The document discusses how the media product follows and challenges conventions of real magazines. It follows conventions like using a masthead, rule of thirds layout, issue date, and barcodes. However, it challenges conventions such as having a non-seductive cover image and not listing the issue date on the contents page to seem more modern. It also follows conventions for layouts and designs on the contents page, double page article spread, and individual article layout while adding unique design elements. The goal is to balance familiar conventions with new approaches.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge form and conventions of real media products? Other conventions I have followed are the insertion of the flasher, the way in which the copy frame and circle the main image. For the mise-en-scene of the image I have chosen to challenge a convention of indie pop artist’s photography. For example as I found in my research lots of indie pop photography features some sort of enhanced colour effect or bright or vintage costumes. However I have tried to keep the costume fairly plain with a hint of rock styling. Instead I tried to make the magazine design, the artists hair and make up show that this was not a typical rock magazine but through her soft, lose, wavy hair and her well made up (airbrushed) face, a convention and style associated with pop artists, it will be insinuated that it is an indie pop magazine. I have used the convention of a masthead featured in the top left corner. I chose to follow this convention as my research showed that this was common for magazine to use as it is natural for people to read from top to bottom and from left to right and therefore it is the natural and most memorable place to place the masthead in order to imprint the magazine in the readers memory. However it is also common for the main image of a magazine to overlap the masthead. I decided to follow this convention as it provides a range and depth in the layout and makes it appear more dynamic. However I have only overlapped the masthead slightly so that the masthead can still appear as a major feature and will still stand out to the reader. The first convention I have decided to follow and develop is the rule of thirds. I have achieved this by making the main image feature across two of the three columns of the rule of thirds. Also the masthead is featured across one and part of the second column to make it really stand out to a reader. The remainder of the column at top third of the page feature the magazine header. Then the copy is laid out so that three of the cover lines and the flasher is featured in the left hand column and the cover line ‘Grey film review’ is featured in the right hand column. The remaining two cover lines are spread out across the middle and right hand column, making them stand out more and to highlight their importance. For the main image I have tried to both follow and challenge typical conventions. I have used a medium close-up image to clearly show both body language and facial expression and the clear identity of the artist. Also I have used direct address to engage and attract the readers. Yet unlike many magazine that’s feature a female artist. I have tried to make the mise-en-scene and impression of the image non-seductive or enticing in terms of a role model. The subtext of the image is that she is moving her hair away as if to reveal her identity, which is relevant to the article featured in the magazine. I chose to challenge this as I feel that main images can be intriguing without appealing to people want and desires, whether its seductively to males or as a an inspirational to females. Other conventions I have followed are the date of issue, price and the barcode required for selling.

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge form and conventions of real media products? Firstly I have followed the convention of repeating the masthead with the same positioning, sizing and colouring so the repetition makes it more memorable and recognisable. I have also followed the convention of inserting the ‘contents’ title at the top of the page. I also have subheadings for the insiders and the monthly features of the magazine. I have used the rule of thirds again, however the first column is taken up by the insiders. The masthead then slightly overlaps this column to make it more prominent. The final two columns are then used up by the main image. The third also features the two additional images. Most magazine contents pages that consist of more than one image have the main image as either light or dark with the opposite image on top. The reason for this is to make it clear and easy to see. However, for my images my text boxes are black with a dim lit main image and one dark Image and one brighter (yet shadowed) image. All of this makes a hectic and busy design of the page. I have decided to challenge the usual conventions for this because by doing this the reader will need to take more time and to concentrate when looking at the pictures and reading the copy. I have included a web-address at the top of the page. This is a fairly common convention found in magazines as it can attract a wider/different audience and more publicity. I have inserted fairly large numbers next to the article title and on the images as well as captions. This allows a reader to quickly find an article and it shows that the images are relevant to an article. I have added effects such as drop shadows onto the images and some of the text boxes around the images to make them stand out more against the main image. To make the magazine cover and contents consistent and recognisable I have repeated the colour scheme and house style of the cover (font styles etc). I have challenged the convention of including a date of issue of the contents page as I feel that the modern and relevant artists and article topics should automatically allow the reader to know the date of issue.

3. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge form and conventions of real media products? I have followed the convention of adding tags onto the article and image to allow the reader to know the topic of the article allowing them to decide to read it or not. It is a typical convention of double page spreads for the main image to take up the whole of one of the pages. I have chosen to follow this. Also it is common for this image to be of a live performance. I have also decided to follow this as it is clearly relevant to the article and enticing for the reader to know of the artists latest performances and tours. It also make the article more appealing as by making the pages image dominated, the article appears less dull and easier to read. I have developed the conventions of titles and pull quotes by merging them. I chose to do this as in the article the artist uses the quote when talking about her songs and lyrics and beliefs. Thus this is a relevant quote to both the article and the artist as well as being an inspirational lyric. To continue following the convention of making a double page spread image dominated, I have added two further images of the artists having fun and concealing her identity, which is relevant to the article. I have then added effects to these to make them stand out more. I have followed the convention of a stand first as this gives the reader an insight on what the article features and engages and attracts them to read on. The article is in Q&A form, split into three columns and has a drop capital at the beginning. These are all conventions that make the article more dynamic, easier and more interesting to read. Other typical conventions of double page spreads that I have followed are the page numbers, date of issue and the by-line. Unlike most magazine I have continued the house style and colour scheme onto this article as it again makes it more memorable and recognisable. But it also because it reminds the audience that this is the main article relating to the artist on the cover. Yet the added red makes it more prominent and dynamic.