The document discusses how the media product represents different social groups. It summarizes how various design elements were chosen to appeal to the target audience of 16-25 year olds of both genders. Gender neutral colors and a mix of male and female models were used to avoid gender bias. References to popular artists, festivals, and affordable clothing help represent various classes and locations. Interactive elements like quizzes and QR codes also aim to appeal to younger audiences. Stereotypes associated with genres and audiences were considered to make the magazine accessible to a wide range of people, in line with the theory that stereotypes are complex.

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

2. My age group in particular
• To appeal to my main target market (both genders aged between 16 and 25) whom like the
indie sub genre, I have tried to use a variety of features in my magazine which will appeal to
the wide target market.
• First of all, I chose to use a gender neutral color scheme, the reason for this is so that I didn't
automatically make my target market smaller than it had to be. If I was to create a smaller
target market, the magazine wouldn’t be suitable for certain production companies as the
target market would be far to small. I also chose a green and white house style as they were
typical stereotypes of the indie sub genre, as Perkin’s said “stereotypes are not simple” I
continued this color scheme throughout my magazine- this is because it would then become
an associate of the indie sub genre.

3. I also chose to use green and white as they are quite natural and tranquil colors- another main
theme of the indie genre. I also chose to use quite a grungy masthead, this is because, at the
moment for indie, the grunge look is really in- i.e. mixing clothing from both now with the 80’s
and 90’s to create fun and unusual looks, this also meant that I would give my magazine a unique
appeal- like my Masthead and title of my magazine “Unique” magazine.
The “UN” also corresponded with “University” picked up from my client profile- this created a
direct link between university students and my magazine. Also, my magazine features a lot of
light reading, and university students whom have to do lots of work wouldn’t want to then have
to continue the heavy reading once they got into a magazine- the use of less font would make
the reading more lighthearted and more enjoyable for the University students. This links with the
fact stereotypes are not simple, as I hadn’t noticed the “UN” logo- until I heard the information
from my target market research.
The light hearted nature is also reinforced by the use of pictures- this is because pictures are
often used to appeal to a younger audience as they give them an idea of context.

4. Class andWealth
University students: features a sleek color scheme with a neat finish, also features reference to young
artists and upcoming events such as festivals- whom are often aimed at the university age group
Working Class: Links to different artists struggling in their working background but appreciate where they
come from, creates an association as something that the members of the working class can relate to.This
links to O’Sullivan. However, this magazine wouldn't’t appeal to working class as much as it would appeal
to the working class as much as the university students, due to the overall higher class feel of the
magazine. If I was to repeat this process, I would possibly use more grungy and casual articles or a front
cover to make it appeal less formal.

5. Really wealthy: mentions expensive events such as festivals- which not everybody can afford to
go to and also features a collection column- showing the really wealthy what items of music
memorabilia they can afford to own- once again difficult for some lower wealth families to
afford.
Less Wealthy: reference to clothing- low priced, affordable clothing that are available to the
mass market, hence making the clothing accessible to a large variety of people, this could also
be seen as creating a link between the less wealthy people and the more wealthy people.

6. Location
• Towns: reference to shopping in the high street- along with living in a town
creates shopping perks- this therefore makes the magazine more relatable for
people living in the high street as they are able to visit the shops easily due to how
close the locations are.

7. Rural: lots of reference to rural settings- all the images within my magazine are
taking in quite rural settings- however I still tried to create variety in my rural
setting, such as one of my images was taken at a reservoir, however this could be
perceived as a seaside setting- making links to people who live near the seaside. I
also took some images near hilly areas- making reference to your stereotypical
country side- this means that my magazine would be accessible to your
stereotypical people who live in the countryside. I then also took pictures in a
garden, the use of a garden could create links between rural people- whom have a
garden- but they are often bigger and more wooded, as well as towns people- who
could have a garden but they are often smaller. This therefore creates a subtle link
to the two- making it relatable for both social groups.The use of stereotypes
therefore links to Perkins as the stereotype makes the magazine more accessible to
a wider audience.

8. Communities and Fan Bases
• Fan bases: I have used simple clothing for my main artists, this is because I
wanted to make the clothing relatable and easy to replicate- by doing this it
means that many fan bases can replicate the looks of their favorite artists which
they quite often want to do as they want to look and feel like their favorite artists.

9. Housewives and single parents: I have featured lifestyle columns such as
fashion- this is because fashion columns are quite often aimed at the primarily
female market- this means that by aiming at housewives- these columns
feature a range of clothing that are aimed at a variety of people- hence
creating a type of fashion for everyone. I have also featured quizzes and
horoscopes- which are typical of lifestyle magazines- due to the fact that
many people do quizzes for the sheer humorous element- this also makes my
magazine more relatable.
Children: Quizzes and horoscopes are also aimed at children, this is because
they are interactive and “fun”- by using quizzes and horoscopes, the
magazine also becomes interactive- and can therefore be done by a large
group of people, not just one individual.

10. Continued …• Teens: I have mentioned current artists in my magazine, by using current artists (such as ed
sheeran) the articles become more interesting for teenagers who want to find out
everything about their favorite artist, this also makes the magazine more attractive to
teenagers. I have also featured “new music” by doing this, the magazine becomes more
attractive as teenagers often get bored of one type of music, this therefore means that
teenagers can get an insight into new music and what they want to listen to next.
• Homosexuality and heterosexuality: I have tried to feature a gender neutral color scheme of
green, this is because it meant that I wasn’t being gender bias to one particular gender, the
gender neutral color scheme also meant that I widened my target market as it was more
accessible to more genders.

11. Both the old and young: I have featured a mixture of both new and slightly older artists- such as Ed sheeran
compared with Oasis- by doing this, the magazine becomes more accessible as it appeals to a wider group of people
and widens the music genres featured.
Cultural Groups and ethnicities: In my magazine, I have tried to make it quite generic in terms of cultural groups and
ethnicities, this is because I wouldn’t want the magazine to be seen as offensive to anyone- this once again widens
my target market and audience for my magazine. Although Dyer said a star is an image not a real people, we all
aspire to be like our favorite celebrities.
Males and Females: I have used a gender neutral color scheme, this is because it meant that the magazine isn't
gender bias and would therefore appeal to a larger group of people. I also used both male and female models to
reinforce this, particularly with my female model, I tried to use Mulvey’s male gaze effect- this is as eye contact
meant that the magazine was more attractive and would therefore appeal more within the text. However, within my
magazine I used a much younger male model- which I would change due to the fact that it doesn't’t adhere to the
female gaze theory. Instead, if I was to repeat this process, I would use an older model- between the ages of 18 and
21.

12. I chose to use a grungy type font, this is
because the in style for my age group at the
minute within indie fashion is grunge- by doing
this, I establish a link with what my market
want with the magazine.
I chose this image as it creates eye contact
between the magazine viewer and the
magazine- immediately making the magazine
more engaging- this Links to Laura Mulvey’s
male gaze effect and immediately attracts a
male audience
I chose to use a green and white font, this
is because it was gender neutral and
therefore meant that my magazine
appealed to all genders and sexualities-
green is also a natural colour and natural
is a connotation of indie- enhancing
Perkin-s theory that “stereotypes are not
simple”
I chose to use QR codes within my
magazine, this is because it made the
magazine more interactive and appealed
to my audience who were more
interested in the online world than the
real world
I used a banner across the top of my magazine, this is because it is the first thing
that you see on a magazine rack, by featuring new bands and artists- it creates a
point of interest for my target market- I also made the banner slightly opaque
so that you could see the image behind it, creating more visual appeal.

13. I used both green and pink fonts this is
because it made the magazine gender
neutral and didn’t target a specific
gender- hence widening the target
market of my magazine.
I used reference to Glastonbury.
This is because festivals are
popular with teenagers-
particularly more wealthy people-
creating reference to different
social classes.
I used a polaroid format
for my images, this is
because a trademark for
indie is vintage influences
and polaroid's are an
older form of producing
photographs.This is a
stereotype of Indie and
links to Perkins theory
that “stereotypes are not
simple”.
Within my magazine, I
chose to use the
trademark of UN, this is
because it made a link
with university students
which was noticed in my
target market research,
this therefore influenced
me to use this as my
house style. I chose to use a pin board type
format within my contents page,
this is because I liked the
youthful appearance and it made
links with my youthful target
market.
I chose to feature free
downloads within my magazine,
this is because it is a major
influence for my generation to
buy a magazine- they know they
are going to get something back.
I chose to feature a new
album section, this is
because people who are
interested in the indie
genre like to listen to new
music, to make sure that
the music that they are
listening to isn’t
“Mainstream” and is
Unique- another influence
to my masthead and house
style

14. I used QR codes within my
magazine, this is because they
created links with social media-
this is a keen effect of my
generation who like social media.
I used UN as my house style
because it linked to University
students- who are a key part of
my target market for my
magazine.
I used a Pug with Glastonbury
within my magazine, this is
because university students
commonly enjoy festivals-as a
stereotype- linking to Perkins
theory of “stereotypes are not
simple”
I used polaroid
format once again
for my images,
further creating a
house style- the
polaroid format is
also heavily indie
and vintage- a
typical stereotype-
as Perkins said
Stereotypes are not
simple- I have
learnt about all the
sections that are
built in to create a
particular
stereotype, the
stereotype itself is
not simple- its
made up of
different
components.
I featured a competition within my
magazine, this is because it is an
element that influences people to buy a
magazine- due to the fact that they
have an opportunity to gain something
back from the magazine.
I used a wooden background
for this, this is as it influenced
the pin board type feel to the
rest of the magazine and
created an unusual effect to
the double page spread
I once again used the
green and black font,
this is because it
maintained the
gender neutral feel to
my magazine so I
wasn’t being gender
bias to anyone.
I used a pop art style
image for my magazine,
this is because it made
my magazine unique,
and the use of bright
colours made the
overall images more
bright, appealing and
visually attractive to my
target audience.