3. Masthead
• Large, plain and bold, white on black font in capital letters and serif
style- this is eye-catching and promotes brand awareness.
• Behind the head of the model- suggests that the magazine brand
name is well-known and so that the artist is the main focus.
• Used ‘LTC Bodoni 175’ font downloaded from dafont.com- this font
replicated ones that I had seen from existing media that appealed to
me.
• Font is more typical of a fashion magazine than a music magazine-
goes against conventions- suggests a younger, female-dominated
target audience.
• Typical examples of music magazine mastheads that my product
contradicts:
• Typical examples of fashion magazine
mastheads that my product conforms to:
4. Main Image
• Mid-shot using direct mode of address- this
creates a more personal relationship
between the artist and reader and draws
them in (using uses and gratifications
theory).
• High-key, full-face lighting- brightened image
that follows more conventional lighting.
• Edited so the image has more contrast and
uses vignette technique- stands out and
captivates attention.
• Model is within the age range of my target
audience (16-25 year olds)- this makes the
artist more relatable.
• Facial expression is not clearly defined- this
adds a sense of mystery to her emotion.
• Mise-en-scene follows house colours used in
fonts- bright colours captivate attention, the
leather jacket, red top and lipstick also
conform to the stereotypes of a model of
the rock genre.
5. Main Image Cont.
• Uses conventions of real media products
(using Wolf’s interpretation of Mulvey’s
theory of the male gaze)- the red lipstick has
sexual or passionate connotations- draws
attention to the lips of the model as a
sexualised female. This is backed up by
model’s blank/inviting expression- woman
purely a sex object?
• Examples of similar images in existing media:
6. Anchor Text • Artist’s names are in bold so are eye-catching- this fulfils needs
(integrative, uses and gratifications theory).
• The list of artist names also acts as enigmas (Barthes).
• The text overlaps the image- brings to the forefront of the reader’s mind.
• White text contrasts to black background- stands out and eye-catching.
• “3 words…Mel Kar Rocks”- the reader feels the need to find out what the
‘3 words’ are (uses and grats), the “rocks” conforms to the rock genre and
conveys trending- the artist is popular-suitable for a young adult target
audience.
• Text follows house colours used in the image- the colours contrast against
the black background and compliment the image- the red text is the same
colour as the model’s lipstick.
• “Exclusive”- gives a sense that the reader is getting more with this issue
and written in bold text to stand out (uses and grats)
• “Most stylish artist of the year”- invites the reader to find out and creates a
sense of mystery- uses enigmas (Barthes).
• Examples from existing media products:
7. Sell-line
• “Special”, “best”- the reader gets the sense that they are
getting more with this issue (enigmas=Barthes).
• “Indie rock music”- unconventional as it shows the genre of the
magazine and what should be associated with it (informing the
audience- uses and grats).
• Challenges these codes and conventions of most magazines-
more particular to the issue than the magazine brand- acts as
rebellion against the norm. This would be appealing and
relatable for a teen/young adult target audience.
• Stands out against background- uses a different font to the
masthead and anchor text- conforms to conventions.
• Conventional examples in existing media (an overview of the
magazine):
• Unconventional example in existing media (similar to my work):
8. House Style
• Use of bright, vibrant colours- immediately catches attention of the
reader.
• Follows the codes and conventions of a real media product- red
and black are commonly used.
• Red colour has sexual or passionate connotations- draws attention
to the lips of the model as a sexualised woman-conforms to Wolf’s
(1990) interpretation of Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze.
• Colours are not stereotypical of any gender (like blue and pink
often are)- the magazine’s target audience is of both genders- more
likely to be read by a wider range of people.
• Existing media examples:
9. CONTENTS PAGE
Masthead
Taken from the front
cover masthead
Front cover image
Images
Page number
over the image
Date, page number and
magazine logo
Website
address Rows and
columns
Text- page numbers, titles
and short description
10. Masthead • “V”- taken from the title of the magazine- same font for brand association-
upper case lettering is conventional.
• “Contents”- at the top of the page- conventional positioning or placement.
• Same font used as the title of the magazine/masthead on front cover- used
consistency for professionalism.
• Text stands out against the red background- eye-catching and uses house
colours.
• Uses lower case- contrasts to convention- acts as rebellion against the
norm- stereotypically appealing or relatable to my teen/young adult target
audience.
• My media product develops these conventions as it conforms to some
forms and challenges others.
• Conventional examples in existing media:
• Unconventional or developed examples in existing media (similar to my
own):
11. Numbering
• Organised text layout- easy to read so allows reader to find individual
needs to fulfil as well as informing them (uses and grats).
• Conventional numbering- on the left side of the structured columns-
easy to access information later on in the magazine (enigmas=Barthes).
• White numbers on a black background over the top of images-
conventional-visual way of allowing the reader to access information
and fulfil needs (uses and grats).
• Page number on bottom right of the page- conventional, accessible
placement-easier for the reader to find desired information.
• Examples of conventional numbering in existing media:
12. Rows & Columns
• Conventional, simplistic layout- more accessible for
readers and easier to find and locate what the
individuals needs are (uses and grats).
• Continued red and black colour scheme for
consistency and professionalism- bright colours
stand out and captivate attention.
• Article titles in upper case, bold letters to stand out-
the artist’s names act as enigmas (Barthes).
• This is an example of existing media (I based my
design off of Q magazine).
13. Other Features
• Sub-titles- white text on red- stands out and captures attention
(uses and grats). “Regulars”- the reader gets the sense that the
magazine has multiple issues so is popular, “extras”- the reader gets
the sense that they are getting more with this issue. These are
based on the design of Q magazines’ subtitles:
• The page number, logo, date and website on the bottom of the
page- information is clear and visible so easy to access (uses and
grats). In a conventional position/ placement as this information is
separate from main text (by a black rectangle) but does not detract
attention away from key information. Logo makes magazine appear
more professional. Examples of these conventional features in
existing media product (Q magazine):
14. Images • Portraits are close-ups- draws the reader in and makes them feel closer
to each individual artist.
• Direct mode of address used in two portrait images-creates a more
personal relationship between reader and artist- more compelling
therefore the reader is more likely to read following pages (uses and
grats).
• Brightened, edited images using high-key lighting-conforming to
conventional air-brushed, professional looks- I replicated this by using
natural light and white paper as a substitute for reflectors (see tutorial
on how I light my images).
• Images are mostly laid out in conventional, organised columns- done
to find the artist each reader has needs for (uses and grats).
• Examples of these conventions in existing media:
15. Images Cont.
• Unconventional image of music equipment (usually only portraits)- I wanted
to make this specific to my magazine- the brand name “Vinyl” after the vinyl
record player featured.
• Used the front cover and main double page spread as images- goes against
conventions of most magazines but follows the conventions of Q magazine.
This adds a sense of consistency and professionalism to the product and
draws the reader in (uses and grats). The angle of the front cover image goes
against the norm as an act of rebellion-this is stereotypically relatable to my
target audience of teens/young adults (16-25 year olds).
• Examples of these unconventional images (similar to my work-Q magazine):
16. Images- Conventions using Theorists
• All images that I have used in my media product are of young women-
relatable to youthful target audience (16-25 year olds) and
empowering to young females.
• This does not conform to Mulvey and Ferguson’s interpretations of
most magazines as my production portrays women as more than sex
objects (through the use of information on the artists as people) and
as being not subordinate to men.
• This conforms to Gauntlett’s theory (2008)- argues that magazines
aimed at young women emphasise that women must be independent
and themselves.
• This is what I have tried to reinforce in my own work as I believe that
women should be presented as more than sexual beings and as
individuals equal to men- this therefore goes against the conventions
of most magazines as they often portray women as sexualised or
subordinate to men, as they conform to ideological, patriarchal ideals.
17. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Bleeding image
Title
Introduction
Pull-quotes
Drop-cap
Main image using
direct mode of address
Page number
and arrow
Text follows the
shape of the model
Kicker
18. Image
• Close-up with direct mode of address- creates a closer
relationship with the reader and draws them in- black eyeliner
draws attention to the eyes to accentuate this effect.
• Brightly lit to replicate high-key lighting used in photos in real life
media products.
• Bleeding image (the image goes to the edge of the page)- the
image takes up most of the page so is the main focus- draws the
reader in.
• Uses conventions of real media products (using Wolf’s
interpretation of Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze)- the red
lipstick has sexual or passionate connotations- draws attention to
the lips of the model as a sexualised female. This is backed up by
model’s blank/inviting expression- woman purely a sex object?
• Red lipstick and black background continues the red and black
colour scheme- for consistency and professionalism.
• Examples of similar, conventional images in existing media:
19. Layout
• My layout is based on The Rolling Stones’ double page spread of
Adele.
• I have used a similar bleeding image, drop- cap letter, and the
fonts for the title, introduction and main article are the same.
• The image overlaps onto both pages and text takes up less room
in comparison- the image is a powerful main focus and draws
the reader in his follows the form of The Rolling Stones layout
(but is unconventional to the majority of magazines- usually half
image, half text-adds to the consistency of rebellion against the
norm-creating a similarity with my magazine and target
audience).
• Title/masthead large at the top of the page-conventional
placement- large text draws the reader in (uses and grats).
• Arrow at the bottom right corner to show that the article could
continue onto other pages for a bigger issue- conventional for
the main article of the magazine.
20. Pull-Quote • Three pull-quotes within the text- the first to open the
article in capital letters using a drop-cap letter- catches
attention and draws the reader in (uses and grats).
• White on black text- conventional as stands out.
• The other two are different from the main body of text- in
italics and in a larger font- draws reader in and informs the
content of the article (uses and grats).
• The placement of the pull-quotes follow the structure of the
main article- unconventional as does not break the text up
or separate columns in order to catch attention and not in a
bold font.
• Examples of conventional pull-quotes in existing media
(eye-catching font and used at the masthead):
21. Text (Bulk & Anchor) • Sans-serif font used in order to appeal to my target
audience- bolder, more in your face (reflects stereotypes
of a teen/young adult target audience as well as catches
readers attention).
• White on black text stands out from the background and
follows house colours but is unconventional as not done
often.
• The anchor text is in a conventional position as it follows
the structure of the article.
• The composition is aesthetically pleasing as the text
follows the shape of the model.
• Examples of text in existing media:
22. Language
• I used sensationalism in order to replicate language used in real media
products- I did this through the use of exaggerated words and phrases
particularly aimed at a younger target audience- this added hype and
excitement to the article, meaning the readers are more likely to be
interested throughout the article and therefore satisfied with the read. I
also used exclamation marks in the artist’s quotations to make the article
seem more exciting: “I wanna write originals!”
• Powerful words draw the reader in (uses and grats)-”triumph”.
• I used informal and colloquial phrases in order to establish a closer
relationship with the reader- this means that it is more likely for them to
be captivated by the article and artist, as well as give them something to
connect to (as a younger target audience) e.g. “I wanna” instead of “I
want/would like to”.
• The content is conventional- the article is about a new single about a
break-up- this is a common topic in songs and is of conventional interest
to teens/young adults (my target audience), as well as fans of the artist's
as she is revealing personal information. This is conveyed in the
introduction: ”inside the seventeen year old’s secrets to success”- shows
“inside” information to convey exclusivity followed by the
alliteration/sibilance of “secrets to success”- draws the reader in through
the use of interesting language and literary techniques. This is done
again- used a triplet in the introduction to captivate attention (uses and
grats) as well as informing the reader of the content: “the voice, the
passion and the making of..”
• Examples of language in existing media products:
