Evaluation: Question 1

1. In what ways does your music
magazine use, develop or change
the conventions of real music
magazines?
EVALUATION QUESTION 1

2.  A magazine is a product created to appeal to
a targeted group of likeminded individuals.
Depending on the genre of the magazine, it's
purpose is to entrain and inform its readers
with content to do with its genre and content
that would interest the readers. My magazine
aims to both be similar enough to current
publications that the reader won't be scared
off, but unique enough for it to be intriguing
and eye catching among other magazines of
its type. The genre of my magazine is indie
electronica, which, despite there being a
niche market for this type of magazine, there
are a lot of similarities between them and
those of the alternative music magazine
genre.

3.  Conventions of a typical music magazine would consist of
classic and clear layouts with a heavy concentration on
photography and music linked content. From my primary
research, I found out what it was that attracted my audience in
particular to music magazines, and catered my construction to
the results. Sticking the generic magazine codes and
conventions, I included a masthead with cover line, a medium
shot with a bold main headline. The factors in which my
magazine stands out from most indie music magazines would
be the immediate location of the image. I decided to go
outside for the shoot, using natural lighting with minimal hair
and make up. I did this because, as my research showed me
that 90% of my readers are young females, I wanted to make
the cover star real, relatable and natural. This challenged media
forms and conventions as usually in music magazines such as
Billboard and Kerrang!, cover models are usually set up in well
lit studio, with heavy hair and cosmetics. In terms of technical
conventions, I kept my approach simple and non complicated.
My camera angle was a medium shot against a graffitied
background, so the image was set out interestingly enough for
little alterations to be needed. I did this because I wanted the
focus to be on the surroundings just as much as the model, and
a close up head and shoulders shot may not have achieved
that.

4.  In my symbolic conventions, I wanted the model's attire to appeal to my audience. I made her
wear all black clothes, because it highlighted the little need for her clothes to do the talking
for her. I gathered this idea from my early analysis of the indie/rock magazines, in which all
those on the cover were recognisable and striking enough for them to get away with wearing
black but to still catching the readers' eye. My masthead was also in the top right corner of
my front cover, as oppose to the classic masthead layout across the top to, further
challenging magazine conventions. As the name of my magazine, Flux, is short and punchy, I
wanted the word to almost shock the reader as well. My coverlines could also be seen to
challenge stereotypes as they are not of a hugely bold font, but are white against a dark
background and are underlined for them to be noticeable but not overwhelming or busy on
the front cover.