This document discusses how the media product uses and develops conventions from real magazines. It examines case studies of XXL and Vibe magazines to determine typical conventions like three-color schemes, large mastheads, cover stars featured throughout. The product challenges conventions by using a longer shot on the cover instead of a close-up. It also develops conventions by appropriately clothing the cover star rather than exploiting her, as some magazines do. Overall the document focuses on applying typical magazine conventions while also challenging norms around portraying women.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?

2. Colour Scheme
I decided to choose RnB and Hip-Hop as my music genre for my magazine. To know what to
include in my magazine I did case studies on XXL and Vibe magazines as they are the same genre.
These magazines taught me typical conventions used in any magazine, e.g. large bold masthead
or pull quotes on the cover and double page spread. Taking inspiration from my case studies I was
able to create a similar magazine using what they showed me. Starting with my front cover I used
a three colour scheme because most magazine stick to just three colours, for example XXL used
black white and red. I decided to also use black, white and a dark red because it was I used in my
preliminary task for my college magazine and I got good feedback for the colour scheme. I think it
was best to stick to this convention as too many colours can make the magazine look
unprofessional and childish for a RnB and Hip-Hop Magazine. I also stuck with using a large bold
Masthead
masthead on my magazine. I chose “Supreme” to be the name of my magazine. I think it’s a
trendy urban name and I got my inspiration from Vibe as it’s also quite trendy and easy to
remember name.

3. 
Case studies also showed me that the cover star is the main feature throughout
the magazine, so they’ll be featured on the front cover, contents and the main
double page spread. I also did this by making my cover star “Davina” my
magazines main feature because readers seeing her on the front cover will
already draw them in and want to read about her so it would be logical if she
was the feature of the double page spread as readers would want to know
about her. I used her as the only picture on my features page because she is
the overall main feature so I wanted to keep the attention on her. Also in my
XXL case study, Chris Brown, who was the main feature for their issue was used
as the only pic on their feature contents page and they used quite a large
image with a pull quote to keep all the interest on him. I also used this because
the pull quote will draw readers in to read her article and it’ll keep the main
focus on her.
XXL Case Study
contents

4. 
Most magazines include a medium close up or a close up on their front pages.
My vibe case study used a medium close up and my XXL case study used a
close up shot of their cover stars for their front page. I challenged this by using
a medium shot/long shot of my cover star for my front cover because I want to
stand out as a magazine like mine is already different to have in the UK so I
wanted to make sure it comes across as diverse so people wouldn’t view it as
the same as XXL or Vibe. What also makes it different is my cover star is at an
angle which allows the majority of the coverlines to go on one side of her, this
makes sure that there is not a lot covering her and so it don’t look too
clustered. I also stuck with using a plain background as in my vibe case study
they used a plain white one and it look professional. If I was to used a
background that was multi-coloured or had a pattern it would of looked messy
and drawn the attention away from my cover star.
Image used on front
cover

5. 
In both my case studies there was no editors note used on their contents. I decided to stick
to not including one because usually it comes on a separate page that gives a mention to
all the people who worked on the magazine and if the magazine is monthly then a lot can
be included in the editors note rather than if the magazine was weekly.

I had to decide on what my model had to wear without much inspiration as my XXL case
study used a male and I had a woman for mine and in my Vibe case study their model wore
no clothes so it was hard to get an idea off that. I decided on a simple crop jumper with
studs to give her an edgy look, with high-waisted jeans and timberlands. I thought this look
would have been best because these are clothes that my audience may like or have
themselves. I included gold jewellery with my cover stars outfit as in my XXL case study Chris
Brown wore a lot of gold jewellery so I thought I would also add gold into the look as its
stylish and gold accessories are in at the moment so I was trying to follow popular trends to
appeal to my audience. It could be said that I am developing this as in many rap and HipHop magazines include barely clothed women, so by clothing my cover star I am changing
the typical ways of these magazines as they tend to degrade women, for example, XXL has
an “eye candy” page in every issue, I’m helping build a better reputation of women in
these magazines.

6. 
On my double page spread I stuck to the typical conventions that would
be included in one which would be a large image on the left side with a
pull quote and a header. I Included a large image on the left side but I
didn’t use a large image that covers the full page, just three quarters so I
had enough room to write an introduction about my cover star. I thought it
was important to include an introduction as my cover star is a new artist.
Unlike my case studies who didn’t use Q&A style interview, I chose to use a
Q&A style interview cause I think its easier to read and more organised,
layout wise. I put branding for my magazine “Supreme” at the bottom of
the page on my double page spread as my case studies did the same
and it gives readers a website that they can go on for my magazine.