Evaluation Question 2 media as

1. Evaluation Question 2
How does your media product represent particular social groups?

2. In my magazine, I chose to use middle/working
class representations to fall inline with my target
audience. Added to this, I also ensured the
models used were of a similar age to my target
audience. I purposely did this so the audience
could easily associate themselves with the
models in the magazine. I also kept to using both
male and female models although looking back
at my production, the dominant images were
female.
In using both female and male, I have tried to
highlight how each gender has the same equal
status and chance to be the dominant image on
a similar magazine.
Furthermore, having a female as the main image
is more likely to attract a male audience (Mulvey)
which falls into the typical audience of magazine
aiming at males, although it would also appeal to
females as they would aspire to be like the
female models.

3. Front Cover
On my front cover, I chose to try engage the female audience more so by
using a female model for my main image.
In doing so, it would be more likely they could associate themselves with he
magazine and therefore it creates a relationship with them (uses and grats).
Furthermore, the models facial expression is un clear, resulting in an
unpredictability feel, which is a common occurrence in existing medias
which I have researched. This expression also acts as a pluralistic one -
gives a positive role model, but doesn’t convey the anger or aggression. On
the other hand, the ‘moody’ ‘expressionless’ look could arguably represent a
hegemonic view of a stereotypical teenager due to the blankness of her
reaction.
The mise-en-scene is another factor which represents my target audience, in
particular the clothing. Having similar funky clothing to what my target
audience would wear, makes the model more of an inspiration and
something to base an ideology on. The clothing used however, can be seen
as hegemonic to the characteristics of being a cheeky, indie teenager.
Lastly, during my research, I found out that the majority of models on the
front cover were females and they are usually sexualized in the way they are
positioned and dressed and therefore are objectified (Mulvey - male gaze).
Although I have followed the convention of having a female on my front
cover, I have chosen to go against the convention of a sexualized image as I
am trying to appeal to both female and male.

4. These are some examples of magazines which sexualize women;
Similar idea to my magazine in which females aren’t sexualized;

5. Shot Types
In the majority of my images in my magazine I have used eye line
shots, the subject is looking directly into the camera which creates
direct mode of address between the reader and the artist/model (uses
and grats).
Direct mode of address also makes the females more of a subject than
an object as their facial expressions become the dominant feature in
each image rather than their body. As my magazines caters for both
female and males I purposefully chose to make the females the subject
instead of an object which would further attract the female audience,
and the males would be intrigued as to why the model has been
presented in that specific way.
Using a long shot on my double page spread was necessary in order
to show more of the surroundings and add to the mise en scene. This is
because I am appealing to the audience through the similarities of the
location in which they will be on a regular basis. This further creates a
relationship between the artist and reader as they can compare and
relate (uses and grats).

6. Layout
On my contents page, the use of many images is evident and was
purposely done so to react to the wants and needs of my
audience. My audience would rather have the key information and
read as little as possible, but still getting enough to allow the
reader an insight, so this is what i tried to achieve in my contents;
which led me to the use of more images, instead of my original
contents which just had one image.
If my target audience would’ve been older, this wouldn’t be the
case as they prefer more text than images. Doing this may have
led my contents page to look less professional however this only
reinforces my target audiences wants and needs.
I used rows and columns in order to allow my audience to easily
navigate and find the direct information they need therefore
fulfilling any needs (whether it be cognitive or integrative).
By using a structured layout I have eliminated crowding of images
(eg. Q magazine) so the page looks balanced and any discomfort
that it might cause the reader has been eliminated.

7. Ideology
For my magazine, I prioritized appealing to the target audience
through reception theory. Doing this has allowed me to create
relationships between the artists and the reader through the
comparison and similarities included.
Not only would this entice readers to read the magazine but it
creates an inspiration for them resulting in the potentially for a
loyal fan base if this was a real magazine.
The use of similar aged models played a big role in who would be
my audience as this is a key aspect in how they perceive the
magazine and therefore, if they can relate to it or not.
The teenage artists that represent other youths which perhaps
makes the audience want to read about their own potential, this
was done by the shot positioning using confident poses and close
shots creating direct mode address as well as the informality of
the text.
This is similar to existing media such as Billboard that grab the
attention of their audience by relating. By doing this it means that
the audience is positioned to get the preferred reading of the
media text.