This document summarizes how a media product represents particular social groups. Specifically, it discusses a magazine targeted at people aged 16-24 interested in country and western music. The front cover features a young model stereotypically dressed in country western style to appeal to the target audience. Images used on the contents page also feature stereotypical country western styling and settings to match the genre. The language in interviews and features is informal to relate to the young target readership while maintaining a professional tone for the front cover.

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

2. My target audience, is people aged between 16 – 24. My media product
is aimed at both genders, as County & Western is a music genre which is
aimed at both male and females. My magazine is probably aimed at
college and university students, but also those in work too. I imagine the
social group for my magazine, to have an interest in musical instruments,
especially the wooden guitar, as this is very Country and Western.
My social group

3. Image used for my front cover
Here is the image I have used for my front
cover, the image on the left is the original
image that I took, and the image on the right
is how I arranged and displayed it on the front
cover.
Richard Dyer “a star is an image, not a real person”
Typographical theory.
This image represents Country & Western. The model is
young, which fits into my target audience, and therefore
this image will appeal to them. The image is
stereotypical, the model is wearing a checkered shirt,
jeans and boots, which are all stereotypes of Country &
Western music. I turned my model into a Country singing
star. The make up used on my model, is soft and doesn't’t
come across as harsh or dark. The background on the
magazine, is made to represent a studio shot. The guitar
represents what kind of instrument Dolly Bead plays, but
it also represents the Country and Western music genre.
The whole look that I have chosen for my model, is to
mimic the Country and Western genre, this is so my
target audience can see exactly what genre my model is
representing.

4. Images I have used for my contents
page
The location of the picture on the left represents the
Country and Western genre, it is in a field, but the
lighting is natural, which does not make it appear dark
and gloomy. The model is young and is a male, which
will appeal to my target audience, this may also attract
boys, and it also shows that Country and Western is a
genre that should appeal to both genders. This will also
attract both genders. The facial expressions shown are
happy, as the music genre is quite up beat. The model
again, is stereotypically dressed to mimic a
cowboy/country and western star. The colours of the
clothes, are bright and powerful, to attract the target
audience attention. The makeup of the female model is
not to harsh, it is very natural, but the lips stand out.

5. Language used throughout my media
product
The language used on the front cover as you can see on the top picture, is a feature that will
appeal to my target audience, wining tickets to see Taylor Swift will appeal to Country and
Western fans, as Taylor Swift is the modern Country girl, along with Miley Cyrus. The interview
that is featured on the double page spread, shows Dolly Bead being informal. Using words
such as ‘ye’ which are slang. This will reflect my target audience, as they are young and they
can relate to the language used. No tabboo is used during the interview, as obviously the
interview is being published into a magazine, and it is not professional. Even though young
teenagers could relate to tabboo language, as it represents the stereotypes of a young
teenager. Formal language has been used on the front cover, to give it that professional look,
and to attract the target audience.