they are from the Elite social class and
Established middle class social class.
o The use of a rating with the third column of the first half
is significant as it has gold stars. It also includes the “P”
and “G” slightly above which contains the gold texture
within it. Addition of extra gold on the double page
spread is effective as it symbolises gold jewellery that is
typically worn by artists featured in my magazine and
also because the artists in the magazine are from the
Elite social class and Established middle-class social class
they are able to afford those type of expensive
accessories.
o Both girls on the right hand side have direct eye contact
with the reader making them appear slightly intimidating
and showing them to be very confident.
o The use of the leather jackets expresses the idea that
these two girls are from either the low end of the Elite
social class or from the high end of the Established
middle class who came from the Emergent service worker
social class as leather jackets are more commonly worn
by people from all social classes, only those designer
brands are for those from the Elite social class however,
these girls happen to be wearing designer branded
leather jackets making them appear more superior to the

7. XXL DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
• The featured artist on XXL’s double page spread is making
direct bold eye contact with the reader appearing slightly
smug with her bold facial expressions. This expresses the
idea that she is from the Elite social class as she seems to be
looking superior to the magazines demographic coming
from the Emergent service workers social class.
• The bold jewellery that the artist is wearing specifically the
“ICON” ring expresses to the reader that she knows she is
superior to the magazines demographic and therefore
labels herself as an icon. The impact of this is that the
demographic (coming from the Emergent service workers
social class) will find this aspirational to be as confident as
the artist and this leads to the artist gaining more respect.
• The eye-catching outfit worn by the featured artist is very
bold and is something that would be worn by an individual
who has lots of confidence which is a characteristic of an
Elite social class member, this is effective upon the
magazines demographic as they will aspire to be different
like she is and to be expressive through appearance which
makes her very respectful to lower social classes like the
Emergent service workers social class.
• The colour scheme of pink tones and highlights of black and
white is heightened with the bright pink lip colour. This
makes the featured artist appear very confident as bright
colours make you stand out which is a characteristic of an
Elite social class member. By wearing this bright toned lip
colour, it makes her aspirational to the demographic as she
isn’t afraid to stand out and look different from the crowd.