This document discusses representation in a music magazine. It talks about how rock music is often mistakenly associated with animosity and malevolence in the media. The author opts for a counter-stereotypical representation on the magazine cover by silencing the model with tape to avoid promoting violence or anger. They also chose the model, a 17-19 year old with dyed green hair, to appeal to audiences who want to stand out from the crowd. Finally, the author discusses how the magazine's representations do not conform to theories around the male gaze or portraying youth as fun/trouble, and are meant more for informative surveillance.

1. A lot of the time rock music is mistakenly associated with and
represented by animosity and malevolent... Like so:
Representation in My Magazine

2. A lot of the time rock music is
(in my opinion) mistakenly
associated with and
represented by animosity and
malevolence... Like so:

3. Though, as I’ve said I don’t really think
that this is fair and that it’s overly
stereotypical so I, for two reasons, opted
for a counter-stereotypical
representation by silencing the model
with tape which also helps to assert the
preferred reading.
The first of which:
1. The magazine is about being silenced.
2. The humbled model shows no signs of
violence, anger or any general
shoutiness.

4. Representation is one of
the trickiest parts of the
media, if done without
delicacy can have such an
enormous affect so I
followed KC&C and used my
photography appropriately
to draw out the target
audience… Judging by the
general genre of the
magazine and more
importantly the theme of
this one more importantly I
have a good idea of the
psychographic audience. I
believe that the groups
venture through 'reformers'
and 'explorers'. In terms of
socio-economic groups I
think I'll be able to draw a
wide range of people - one
of the beauties of music is
that it's really for anyone and
brings people together; in this
instance: people spanning for
groups B through to D... But for
now I'll analyse how the front
cover helps that along. To
begin; the model is young, but
not too young - about 17-19.
He has dyed green streaks in
his hair and has his top button
done up though he's not at a
formal event... He just likes it
done up, this all describes
someone who doesn't like to
be generic. He stands out from
a crowd (some people would
say 'hipster').

5. Through the eyes of the theorists…
The final form of representation is to consider how your
media text/product is seen by theorists and how your
text conforms or defies their opinions. In terms of Laura
Mulvey’s ‘male gaze’ theory this magazine does not aid
it whatsoever, this magazine doesn’t use sexualized
females to sell due to the focus on musical content and
the fact that I think it’s wrong. The magazine also
doesn’t really connect with Dick Hebdige’s ‘youth as
fun/trouble’ as the model is muted therefore has no
expression so you can’t really interpet whether the
young male is fun/trouble.
When concerned by uses and gratifications theory this
is to be used as ‘surveillance’ due to it’s informative
nature.

6. Now, onto the contents page
Unintentionally my
representation of race
ended up quite slim as I
only actually used two
different models (as they’re
two people I know
personally in music) and
they’re both suited to the
same demographic groups
'reformers' and 'explorers‘
due to the same reasons
too; such as their stereo-
typical floppy hair, facial
piercings and quirky dress
sense. The photos used
don’t exactly help to fight
the ‘aggressive’
stereotypes as the centrally
framed model appears to
be shouting at the audience
which could taint the
preferred reading but I
think that it goes with the
whole ‘oppressive’ media
story and makes for good
direct mode of address.

7. Double Page Spread
Finally, the double page spread. I think what I
said previously about uses and gratifications
theory (surveillance) is applicable here more
than ever due to the knowledge we obtain
about this pseudo-celebrity’s life and
opinions.

8. That is the end of representation
in my blog. 