2. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
My magazine uses many sophisticated techniques which helps
it gain a professional look of a real published and bought
magazine. However my magazine is not a normal magazine
and does challenge the original conventions of a music
magazine with a unique style which is inspired by the
music/artistic magazine ‘CRACK’.
4. MASTHEAD
Big - simplistic - recognisable - Capital
letters - stands behind main image - right
at the top of the page - contrasts dark
colour of background therefore eye
catching.
Other magazines which use this method
include…
5. MAIN IMAGE
Medium close up (common convention) - one person in the shot (single model) -
light expressed in the image onto models face links the main image to the main
story - direct mode of address (eye contact) - entices reader, they feel
connection - image stands in front of bold masthead - most dominant on the
page - dark background - contrasts the brightness of main image - red coat adds
colour to image - the focused facial expression showing commitment -
challenging idea even though a women, she has same chance of success as a
man
Other magazines which have used these types of conventions are...
CRACK
CLASH
6. PULL QUOTE
These create questions to pull
the reader in - intriguing to
audience - makes them think
and want to read more into the
magazine
A Magazine that use these
conventions...
CLASH
7. ANCHOR TEXT
Artists stage name - attracts
readers/fans - unrecognised name,
more intrigued - links name with the
main image - little text on page
therefore draws attention the name -
capitals - symbol text - white against
background/ image contrasts
background
Other conventions...
THE FLY
CLASH
8. HOUSE STYLE
My magazine challenges the conventional magazine type
- it has very little text on the cover as I wanted a stronger
message to come from the main image and have the
majority of the attention on the face ( CRACK us the
same technique) - creates more interest to see what’s
inside - little detail on front - no flashes
Other magazines which challenge the idea of a loaded
front cover full of features are...
CRACK
THE FLY
10. DATE
Up to date information - readers
know how recent magazine is -
small - not as important as content -
top of page more authority
Another magazine that use this
convention is...
CLASH
11. IMAGES
All images are medium close ups, each with there own personality and unique lighting
Top image is a side shot with art from an exhibition of ‘Kashif Nadim Chaundry’. The colours from this work really
stand out however create a mystic, unique background which complements the model. The red coat also links and
connects the background with the foreground; the use of shadowing/highlights using contrast on the models face
creates an outline linking to the main story
Second image depth of field used to create a strong main dominant person in the image the red coat again stands
out of the picture complementing the brightness of the models face to enhance the model as the centre stage
Third image the use of tripling the image again reverts back to main story of how the artist is so determined to
make her future her own (future is made by her and her only i.e three images of her), the black and white middle
picture contrasts the two coloured pictures adding a artistic flare, the dark shadow across the righthand bottom
corner blacks out a large section of the image depicting the model/ artists future/destiny (uncertainty) linking to
main story.
12. Slash through the middle of the images and inverted
oppositely, creating two triangles at slanted angles -
geometrical style adding unique flare - images not
regular shapes - no overlapping images into text
I originally went for the conventional thumbnail but then
decided to slice the images in half and play around
with the positioning until i found the right look. Which
challenges original conventions of square regular
shaped images. Through my research I did not find
any irregular (Any other shape apart from
square/rectangle) shaped images.
13. COLUMNS/ SECTIONS OF TEXT
Simple layout of text - following a rough template of columns -
however text is more set into chunks - found that separated
text in a column fashion was conventional in all types of
magazines - no overlapping of the text onto images -
professional finish - shaped to curve the the images - easy to
find on the page
Examples of magazines which use these conventions...
CRACK
CLASH
14. NUMBERING
Small page numbers - set in own columns - easy to find - not
chunked and camouflage into text - next to appropriate text
- all one colour - does not draw attention away from content
A Magazine with the same conventions...
THE FLY
15. SOCIAL MEDIA
Small link down side of page -
advertises magazine discreetly -
vertically angled text - more
attention - lead to magazines
website
A magazine which I’ve researched
which use this convention are...
THE FLY
16. PAGE NUMBER
Small - informative - kept same size and font
through magazine - professional consistency
Every magazine has conventional page
number here are some I researched…
THE FLY CRACK
17. MASTHEAD
Bold - slick -simple - capital letters - know exactly
what the page is as it's labelled clearly - top of
page - follows conventions
An example of clear mastheads on contents
pages are...
CRACK
CLASH
19. MAIN IMAGE
Situated in the middle of the page, medium shot, slightly shifted
off centre (so image not disturbed by middle crease of magazine)
- bright vibrant jacket - contrast to the space left on the page -
image cropped into circle - two white lines diagonally placed
across image - linking image into the page and text (story) - deep
unfocused background - makes model dominant on the page
main central figure - so audience know what the main story is
situated on
I found no magazines challenging the convention image shaped
however in my research I found magazine slightly challenging
this concept which gave me inspiration for my own magazine.
The image is rectangular however based in a circular shape...
CRACK
20. LAYOUT
I used an unconventional layout and challenged conventions by using
just one image at a smaller size situated in the middle of the page with
the columns of text surrounding it. The two lines one above the page
and once below, border the whole image and creates a frame mark,
makes the page look more professional.The image is central and I
want immediate attention to be on it, the title is the artist's name in
bold/capitals surrounding and enclosing the image and tightly
wrapped around linking the two together. Although this challenges
the conventional method of titles at the top of the page and
rectangular text angles, in my research I found a magazine which
challenged this as said in my double page spread main image
evaluation..
CRACK
21. TEXT/COLUMNS
Simplistic layout of columns of text - two and a half -
deliberate large gap - creates space - wanted large
amount of space on page - symbolising amount of
ambition the artist has - linking to story - quote linked
into text - embedded into column - not overlapping so
unreadable - creates form and structure.
A magazines that use these conventions of vast space
and columns is...
CRACK
22. PULL QUOTE
Same quote as on the front cover -
engages reader - links to story -
summary of the basic outline of main
story - different font (italic)- more
attracted to it
Other conventions of this...
CRACK
23. ARTIST'S NAME
My artists name I chose to use as the main title for
my double page however chose not to use the
conventional position and format - it's wrapped
around the artists image itself - symbol text - bold
- capitals - the angle in which it's written draws
attention as its an abnormal way to see a title of a
page - the font ‘symbol’ also draws attention due
to the different lettering - easy to navigate to as
its the only part of text on the page bigger and
bolder than the rest easily realising it's the title.
I did not find any magazines challenging this
convention of using the artist name as a title in
such a way and shaping its path into a circle.
24. PAGE NUMBERS
Informative - situated at bottom of page -
separated clearly from the line which is in between
the text and the number
Magazines which use conventional page numbers...
CLASH THE FLY
