1. Q2-How does your
media product
represent particular
social groups?
2. Front cover and
contents page
of a typical pop
magazine ‘We
Love Pop.’
3. As you can see from this typical pop
magazine front cover, you can clearly tell
that the age, and gender are portrayed well
through aspects such as the colour. The
bright pinks show that the magazine is very
feminine, and therefore will be directed to a
female audience. the celebrity on the front is
smiling, she looks fun and happy therefore
portraying her age, and also that the
audience will be happy, female, and young.
The contents page is also portrayed in a
similar way. The bright colours represent
the age, ethnicity, and gender of the
celebrities in the magazine. Which also
allow us to identify the age and gender of
the target audience for this pop magazine
in particular.
5. The social class of the celebrity in this double page is
being represented as working class. The headline itself
shows us that the celebrity may have had a hard life, or is
being represented as a ‘rebel.’ The image also portrays
the social class. The body language of the celebrity is
very confident. The hand over the mouth represents
shock, therefore this goes back to the social class. The
camera Cher Lloyd is holding also tells us she could be a
‘rebel’ character. She also has tattoos which would be
associated with more working class people, rather than
those in middle class or upper class. The contrasting
colours of white and black stripes connote an element of
danger, youthfulness and fun, therefore going back to the The gender is also portrayed well
social class of this double page spread. throughout this page. The colour
pink is used a lot, and pink connotes
The age and ethnicity of this double page spread is femininity and youth which goes on
represented through what I have already mentioned. to how age is portrayed. The pose
However the celebrity is being portrayed as a teenager who the celebrity is holding is a rather
was always in trouble. ‘kids turning out wrong.’ The entire feminine shot. The hand in front of
headline shows us that she was a not very well behaved the mouth, the way her legs are
teen. Because the entire article is about what Cher was like bent, represent a feminine character.
as a teenager, this tells us that the audience for this Which gives us the implication that
magazine would be aimed at 14-15 year olds. Predominantly the target audience for this
females, because of the colours used, the feminine pose magazine are female.
held by the celebrity and the all around mise-en-scene of the
celebrity, (bold make-up, exciting, jazzy costume, her
tattoos, etc.)
7. The social class of my front cover is portrayed through
many different aspects. The coverline ‘the boy with no friends’
suggests that it could be a boy who has been through a
lot, perhaps even been bullied, so this shows us my
magazine is aimed at, and is portraying a working class social
class. The word ‘frenzy’ is another way in which the social
class is being portrayed. Having ‘make-up tips’ also suggests
the magazines social class, and also the age of who will be
reading my magazine. The hair colour of the celebrity on the
front page represents the specific social class of my
magazine. Pink hair could be seen as unacceptable in middle
class or upper class families. So the representation of the hair
shows the magazines and the readers particular social group.
The competition also represents the working class, because
middle class and upper class social groups may not have as
much need or time to enter a competition.
The gender is portrayed through aspects such as The age and ethnicity is portrayed on my
the body language of the celebrity on the front cover. cover through aspects such as specific coverlines.
Having her hands on her knees, and bending forward ‘1D lad would date you?’ adults may not know who
slightly is a very feminine pose. ‘Selena Gomez or what ‘1D’ means. Teenagers are more likely to
make-up tips’ is showing the gender of who is giving understand. Also the word ‘lad’ shows us that the
the make-up tips and who will be reading this audience and the people in the magazine are
magazine. For example, males are unlikely to pick up young, because ‘lad’ represents a young boy, not
a magazine that contains make-up tips, whereas an adult. 2 social networking sites are also
females are more than likely to. The fancy stars mentioned, representing the age. Also ‘make-up’
around the masthead also represent the femininity of tips suggest the audience may still need advice
the front cover. The stars are bright, and arranged in a with make-up, implying they are young
feminine way. teenagers, not adults, who know how to apply their
make-up
8. The social class of my contents page is represented
through aspects such as the typography, and the mode of
The gender is represented here by address in particular. ‘LOL’ is used. This connotes youth and
mainly the mode of address. ‘gorgeous also shows us that the social class is working class, because
gossip’ and ‘our new crush’ connote that middle class and upper class may not know that that means, or
this magazine is aimed at and contains why it is necessary to be using it. ‘celeb epic fails’ is also a way
feminine contents. The ‘boy advice’ also in which the social class and the youth sub-culture is
suggests that the magazine is aimed at represented. ‘boy advice’ is another way I have represented the
and contains aspects that will attract a social class of my magazine. Middle class and upper class
female reader. The bright colours connote families may not want their teenage daughters reading about
femininity also. boys. The word ‘Hiya’ is an informal term that would also be
associated with the working class. The subscription offer of a
free gift shows off the social class, because it is similar with the
competition on the front cover, higher classes may not have the
need to have a free gift.
Age and ethnicity is represented in many ways on my
contents page. Using ‘hiya popits’ shows that the magazine is
trying to convey aspects that will appeal to a younger
audience. Using that phrase with adults could be considered
patronising. The word ‘LOL’ is associated with youth, and
teens, therefore showing how my magazine is representing
the audience through its mode of address. Also ‘boy advice’
shows us, like ‘make-up tips’ that the audience still need
advice and tips on boys, suggesting they are a younger
audience.
10. Social class is portrayed and represented well on Gender is represented well. The pink
my double page spread. The image itself is taken in an background is very feminine, showing that
informal pose. The celebrities facial expression connotes the magazine is aimed at a female
youth, fun and excitement. The leg on the wall, and the audience. The way the celebrity is posing is
arm in the air show us that the celebrity could be slightly very feminine, and also the pink hair colour
rebellious. It also could connote freedom, doing what you also shows us that the celebrity in my
want to do, which fits in with the social class of my magazine is trying to relate to the female
magazine as a whole. The headline ‘Roxy-anne reveals audience. The mode of address also
all’ represents gossip, which is associated with the social shows off the gender. ‘her secret love affair’
class of my magazine and my audience. The pink hair and ‘josh from Dynamite?!?!’ show us that
also represents freedom to look how you want to the gender is based on, and aimed at a
look, and be happy about it, which could also link into the female audience, because it is gossip
social class of my magazine. The words and phrases that related, and also perhaps something a
are said such as ‘well, yanno’ and ‘they brought me female audience could relate to.
through the bad times’ also represent the working class
social group, as ‘yanno’ is an informal word.
Age and ethnicity is represented well
throughout my double page spread. The
interview itself is very gossip based, which
implies that the magazine is trying to relate to a
teen audience. The image is very young, and
fun. The camera angle, and the body language
connote youthfulness, fun and
excitement, which represents the age of my
target audience. I think the age and ethnicity
could be represented better on my double page
spread, because it is hard to say whether it is
aimed at teenagers, or young adults.
11. Summary of how my media product
represents particular social groups.
After studying how real media products represent particular social
groups, I believe that my magazine represents social groups very well. It
does this through its mode of address. Certain words and phrases I have
used in my magazine are typical of teenagers and are also associated
with the social class of the working class. The age of my audience is
represented well through the images, mise-en-scene, age, and body
language of the people I have chosen to use in my magazine. A young
rebellious character represents certain teens, or even how teens are
represented nowadays. The gender is represented through the
colours, predominantly pink, because pink is generally a very feminine
colour. Also through certain coverlines and features such as ‘boy advice’
and ‘make-up tips’, this shows the young female audience I am aiming my
magazine at. Overall I believe my magazine represents particular social
groups well. However the age could come through a lot more clearly on
my double page spread, by using more specific phrases associated with a
young teenage audience.
