3. Existing Product
The content is very specific. A lot of the photos look like they’ve been sourced from
elsewhere like online. I personally dislike the front cover because I think it looks too
obviously photo shopped and unprofessional and that’s not really the look I would like
for my own fanzine. However I think the layout of the double page spread is very nice.
I like the fact that it is very image based and not very text based compared to other
examples I have seen. However the articles they do have on other double page
spreads are very specific and perfect for a fanzine and shows that the author really is
passionate about what they are writing about which is the sort of thing I want to come
across when I write my articles for my fanzine.
The colour scheme is very simple and that’s not particularly a bad thing. The black and
white scheme is very popular within the fanzine industry. I think it adds an older feel
to it although in other pages there are some colour but personally with this style and
with the content I think the black and white goes better with the theme of the
fanzine.
The articles are written with real admiration for Johnny Marr and shows that the
author is really in love with his work. I think its written fairly formally rather than
informally. I think it’s a really good example of a fanzine and there will be elements
such as the layout of the double page spread showed earlier that I like.
5. Existing Product
This is a fanzine dedicated to distortion reverb. With this magazine it is mostly the
imagery that I love. I think it’s a very unique style. The way the photos are edited is
really different and I really like the entire style. The imagery links to the concentration of
the fanzine.
There is some text and articles but it links in with the imagery and the whole aesthetic of
the fanzine. There is a pretty even mix of images and text which is a fair thing for a
fanzine to include. I think I would like a more image based fanzine but with a fanzine like
this more information is needed therefore more text is needed than there will be in
mine. I really like the fact that the text is incorporated into the images and the layout of
the pages is quite unique which I would definitely like to take inspiration from.
The colour scheme is very simple but very outstanding and consistent throughout the
fanzine. I really like this touch and I think it definitely adds an artistic look to the fanzine.
I think this really amplifies how unique this fanzine is and I really would love to include
inspiration from this specific fanzine as I think it would work well but I would also change
a lot such and the actual content and the amount of text within this fanzine as I would
like mine to be very photo based.
7. Existing Product
This is another fanzine dedicated to a specific musician. Like the Johnny Marr fanzine
which was looked at before. I think this is quite different as the content is more focused
on Cobains personal life rather than his fame and achievements as a musician. This is a
quality I quite like because its more based on something specific the author finds
interesting.
The colour scheme is very simple and minimalistic which seems to be a theme within
fanzines. I really like the personal touch of it with the fact of it being what is interesting
to this specific person. I also love the hand drawn part of this double page spread, I think
that also adds a really cool feel to the whole magazine & definitely shows the more
personal feel to it.
I think I would like to take parts of this to keep a personal feel to it and definitely include
some specific people in the industry I use.
There Is definitely more pictures than text on these examples. And the font choices are
very simple and the whole fanzine has a very simple look to it which I quite like.
10. Existing product
I then started to look at one of the first fanzines to be released called Sniffin’ Glue,
This was made because someone wanted to write about punk music and have a
platform about punk music but actual magazines wouldn’t publish him. Therefore he
decided he would do it on his own.
I think not only does this have a unique story to it, it also has an interesting look which
is simplistic but with the resources they had back then were all they could do. This was
started in 1976 and the first one was made around the Ramones.
The look that these fanzines have is often tried to be recreated within other fanzines
because it was so popular back then. Again there is a very simplistic style to it but its
very effective and I really like black and white colour scheme because I think it adds to
the whole look of it and although the style choices weren't really choices because it
was whatever resources they had they are very effective.
The content seems ver informal and just unique due to them ot really having to
answer to a big company and could do and write what they want which was a big part
of the punk culture of doing what they wanted as a community.
13. Existing Products
These are from two fanzines based around a band called battle Axe. These are
originals that were given out on tours and at gigs. They were made in 1984 so they
were made in the time of the original ones.
Theses have quite an interesting look and definitely have the original look that a lot of
more modern fanzines try to copy or get inspiration from. It is also done with a type
writer which really gives them the realy original feel which will have been the only
resource they had back then but it also adds to the entire feel of it.
I think it has a very unique feel to it such as the fact one of the double page spreads
was a comic which definitely gives it a personal feel. Also it was written by someone
who knew the band personally therefore again makes it more personal for the fans.
They were also very thankful for their fans as shown by things said and offering meet
and greets with the fans.
Something I would really like to include would be a portfolio like on the first dps, I like
the idea of using the fanzine to let the fans know things about the subject that they
wouldn’t originally know and gives the fans a bigger look into the band as people
rather than as a band which is what I’d want to create if I do a music magazine.
16. Existing products
This is a magazine based around fashion and how the fashion industry works. The colour
scheme is very unique and bright. Its something that is definitely a more modern thing
within fanzines. I think it gives it a good look really and works well with the entire concept
because it brings peoples attention to it which they are trying to do with the fashion
industry because they want to tell people how it works and that its not as glamourous as
people thing it is.
The fonts for articles are quite simple and the language they use isn’t too formal but fairly
formal. It shows that the writer is really quite passionate about what they’re writing about
and I think that’s a big thing for the audience and they will be more interested if it’s a real
passion and I think to make a fanzine about anything you really do have to have a passion
for it. The layout is very simple but I think it really works with the look of the whole fanzine
and there are definitely some pages that are busier with the images but the text that’s
there is very simple and laid out in a minimalistic style which I quite like but I don’t think its
what id want to take inspiration from because I want my text to look as interesting as my
images.
I really like the colour scheme of the double page spread with the “where is my clothes” I
think its quite pop art inspired and definitely makes the reader want to be more Interested
and gives the fanzine a more artistic feel which I really like because its quite unique and art
is a big community within fanzines therefore its always good to incorporate into a fanzine
that you create and I definitely want to incorporate types of artistic features into my
magazine.
17. Research summary
I learnt a lot to do with fanzines because I hadn’t looked into them before.
The layouts are often quite simple and not like traditional magazines are set
out. Often they try to recreate the original style from fanzines like sniffin’ glue
the original punk fanzine. They are mostly in a black and white colour scheme
unless they are more of a modern take on a fanzine like the fashion one I
found. Although no matter what the colour schemes are often quite simple
for example the fanzine on reverb is pink, white and black which is a good
way of adding something else to the original black and white colour scheme.
The content is very often informal as its normally something the person is
passionate about and because fanzines are independent the writer can say
what they want. There are exceptions for these as there are more formal
fanzines that are set out like a traditional magazine but I personally don’t
think that’s adventurous for me personally therefore I would rather look at
more unique ones that I can take inspiration from.
19. Idea 1 (Punk music)
My first idea would be a music fanzine. Mostly based around punk music because I
think it fits with the idea of a fanzine due to the history of them and punk music and
culture is something I’m very interested in and that I really like. The content would be
very informal and just writing about things like the music, the fashion and things that
interest me about the entire culture. I would feature friends that are also interested in
punk culture and music and my interview would be with an “upcoming punk artist” so
I think I would be able to have a lot of things included within this. I think image wise is
would be mostly photos but some hand drawn stuff if I can get it all done in time. I
think this would be really a good idea for me to do due to knowing what I would be
talking about therefore id be confident writing about it. I think I would try to recreate
the original look but more modern with the resources we have at the moment to add
a twist to it and so its not that similar.
20. Idea 2 (streetwear)
I thought about doing a fanzine about streetwear and I could feature my favourite
pieces, new releases and favourites from my own closet. I would also do a feature of
my favourite trainers and things like that. I think this would be good because I know a
lot about the subject and I think its something that would work well within this
project. Again the content would be informal and it would be more image based due
to that being what shows of fashion. My interview would be someone else passionate
about street wears favourite pieces and talking about how they got into streetwear
and favourite brands ect. I think it would definitely be an interesting thing to cover.
However my only issue would be with this is that I’ve done a lot about fashion before
hand therefore it would seem like I could only do the same thing and I think it would
be a really good idea to branch out with my content that I do with my work.
21. Idea 3 (Rap Culture)
This is an idea that I think I could write about in the most detail. I think recently within the past
few years rap culture has changed a lot especially within the “soundcloud rappers” community.
The design would be colourful and abstract, I wouldn’t want it to be laid out like a stereo typical
magazine because I wouldn’t want it to look traditional at all. It would be quite an even mix with
the text and images because I have a few ideas on articles I would write and my interview would
be with an upcoming sound cloud artist and their opinions on the culture today and what has
happened in the past including deaths and drug use because I think things like this don’t have a
platform to be talked about and its often looked over. Also recently due to deaths within the
industry there has been a big uproar with The culture is something im very passionate about I
think It would be a good choice. I would do a mixture of taking my own pictures and editing
existing photos. I would want to focus on the community and the culture mostly but also include
things about the music as well as it is something I am interested in. I also think that a lot of
people have opinions on the rap culture therefore it would be helpful to have a platform on it so
it can be learnt about more.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
You don’t need to find links between different fanzines because, often there are not any.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
List all products researched in previous sections. Include anything additional you have watched/read in preparation for production. Alphabetise your list.
