1. 1.
By:Tyanne Stewart
In what way does your
media products use,
develop or challenge
forms and conventions
of real media products?
2. INTRODUCTION
Within my media products I have developed and challenged forms and
conventions of a real media music magazine. I will analyse the three
products I have created in my own music magazine, which are, the front
cover, contents page and double page spread. I will refer back to my media
case studies; of real music magazines such as Q magazine and Billboard
magazine.
4. Analysis of Q
magazineQ magazine is located at the top which is conventional, however, it
takes a third of the page.The use of bright square and the bold, and
you will be able to see it in stores easily.There is also a clear colour
scheme of the colour red which connotes the magazines passion for
music, also the importance of reading this music magazine.
The mise-en-scene of the photo relates directly to the artist.The main
image is a medium shot of Florence, the position of her hand reaching
her hand out relates to the cover line “wants to reach out and touch
you”. Is impactful to the audience.The cover stars name is highlighted
in red suggest the importance of her and her influence in indie music.
The main cover-line is ’50 indie rock records you must own’ is big and
bold so the audience will imminently know what genre of music this
issue will be.
The barcode is located at the bottom of the cover so the date and
price is easily shown because it such a crowed cover.
5. SIMILARITY'S AND DIFFERENCES
Firstly, my fronts cover follows most of the typical conventions of my case studies
of Q magazines.The layout ofTunes is similar to Q magazine; to begin with the
placement of the masthead is left- aliened which is conventional of a music
magazine because when they are on a store shelve the brand name needs to be
visible for potential customers. moreover, Q magazine has enlarged the featured
artist name in bold which is a different font to the rest of the cover typography.
However, Q magazine and tunes are dissimilar in the placement of the cover lines
and skylines. Similarly, Q magazine are similar in arrangement of the cover lines
because they are around the image of the cover star. My cover image resembles Q
magazine because I have used a medium long shot.
7. Analysis of Billboard
magazine
The name of the magazine is placed at the side of the featured
magazine.This is done because the denotation of billboard “a
large outdoor board for displaying advertisements”.
The typography colour is blue-green which suggest the calm
tranquil music that the “the weekend” creates.The bold
typography attract attention to masthead without the use of
capital letters.The mastheads may be turned side ways so it
doesn’t block ‘the weekends’ signature hairstyle.
Billboard demographics is targeted towards the age range of 25-
30 because they are young professionals. So they have structured
the magazine to look professional and polished.
Date of when the magazine was realised give information of the
current magazine.Also helps the reader decide if the issue is
reverent
8. SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES
In comparison to Billboard magazine,Tunes is dissimilar
to the layout of the music magazine. Billboard magazine
challenges the convention of a music magazine because
they have fewer cover lines no clear sky line. However, the
placement of the barcode is on left as isTunes. Also the
main features name is empathised.
10. When creating my contents page I was inspired by another contents page from Q
magazine, I have used a similar layout in the positioning of the images and
columns. In doing so my contents page looks realistic and professional. My
contents page so very conventional in the fact that I have used a variety of three
photography's and page numbers next to each feature. However, I have challenge
conventions of a contents page by adding a banner of all the social media
communications ofTunes magazine.This is affective because it shows all that
Tunes is available on many platforms. Another similarity, to Q magazine is that all
of the images are very different so it can appeal to different readers of the
magazine. Also, the both feature the cover stars in the contents page. I have also
continued to use the same colour scheme on my content page which reinforces
what I have subverted. On my contents page I have a clear, large and bold title
which is conventional of a contents page. I have used two different shot types in
my contents page which is medium and long shot. Also I have used the subtitles of
features which is conventional of a music magazine.
SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES
12. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Both of my case studies had used conventional features of a double page spread, however Q was more simplistic in
comparison to Billboard because they used more images, and colours, and the text was not so…Whereas, on the
other hand, Q only used monochrome colours through-out the double page spread, they have a mixture of large
text and an image of a feature.This contrasts to Billboard which used three images, within the different columns.
Q has used a close up of the artist that this article is about with them at the top the second page.They have used
pull quotes as one of the typical conventions, for example, “it’s a life sentence”. They have kept with the e house
style as well; the colour scheme of black and white with a splash of orange, the font used is consistent on the
double page spread. However, unconventionally they have not used a drop caps at the start there text, on the
other hand, I have followed the conventions of using a drop cap because in most of the magazine I researched have
used a drop cap.
Billboard, similarly uses an image of its artist for their double page spread, being a medium on the second page at
a canted angle. Billboard have used a strong colour scheme, and continues the house style of the magazine for the
double page spread. However, it does still use a pull quote, and the text is organised in columns.
For the main image of my double page spread, I have continued to use a house style of black & white and blue, I
have used a long shot of the artist for the article, in the centre of the first page. I have used page numbering and
branding similarly to my front cover, being that it is conventional as a music magazine of its genre. My double page
spread is an interview on an artist group, I have chosen to use pull quotes to attract readers and makes the article
look more interesting. I had organised my text in columns on the page, and had used drop caps in bright red, again,
continuing with the house style. On the other hand, the layout of my text may be unconventional for a double page
spread.This would be because for the first paragraph, where it uses drop caps, the text is in rows.
My double page spread, reinforces most of the conventions of a double page spread, in particularly the ones from
which I had identified from music magazine case studies.
13. Tunes Magazine
For my front cover I have used a medium close-up of my two cover stars on a neutral grey gradient background, which is quite
congenital of a music magazine. This was effective because it made my cover star costume stand out against the background.
Additionally, the use of eye contact of the cover stars is similar to Q magazine and Billboard because they are looking directly
into the camera. I have composed my artists to stand closely together because it connotes the strong unity of the group.
However, the composition of the cover stars challenges the conventions of a real music magazine because they are both
shown on equal platforms rather than lead vocalist is usually shown in a brighter lighting.The mise-en-scene of the front
cover including costume, make-up, props and location.
Costume- both models are wearing complete different outfits, but they still look united because conveys their
genre of music (RnB) because it is youthful, Morden and individual. This is a development of all groups wearing
co-orientated outfits.
The make-up I have chosen reflects the youthfulness of the group because it is simple and not dramatic and
overpowering.This can connote the raw simplistic talent that Eden has.
I have used high lighting on the cover stars so they are the centre of attention on the cover
The front cover includes the name of the magazine (masthead) and a skyline. My masthead ofTunes is short and easily
memorable. The masthead is big and bold which stands out against the neutral background. My masthead is unconventional
because compared to Q and Billboard both have used simple typography for the masthead, in comparison my masthead head
is very distinctive and unique. When writing and composting my cover lines I had researched cover lines that are suitable for
the genre of my music magazine, I have chosen to use century gothic font for my cover lines. I have used three different
coloured fonts on my cover page, which has created a colour scheme- black , white and blue which is consistent throughout
my music magazine. I have taken inspiration form my case studies because I have arranged my cover lines around my cover
stars. I have also, conventionally used a skyline at the top of my front cover ‘connect with the latest tunes’ which is like a sky
line. I have additionally added a barcode, dating and price.These all add authenticity to my media products which are all
conventional of a music magazine front cover.To summarise my front cover conforms to generic conventions of a music
magazine cover. I have also added a puff to my front cover because it is impactful and advertise the groups new single, it is
uncongenial to have a puff that big on a front cover, but I think it suited toTunes magazine.
