1. EVALUATION
Q1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?
2. MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
COLOUR SCHEME.
Existing conventions are present on the cover of the magazine,
one of those being the idea of colour schemes. This magazine
uses a total of 4 main colours consisting of;
- Black
- White
- Grey
- Green
Those 4 colours are used throughout the magazine, with
images also being in those colours. The colours being a mix of
dark colours but with a bright green helps assist in making the
magazine stand out from others and helps give it it’s own
visual identity something quite important in a market which
can be considered as being over saturated.
Shown above is a comparison of an unedited image (shown on
the right) and the final edited version used within the magazine
(shown left). As you can see, the old image did not fit into the
magazine's colour scheme so it has been recolored to fit into
the magazine via Photoshop editing. This is similar to how
many magazines attempt to incorporate the images into the
colour scheme, via either dressing them accordingly or editing.
Shown to the left are two examples of magazine
covers which I researched . Both of them incorporate
a mix of a dull black/white combinations while also
having one bright colour, which is similar to what the
cover of my magazine uses. NME on the left also
incorporates the cover image into the colour
scheme, which my magazine also does. However,
unlike my magazine, NME has based the orange on
the image, which was taken first (their masthead is
normally red) while the cover which I have produced
does it the opposite way round, where the image has
been edited to match the surrounding colours which
could be considered a way of challenging
conventions.
NME EMM ELECTROSHOCK
3. MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
MASTHEAD.
The masthead for this magazine, includes the
magazine name, a slogan and text referring to it’s
release cycle.
In terms of layout, the masthead occupies the full
width of the top of the magazine. This allows the
masthead to be clearly identified and easy to read.
The masthead also utilises the magazine’s colour
scheme, making use of two of the four colours,
being grey and green. The green text is used on a
darker, grey background as these two colours
contrast well, while being more ‘unique’ than a
generic black/white combination. This helps with
giving the magazine its own identity.
The magazines which I have researched, however have mastheads
which only occupy the top left of the magazine, with 2/3 of them
being shortened (e.g. Electronic Music Magazine being shortened
to EMM). NME also features it’s masthead being partially covered
by the cover image, something my magazine does not include.
The fact that my magazine chooses to use the full name across the
page may be a form of challenging conventions.
Another point to note is how all 3 covers feature a slogan of some
kind where the magazine name is located. This is also a feature on
the cover of my magazine.
All the covers, including mine, feature the magazine name in full
capitals as a way to make it stand out.
MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
COVER LINES.
The cover lines featured on Electroshock
compose of varied sizes of text in a
staggered layout. This is not the case with
the magazines I researched, which only
use larger text for subheadings.
NME EMM ELECTROSHOCK
4. MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
COVER PICTURE.
The cover picture featured on my magazine
incorporates the magazine’s colour scheme into
the image. This is similar to two of the covers
that I researched, which both have images
matching the colour scheme. This makes the
image match the magazine, and look less ‘miss-
matched’ and not fit for purpose, thus helping
boost the aesthetics.
Each of the magazine covers feature a person or
animal which relates to the magazine in some
way. An example of following media conventions
is how the image on my cover is the main artist
featured in the magazine. This is also the case
with NME which follows this convention.
MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
LINKS TO OTHER MEDIA.
Another way how the magazine challenges
conventions is how it has links to other media
forms on the cover, those being social networks
and a web-based magazine linked via QR code.
The other magazines which I researched lack
these features whether they simply just are not
present on the cover or not in the magazine at
all.
6. MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
CONTENTS.
The contents pages for both magazine include at least
one image to go along with the text. The images all
relate to a page which can be found within the
magazine. In the case of electroshock, the image
represents the double-page spread. This is way of
which the magazine follows conventions.
ELECTROSHOCK DJ Magazine
Just like with the front cover, electroshock incorporates
other media into the magazine on the contents page
too. This time it comes in the form of a notice
informing the reader on where to get the app based
version of the magazine as well as links to social media
accounts. DJ magazine lacks these features.
Both magazines
include basic
elements such as
titles, colour
schemes and
various font styles
and sizes of text.
Both of the magazines have
the contents laid out in list
form with page numbers being
situated next ton each line of
text. DJ magazine, however
includes subheadings which
divide the contents into
categories depending on the
content found on the page,
something which Electroshock
lacks.
Electroshock takes
advantage left
over space on the
contents page to
incorporate
advertisements.
Most magazines
rather dedicate
whole pages for
ads, but
electroshock uses
both methods in
order to generate
more ad revenue,
which can help
keep the magazine
operational in the
long run especially
in a world where
the magazine is
dying out in favour
of the internet.
7. MAGAZINE EVALUATION:
DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD.
ELECTROSHOCKEMM
Both double-page
spreads use columns
to format the text in
the article, which a
standard convention
followed in many
magazine if not all.
In terms of layout both magazines
use an image on the left side of the
page, while displaying the article of
the right side. The text itself is on a
plain, flat coloured background which
allows the text to be easily identified
and read as the colours used for both
magazines contrast well.
Another feature which both
magazines utilise are large portions
of text situated near the top of the
page which depict the name of the
artist(s) in question. These bodies of
text have a unique font style when
compared to the rest of the page.
Electroshock, just as EMM, includes
a tag line below the artist(s) name,
which is intended to be used to sum
up the artist/article in question and
grab the readers attention.
Quotations from the article are used the highlight
things said during the interview. They are in larger
sized text than what they were originally sized as in
the article and in the case of NME, highlighted too.
This is a convention followed by both magazines.
One thing to note
however, is how EMM
dedicates ¼ of the
double-page spread to
a completely separate
article. This can be used
to direct fans of the
group being
interviewed to similar
groups which may form
part of the same genre
as the main featured
group.
This is not included in
Electroshock, which
instead does not
include any other
articles on the double-
page spread. This could
be a form of
challenging media
conventions.
The images chosen for each magazine reflect the
artist(s) which are being interviewed and have a
large amount of space dedicated to them. This can
be considered as another way of which the
magazine follows existing conventions.
Any feature shared between
the magazines concerning the
images are how both of them
(the main images anyways) are
both ‘set up’ being taken in a
studio or on a set. They are
both not from places such as
live shows. This is another
convention followed.
