The document discusses how the media product uses, develops, and challenges conventions of real music magazines. It describes using conventions like placement of mastheads and barcodes on the front cover. It develops conventions by changing the opacity of the masthead and having more formal clothing. It challenges conventions by including a flower crown on the front cover to portray the male artist in a more feminine way. On the contents page, it follows conventions like layout and descriptions but changes model placement. On the double page spread it develops conventions like pull quote placement and using three rows of text instead of two columns for the interview. It subverts conventions on the contents page by adding a second image.

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

2. USE OF CONVENTIONS ON THE FRONT
COVER
On my front cover for my magazine TRILL, I have used a few conventions
that are found in music magazines that are either the same, or similar to my
genre. I did this so that there is a sense of familiarity between my magazine
and others, which is something that my target market is likely to respond to,
as they will recognise the conventions, which as a result will make my
magazine seem more professional and realistic.
To start with, I made the pose, angle of gaze and expression of my artist
similar, as to the ‘RESPECT.’ magazine, as it makes the artist seem more
impactful and powerful, which is something that I wanted my artist to
portray. I also put the barcode in the same place, as it doesn’t distract the
reader from the main part of the magazine, yet it is still visible and therefore
useful. I put my artists name in a similar place so that it was clear from his
face, yet big and bold enough to be seen. I also decided to pattern ‘Adam’,
so that it relates the two parts of the page together, and the pattern was taken
from the flower crown in the magazine, a convention that I followed from
the ‘RESPECT.’ magazine, as I thought it made the page look more artistic,
which is something that is done thoroughly in Alternative R&B.

3. USE OF CONVENTIONS ON THE FRONT
COVER
The conventions that I followed from this edition of XXL Magazine
were the placement of the masthead, the use of the ‘+’ sign, and the
listing of the artists and features on the right hand side.
I placed the masthead on the top left, as it is clear and doesn’t distract
the main focus of the page, which was something I realised was a
common convention in music magazines. I then put the features on the
right hand side to show what would be inside my magazine, and I made
sure that they didn’t obscure the photograph, as it would distract the
picture, and in the XXL Magazine, they ensured that the image,
especially his face wasn’t covered. This allows for the audiences to
clearly understand and read the page. I chose to add the ‘+’ sign
because it is used a lot, and it makes the audience feel as if they are
getting more things included in the magazine.

4. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS ON THE FRONT
COVER
In terms of developing typical conventions on the front cover, I developed the
masthead, as most of them are white, however I made mine black and changed the
opacity. I think it works well as it isn’t distracting, yet it still stands out enough
and continues to show the brand of the magazine.
Another factor I developed was the clothing for my artist, as it was slightly more
formal than the other magazines I had looked at, yet it was still fashionable and
something that members of my target audience would wear. I think it works well
because it isn’t distracting either, which is something that I saw whilst researching
front covers for music magazines.

5. CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS ON THE FRONT
COVER
For challenging the conventions I decided to
include a flower crown, and then the use of the
floral print because it allows me to portray my
male artist in a more feminine way without using
make-up, or clothing, and this is something that is
rarely seen in this music genre, or similar genres
such as Rap, Hip-Hop, Indie or Pop. However, I
think that I had to be careful, otherwise it would
have made him look too feminine which isn’t what
I want, and distract the readers from other parts of
the cover. I think that challenging this convention
works in my favour as it is not common, and if my
magazine were to be sold, this edition would stand
out compared to similar ones.

6. USE OF CONVENTIONS ON THE CONTENTS
PAGE
On the contents page I have followed conventions by following the
layout, so I have used the image to take up the whole page, which leaves
enough clear space on the side allocated for features and coverlines. I
also made the model take up the majority of the page, and I think it
works well as it allows the artist to seem more established.
Specifically looking at the features, and the way they are written, I have
followed the format of putting the page number first, which is followed
by the feature title, and then by a short description of the page/article.
Other conventions that I followed were dressing my model in clothes that
suit the genre well and have them posing in a way that represents the
genre of music well, which is important otherwise it will not make the
pages fit together, as part of one magazine.

7. USING AND SUBVERTING CONVENTIONS ON
THE CONTENTS PAGE
On my contents page, I followed typical conventions by
breaking up the lettering for the word ‘contents’, however this
convention is rarely done, but I think it helps distinguish the
house style of my magazine, which is similar to that of Vibe’s.
I think it also helps show the feel of my magazine, and helps
preserve its aesthetic. I did change the placement of it, because
I didn’t want it to disrupt the model, which I think helps make
the page look uncrowded and sleek.
I also added the name of my magazine to the top of the page so
that it is clear that the separate pages are that of one magazine,
which reiterates the brand of my magazine.

8. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS ON THE DOUBLE
PAGE SPREAD
On the double page spread I developed my ideas from researching magazines by moving
the placement and size of the pull quote and stand first on the page. I did this because I
wanted to add more space for the interview, and have less blank space due to the colour
scheme of the page and through this I think the page is more fit for purpose.

9. DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS ON THE DOUBLE
PAGE SPREAD
I decided to use the idea of having three rows of the article/interview, as I
thought it wasn’t too little or much, and it is an appropriate length for my
target audience. I developed it by changing the conventional side to place
it on, but I think it works well because you are drawn to different sections
of the page. However whilst researching I saw that most interviews were
in two columns, but three is more edgy and less conventional, as I found
it in more magazines that suit my style.

10. SUBVERTING CONVENTIONS ON THE DOUBLE
PAGE SPREAD
On the contents page I subverted
conventions by adding in a second
image. I decided to do this so that the
page seemed more dynamic, as in my
flatplan feedback I was advised to
look at the balance between imagery
and writing, and the introduction of
another colour helped the page seem
less bland, but still modern and
minimalistic, as I had described in my
visual moodboard.