The document analyzes how different social groups are represented in a metal magazine. It finds that 18-35 year olds are shown in both positive and alternative ways - professionally and violently. Metal fans are typically seen as stubborn, violent and depressed, though the magazine challenges residual views and emphasizes an emergent representation of them as music-loving. Both groups are associated with enjoying music, drinking and partying, though the magazine risks an oppositional reading that glorifies negative behaviors like violence and arrests.

1. How Does Your Media Product Represent Particular Social Groups?

2. My AudienceMy Magazine is aimed at both sexes, but focussing on the Male gender, between the ages of 18 and 35.My audience would also be fans of Metal Music.Because of this, I have 2 representations within my Magazine.

3. 18- 35 Year Olds

4. Positive Representation18-35 Year olds.The Positive Psychographics for this age group would be Succeeders/Achievers/Traditionalists/Underachievers. (It’s hard to be accurate to the large age gap)Their Social Values could be either option, as the younger half of the audience’s would be either Materialists/Hedonists and/or Post-Materialists.The Older of the audience could be either Traditionalists and/or Post-Modernists.On the Jicnar Scale, the audience could be anything between A and C2, with the possibility of Unemployment (E) for the youth.

5. Alternative RepresentationWithin my magazine, I showed an Alternative Representation of 18-35 year olds. For example, instead of them being seen as ‘professional’ and ‘career-driven’, they are shown as ‘violent’ and ‘angry’ people.

6. EvidenceThis representation can be seen throughout my magazine. For example, The Front Cover shows a model posing in a violent manner; not only in the facial expressions, but the hand gesture, also.

7. Evidence 2I also used swear words throughout my magazine, to also connote rebellion, and to represent the group as disobedient and angry.

8. Evidence 3Within my Interview, the age group are shown as misbehaved, due to the use of alcohol.For example;“You know what it’s like being on the road for months on end... You need to find something to keep you sane, and more often than not it’s alcohol.”“Me and the band love a good drink”“We headed for a party”“I don’t remember the rest”“Next thing I know..”* All quotes taken from my double page spread*

9. Evidence 4Rebellion is also shown in the images used throughout my Double Page Spread. For example, Drugs are used to emphasise this rebellion.

10. Evidence 5Within my double page spread, rebellion is shown in the use of a prison: “Next thing I know, I’m awake alone in this dark room with bars. [Laughs] It hadn’t hit me then either that I was in prison, until an officer came into the cell. It was a good night [laughs.]The use of laughter, connotes this action to be seen as ‘cool’, which emphasises the rebellion within the article.

11. 18-35 Year OldsTo conclude, the representation of 18-35 year olds are shown as an Alternative Representation throughout my magazine, which can be seen as Violence, Taboo Language, Alcohol, Prison Sentences and Illegal Drug use are all shown within my magazine.Positive Representation of 18-35 year olds.Alternative Representation of an 18-35 year old.

12. Metal Fans

13. Dominant RepresentationMetal FansThe Dominant Ideology of a Metal Fan is to be ‘stubborn’, ‘violent’, ‘self-loathing’ and ‘depressed’. Their psychographics would be Aspirers/Radicals and possibly Underachievers.Their expected Social Values would be Traditionalists/Materialists/ Hedonists and/or Post-Modernists.On the Jicnar Scale, they could be as high up as A, but expected to be no higher than C1 typically, and as low as E.

14. EvidenceThis representation can be seen throughout my magazine. For example, The Front Cover shows a model posing in a violent manner; not only in the facial expressions, but the hand gesture, also.Violence

15. Residual IdeologyIt appears that some of the Dominant Ideology is accurate; Violence.However, the ‘Self-loathing’ and ‘depressed’ ideology appears to be inaccurate throughout my magazine. This could suggest that these ways of thinking about Metal Fans are becoming Residual instead.

16. Emergent IdeologyIn contrast to the Residual Ideology, is Emergent. If Metal Fans are no longer seen as depressed and self loathing, these ideological ways of thinking are becoming replaced with Music.For example, throughout my magazine, Metal Fans are being represented as Music loving.For example, in the double page spread article, it says;“The only thing that’s got me through it is music.”

17. Evidence 2The majority of the images used throughout the magazine also uses my model with a Guitar and/or Amplifier. This emphasises that Metal Fans are being represented as Music Loving.

18. Evidence 3Throughout the magazine, my model is dressed in bands’ Merchandise (Cannibal Corpse). This emphasises further that Metal Fans are represented as Music-Loving.

19. Preferred Readings of Metal MagazinesThe preferred reading of my magazine is that it is good to have fun and enjoy life, which can be reflected throughout my magazine; the double page spread for example. It suggests that drinking and enjoying yourself is expected of people, especially during weekends or holidays etc. It also suggests that music is used as an escape from reality, and there to be enjoyed, same being said for Metal concerts.

20. Oppositional ReadingUnfortunately, some people may believe that my magazine is saying the complete opposite. They may believe that my magazine is claiming that violence is good and ‘cool’. This may be thought about drugs, drinking and getting arrested; due to the double page spread, also, claiming that after the night in prison, it was a ‘good night’.

21. Negotiated ReadingThe negotiated reading is that drinking and having a good time is acceptable, but violence, drugs and being arrested is not. It suggests that drinking, partying and going to concerts, especially Metal Gigs, is acceptable and fun, but know when to stop; don’t get too drunk too often.