Evaluation activity 1

1. Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
Real magazine example: Q

2. The title of the magazine:
Written in a bold, white, large font with a red background so it stands out. The name Q
symbolizes a record ready to play and is taken from the term ‘Cue’ but the name was
changed so the magazine wouldn’t be mistaken for a snooker magazine.
Graphology/page layouts:
The layout for the cover page is eye catching and dynamic and will catch the
audiences’ attention with the sizing of the masthead. For the contents page, the
layout is simplistic yet bold and appeasing for the reader and clearly demonstrates the
information that is conventionally expected on the contents page. The double page
spread is written in a readable font and is laid out clearly and in an eye catching
effective style that will encourage the reader to read the article.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Referring to real magazine example:

3. Costumes, props and iconology used to reflect the genre:
Cheryl Cole is featured in a bold and dynamic way using dark lipstick and wet hair to
capture the audiences’ attention and the other artists are presented in an eye catching
open style that will appeal to a range of audiences’.
Camerawork and framing of images:
A close up was used on the front cover and double page spread and a variety of shots
including full body and medium shots were used for the contents page.
Article, header ect font and style:
The article on the double page spread is written in a clear font which means it is easy
for the audience to read it. It is laid on in an interesting yet simplistic style which will
catch the audiences’ attention.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Referring to real magazine example:

4. Genre and how the magazine cover, contents and spread suggests it:
Q Magazine includes a range of genres which is achieved in their magazine as a range
of artists that will appeal to the audience are included.
How are the artist(s) represented:
Cheryl Cole is presented as a strong and dynamic artist using a bold colour scheme of
red, white and black which will catch the audiences’ attention.
Colour scheme:
The colour schemes on the cover, contents page and double page spread all work
together really well. The cover is eye catching and bold, the contents is simplistic yet
effective and the double page spread is sharp and the article is easy to read.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Referring to real magazine example:

5. Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Own magazine:

6. The title of the magazine:
I feel that my masthead ‘DIVERGE’ fits the codes and
conventions of a typical music magazines such as
Clash and Vibe as they also have the same bold font
that stands out on the magazine. The message
behind my choice for this magazine is that Diverge
means to separate from another route or go in a
different direction which is generally displayed I
alternative rock as this genre is very different to
others. The positioning for my masthead is also very
similar to the layout of Clash and Vibe which shows it
conforms to conventions. I used the Telegrafico font
which although it is a lot thinner than my examples
of Clash and Vibe, but referring to my earlier
magazine example, Q magazine is also in a thin font.
I feel my magazine font still forms to the conventions
as the style of the sharp outlines is shown in both
Clash and Vibe magazine and the boldness of the
font is similar to Q Magazine.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

7. Graphology/page layouts:
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Real magazine layouts and graphology similar to my own magazine:

8. Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Graphology/page layouts:
Real magazine layouts and graphology similar to my own magazine:

9. Graphology/page layouts:
I used the Telegraffico font for my main cover, the Arual font for my contents page, The Next Font for
my article ‘Fireside’ title on my double page spread and I used the Helvetica Neue Condensed Black for
the rest of my text (including the headings, subheadings and article). I used the Helvetica Neue
Condensed Black font for the majority of my magazine as I felt this was an eye catching font that was
easy to read yet stood out on the page. Referring this to a real magazine, as shown in my examples on
the previous slides, Q magazine does use a few different fonts which I feel works with the styling and
layout for this magazine but it wouldn’t of worked with my own. I used three different fonts for my
masthead, Contents heading and Fireside as I felt these fonts worked best with the page and it adds a
sense of originality with each page as I keep the other text as the Helvetica Neue Condensed Black
font. I felt mixing different fonts together didn’t work so this challenges the conventions of a real
media product in comparison to Q magazine but I feel that overall it created a more effective product
than it would’ve by mixing different fonts as I felt it didn’t work with my magazine style and layout. The
layout for my magazine cover page is very similar to Q magazine and I used the style of moving the
artist names more towards the main image rather than keeping them in line with the masthead. This
follows the conventions of a real media product. I moved the barcode as this was recommended in my
teacher feedback and I can see through research that this sizing would be appropriate as it is very
similar to this Q magazine. This is using the conventions of a real media product. I used a range of sizes
to make different text stand out in comparison to other text such as the headings on my contents page
but I can see my text sizes are very similar to other music magazines so I feel that my magazine
generally uses the forms and conventions of real media products but I feel I challenged the use of fonts
as I believed my magazine in particular worked better using one font for the majority of my text.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

10. Costumes, props and iconology used to reflect the genre:
For my front cover, I decided to dress my model ‘Kayla Page’ in a denim jacket
with a white top as this connotes a relaxed yet effective and edgy style that
will appeal to my target audience. I used red lipstick as I felt this worked well
with parts of my text written in red and this technique is often used in
magazines which shows I am developing the conventions of real magazines as
well as presenting the model’s iconology that will draw my target audience to
my magazine. For my contents page, I dressed my male model in a leather
jacket and a white top as this outfit symbolizes a calm yet intriguing character
and this is an outfit that is generally worn by my target audience which is
shown in my fashion research so readers will be drawn to see what this artist
is about. I chose to keep the glasses on as although they symbolize the
stereotype of not being classed as fashionable, the genre alternative rock is
about being unique and yourself and I wanted to include this message in my
magazine to subtly show my magazine is not conforming to general
stereotypes which can be seen as challenging the conventions of real media
products. My band ‘Fireside’ for my contents and double page spread are
dressed in dark clothing of greys and blacks and they are all wearing the same
lipstick which displays a subtle yet clear presentation that they look good as a
band. This iconology will encourage my readers to see what the article is
about as the idea of a new band that appear to look good together is a simple
technique that will intrigue the audience to find out more.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Front Cover Contents Page
Double Page Spread

11. Camerawork and framing of images:
My magazine follows the codes and conventions of typical music
magazines as I mainly focused on close up/mid shots for my
contents page, a mid shot for one of my contents images and
long shots for the rest. My cover image is central on my front
cover which ensures it will catch the audiences’ attention and the
image works well with the layout of the text. I followed the Mert
& Marcus photography approach (their work is shown in my
photographer research and planning) focusing on appearance
furthermore create an attractive product. This meant for my
camera work I used two separate lights to ensure the lighting was
good quality and I planned the styling in advance to ensure the
images taken will be appealing for my target audience. I feel my
magazine images fit the conventions of real media products as
my intended purpose was to obtain images that will stand out to
my target audience and work effectively on the page and I feel
both of these objectives were achieved and these objectives are
generally used in the production of real media products to
ensure the magazine will be successful.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
FrontcoverContentspageDoublepagespread

12. Article, header ect font and style:
My magazine article follows the style of Q Magazine having an image on
one page and the article on the other but I decided to include another
image in the text of the article as this will break up the text and means
the article will be more inviting to the reader to give the illusion the
article isn’t too long. The font for my article is bold and similar to
Kerrang’s style which I felt is very defined and professional yet still is
clearly readable to the audience. I used the Helvetica Neue Condensed
Black font for the majority of my magazine (which I found on the existing
fonts through Photoshop) but the Telegraffico font for my main cover,
the Arual font for my contents page and The Next Font for my article
‘Fireside’ title on my double page spread. All of the rest of these fonts
were taken from www.dafont.com. I felt they stood out were on my
magazine and worked with the individual yet conventional structure of a
real media product by including the font that I felt would stand out best
to the audience to ensure maximizing publicity. But I have developed the
design for the header having it very central and laid out as this is the
simplistic yet effective and professional approach I wanted for my
magazine which ensures my magazine will have character as the
approach is slightly different in various aspects in comparison to other
media products.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

13. Genre and how the magazine cover, contents and spread
suggests it:
I feel my magazine conveys the genre of alternative rock
through the styling of my artists. I took inspiration from
my research and planning so all of my artists are wearing
clothing displayed in the typical outfits associated with
alternative rock My model on my cover page is also
wearing red lipstick which is associated with
independence and free will which is shown in alternative
rock as it is a stereotypical music genre that connotes the
idea that anyone can listen to what they want. Similarly
to other magazines, my magazine clearly shows
originality representing the genre of alternative rock and
Q Magazine represent their genre by conveying different
styles to show the magazine looks at more than one
genre. Overall, this shows I am representing my genre in
my magazine using the conventions of real media
products.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

14. How are the artist(s) represented:
My artist on my front cover page is presented in a fun, individual and out
going style as my target audience (scenesters from the leading Edge
Tribe) focus on originality and being yourself which I believe is clearly
captured in my image. I chose to have my cover page artist wearing red
lipstick as dark red lipstick in the 1920s was worn by women to
symbolize their independence. Also in the 1930s lipstick was seen as a
symbol of adult sexuality and teenage girls saw lipstick as a symbol of
womanhood but adults didn’t believe that teenage girls should be
wearing it so therefore saw lipstick as a symbol of rebellion. This
represents the genre of alternative rock as I feel the lipstick symbolizes
independence and free will which is reflected in my target audience in
the Leading Edge Tribe for the Scenesters group. I felt that this
symbolism will attract my target audience and encourage them to buy
my magazine. For my male artist, I dressed him in a black jacket with a
white shirt taking the simplistic approach whilst having an outfits worn a
lot in alternative rock. As well as having my artist fit my music genre, the
simplicity of the outfits ensures his clothing won’t take away the
attention from the actual artist. My band were dressed in dark clothing
(typically worn in alternative rock) with no bright slogans or colours as I
felt this approach means the attention won’t be taken away from the
artist so they will be more recognizable to the reader in the future.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

15. Colour scheme:
My colour scheme for my magazine was black, white and red for the
cover page and contents page but I mainly focused on black and white
in my double page spread as I felt a bright colour would take the
attention away from the article and images. I used red in the cover and
contents page as it is a unisex colour that will stand out to both genders
and it allows me to make certain text stand out. I didn’t include this
feature to make text stand out in my double page spread as I generally
focused on using sizing to catch the audiences’ attention having the pull
quote, heading and subheading in a larger text size in comparison to my
article. I felt that having an extra colour would be too overwhelming for
the reader with the article also and may deviate them from wanting to
read this double page spread. As shown in my examples, various other
magazines such ad Q, NME, and Vibe use the colour scheme of red
black and white and I felt the colors worked together really well to
overall create an eye catching product. Furthermore, I continued the
colour scheme into my contents page (similarly to Q) to make the page
stand out more to the reader and this also shows me that my magazine
is developing the conventions of a real media product as I have followed
the style of Q magazine. I also used the red on my cover page model in
the red lipstick to represent my artist as an original, outgoing and
individual character who still stand out to my target audience.
Evaluation Activity 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?