How does your media product represent particular social groups?

2. In my complete magazine the social
groups which I have represented are
from a diverse ethnic background. I did
this because the genre of my magazine
is RnB, which is typically a
multicultural genre so I wanted to
incorporate that into my own magazine.
If there had been these models in a
fashion magazine, for example, then it
would be seen as a token representation
because those magazines typically use
white models rather than ethnic
models. The models I have used are
also teenagers/young adults which is
the target audience for my magazine, so
they can relate to the audience. In
terms of gender, the majority of my
models are female, which is for the
purpose of the male gaze (Mulvey) to
attract a male audience. From my
magazine research, most music
magazines are aimed mainly towards
males and so by using the male gaze I
am following the convention.

3. My front cover model is a teenager which follows the
hegemonic view of teenagers due to the large amount of make
up on her face and the blank expression (supports the
stereotype that teenagers are obsessed with appearance and
looking good, and are also expressionless and moody).
The clothing of which my cover model is wearing is
stereotypical of a teenager, because of the bomber jacket and
the cut-off denim shorts. The mise-en-scène therefore reflects
the target audience of my magazine and they can relate to
the models. My model is dressed provocatively, because of the
cut-off denim shorts which show a lot of skin, which
consequently complies with Mulvey’s male gaze theory.
Because it conform to Mulvey’s theory my model as a result
my model is sexualised, however the facial expression and
body language is not, so it goes against Ferdinand de
Sussure’s ideology of sexual semiotics (which uses sexual
body language to attract readers).
These magazines use sexual semiotics in order to attract readers

4. SHOT TYPES
In all of the images I used for my magazine there were
eye line shots and direct mode of address established.
The use of this creates a personal relationship between
the model and the audience (Uses and Gratification
theory).
The use of the direct mode of address also makes the
models more objects than subjects and shows their facial
expressions more, which is especially for my female
models to combat gender inequalities in magazines. By
having all my models look into the camera it attracts an
audience of both genders.
Both my front cover and contents page images
use a mid-shot which make their facial
expressions visible and take up the whole page
to radiate power and importance. For my
double page spread, I used a long-shot which
also took up the whole length of the page to
show importance and also had the text
surround the model to further emphasise this
point.

5. Similar to my front cover image, this model also represents a typical RnB
artist. This is because of the mise-en-scène of the image, the use of the
contour, heavy makeup and clothing are all urban which sends the message
to the audience that this is an RnB magazine. It also makes the point that
if you are reading a magazine with a model wearing this type of clothing
and having this appearance that the audience can relate to the model, as
the audience would have a similar appearance and taste. The model also
represents the young adult/teenage age group, because of the clothing,
jewellery and makeup (which was my previous point) which are all common
and popular among people that age. The models’ facial expression is also
hegemonic and pluralistic to teenagers as she is represented as a mature
teenager which the audience can further relate to.
Following on from my other images, my double page spread model also
follows the norm for the ethnicity of an RnB/Rap artist. The use of
Photoshop allowed me to further make him seem like a typical artist from
the addition of the fake tattoo on his neck. Also, through mise-en-scène, he
is even more representative of the social group because of his posture and
clothing, which present him as a rebellious teenager (so he follows the
hegemonic norm). Because he is so stereotypical, the audience can relate
to him.

6. LAYOUT
The layout of my contents page is
representative of the social group it’s
aimed towards because of it’s
minimalistic approach. This is makes it
representative as it uses as little words
and images as possible, from the
stereotype of teenagers to be lazy and
disliking reading it complies to this
stereotype. Had I used more wording it
could be mistaken for a magazine aimed
at an older demographic which I was
careful to avoid. Because it is so
structured, everything necessary is in the
right places for the audience to find easily
so their attention is kept and it still looks
visually pleasing (another stereotype of
teenagers is that they have a short
attention span so this would eradicate
this issue).

7. IDEOLOGY
Lastly, I made reception theory a key in the production of my magazine
in order to establish a personal relationship between the models and
the audience and also make the models relatable to the audience. By
creating this relationship and relatability, it would possibly increase
the popularity of my magazine and create a fan base for it. The artists
which are covered in the magazine would become role models for the
audience as it proves to them that they can reach their full potentials
at any age, like the artists featured in the magazine. Through the use
of direct mode of address and the right body language I believe this
would be possible.