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1. Evaluation Question one:
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
codes and conventions of real media
products?
By Baldeep Gahir

2. Similarities and differences
between my front cover and
real product:
- Similarities
- Differences
Masthead
Direct address
Covermount
House colours
coverlines
Main coverline
Grab quote
Buzz words
Barcode
Price
Issue number
Dateline
Gradient background
One main picture
Top strapline
Masthead underneath main image
Pug
Bottom strapline
Range of images

3. Front cover:
I used codes and conventions of media and applied them to my front cover, by taking inspiration
from existing products which also stick to these rules. For example I used codes and conventions
by anchoring the main cover line and the main image together so that the target audience can
clearly see that they are linked together. I also followed codes and conventions by making sure
that the masthead was in a clear and big font at the top of the page so that it stands out to
readers, also I placed the masthead in front of the picture of the model deliberately, this is
because it is the first issue of the magazine and I wanted my brand to be clearly visible so that it
sticks in the target audiences mind and if they enjoyed the magazine, the brand loyalty and fan
base would increase. I also followed codes and conventions with the main image, as firstly I
ensured that the size of the image was big enough and zoomed in to attract readers attention
and once again I took inspiration from real life products as most of them use an image that is
quite big and of a medium shot type.
Medium shot
type
Main image and
main coverline are
anchored to
eachother

4. Another code and convention I used, was making sure that the models
used direct address to engage with the target audience. This also links
with the genre of music that my magazine is representing (Rock) as the
image denotes that the models look moody and irritated but further
connotation suggests that they reinforce the stereotype of being typical
teenagers that listen to Rock music, and as Rock music is largely associated
with concepts such as sadness, anger and frustration, it seems as though
It has had an impact on them. I have challenged stereotypes of Rock music
being seen and associated with the male gender, this is because I wanted
to create a magazine that appealed to young females of a white ethnicity
who are also interested in the genre, because after looking at many
different products there seems to be a gap in the market for this particular
target audience.
Direct address
All three models are of
a white ethnicity

5. Also, I represented this by using a range of females in my coverlines especially on the contents
page to show that the magazine is specific to the female audience. Although, I have reinforced
stereotypes by the way that I have represented the models using mis-en-scene.For example, I
made sure that they wore dark clothing (and wore dark/bold makeup on the double page
spread on the female models) to link and fit in with my genre of Rock music as it is associated
with these dark colours which also fit in with my house colour of red black and white. I
followed codes and conventions of lighting to my advantage as I used it to darken my images
slightly so that it fits in with my genre of rock, and connotes ideas of darkness which links with
my genre. A key example of this is darkening the models eye makeup to look more scary, fierce
and intense.
My representation of female models go against Laura Mulvey`s theory of women being
sexually objectified and her theory of the male gaze and women being presented as sexual
objects to be looked and enjoyed by men. This is seen as the models are fully clothed and
certain body parts that are associated with the male gaze are not shows, therefore I am not
sexually objectifying women in order to get my product to sell. Although, the images of the
female models do in fact support Hilary Radners theory of some females being seen as
“psychofemme.”This means that women are being portrayed and made to look tough and
strong and “taking over men`s roles.” I have shown this by the blunt facial expressions and
direct address of the models and the mis-en-scene of the tough looking outfits, eg: the black
ripped jeans and the leather jacket.

6. Other codes and conventions that I followed, were the use of the many coverlines that I spread
out across the page, I chose to use a range of them to emulate real life products. Also, the
coverlines are used to inform and educate the audience about what content is inside the
magazine. The coverlines also ensure limited amount of white space so the front cover looks more
interesting and appeals to the reader.I followed codes and conventions by sticking to a colour
scheme throughout, for example I used three main colours of red, white and black across my front
cover, double page spread and contents page which ensured consistency and also linked to the use
of branding as my masthead is a bright red colour also. Lastly I followed codes and conventions by
using soft sell to entice and make sure that my magazine appeals to the target audience. For
example, buzz words such as “shocking”,”exclusive”,”reveal” and “free” are used to make the
target audience excited to purchase it and find out more. Also, I used grab quotes for example
“shocking secrets” to give the target audience a small snippet of what contents Is inside.
Range of
coverlines
across the
page Buzz words to entice
the target audience

7. Similarities and differences
between my contents page and a
real product:
Page numbers
linking to images
Contents title
Masthead
Editorial letter
Colour scheme
Signature
Soft sell
One main image Issue number
Cover date
Rule of thirds/columns

8. For my contents page, I followed codes and conventions in many ways as possible and tried to emulate and
take inspiration from real life magazine contents pages. For example, I followed them by using the rule of thirds
and columns to make sure that the page looked organised and neat and that everything was sectioned off and
easy to follow. Also, by following this code and convention it ensures that there is a limited amount of dead
space and that the page gets filled up with as much contents as possible without it looking crammed and too
much. This is seen on my contents page as one column is for pictures, another is for the article titles and the
last one is of the editorial letter and the social media links.
Another code and convention I followed, was making sure that I used page numbers for each article title and
linked them to an image. This made sure that the target audience was clearly able to see what each article
includes and would persuade and entice them to purchase it and find out more. Although, I did challenge codes
and conventions with the use of images, as usually a contents page would include a wider range of pictures,
but I decided to stick to three main images as firstly I did not have enough time to take another picture, there
wouldn’t gave been enough space to fit it in and I wanted to have a column dedicated to the editorial letter
(and social media sites) especially because of GRUNGE being a first issue, so I felt that the editorial letter would
be a vital feature for introducing the magazine and creating a fan base.
Contents Page:
left column for the
three pictures
Middle column for article
titles
Right column for editorial
letter and social media
sites

9. Codes and conventions were once again followed, as I used the masthead on this page (along
with the other two pages) to promote my magazine and ensure that the name sticks in the
target audiences mind. Also, the three images reinforce the stereotype of people who are
interested in Rock music playing instruments such as guitars. This fits into the social group of
“rockers” as all three images show either a guitar or a microphone being held. The mis-en-
scene of these props represent the typical target audience of people of a white ethnicity
listening to this particular genre of music.
I challenged codes and conventions by not using any borders to make my pictures stand out, as
usually in pictures in real life products have borders around them to frame them and make
them noticeable. I deliberately did not chose to do this as one of my images in the middle of
the picture column on the left is a cut out of the model, and if I framed the rest of the pictures,
I would have to do the same for that one, so I left it as the range of image types looks unique
and individual from a lot of real life products. Lastly, I followed codes and conventions of using
soft sell to promote and entice my target audience with the use of grab quotes and buzz
words. For example, I used certain words in the article eg: “exclusive", "juiciest gossip”, “win”
and “secrets” to once again appeal and get the target audience excited to read and find out
more.

10. Similarities and Differences between my
double page spread and a real product:
Main heading
subheading
Drop cap
Main image
Page number
Quotes in a different colour
Grab quote
masthead
By line
Colour scheme

11. Double Page spread:
I followed codes and conventions on the page by using features such as the rule of thirds for my article
columns, which ensures that the text looks neat, professional and well ordered as well as making it easy for the
target audience to read the article without feeling overwhelmed and thinking that it`s too much to take in.This
code and convention is used by many existing products and it vital not only for organising the text, but to
control and limit the amount of dead space there is on the page. I followed codes and conventions once again
by including the page numbers on both pages to make sure the readers knows where to find the article.
Also, the use of the masthead is present on this page for the use of branding and to promote my magazine as it
is the first issue and the target audience should be getting familiar and building up a fan base/loyalty to the
brand. Another code and convention that I followed was making sure that the main image on the and the text
are integrated and link with each others so that the target audience is able to get an image of what the article
is describing. For example, in the article I described the models using descriptions for example "petite figure
dressed in a black outfit paired with a red tattooed choker with a silver heart” and “..wearing a trendy black
leather jacket and distressed black ripped jeans.
Masthead shown
for the use of
branding

12. "The main image shows this and they both link with each other. The image of the three models
reinforce the stereotypes of people who are interested in the genre of Rock music as being
emos,goths and punks.This Is seen with the use of the bold makeup on the females and the way that
they are dressed. Eg: in dark clothing. This image represents Stanley Cohens idea of rockers being
seen as a “moral panic. "This means that this social group can be seen and viewed as deviant and
threatening to mainstream societies values/ideologies and ways of life. They are seen as “different”
by society and people perhaps of a older age may view them as mischievous and rebellious due to the
way they dress, the music they listen to etc. This point could be supported by the male models
symbolic hand gesture which is well known and associated with the Rock genre and connotes ideas of
the devil and satanic culture which is usually viewed as being a negative representation. This also
supports Stuart Hall`s idea of youths being apparently seen as a “social problem. “
I followed codes and conventions once again by including features such as a byline which is necessary
as it tells the reader things about who wrote the article and took the pictures, the drop cap which is
usually preferred to add a decorative element to the page, and a grab quote was also used to once
again give a snippet of a significant part of the text.
Hand gesture has negative
connotations of satanic culture
and the devil.