Evaluation Question 5

How did you attract/ address your audience?

Front Cover

The masthead is written in a graffiti style font. This iconic Hip-Hop hobby would appeal to potential readers, if they are also interested in graffiti. It also demonstrates how my production is true to the origins of the genre, whilst acknowledging that the sophisticated audience is being please through the quantity of text on the double page spread.

The boarder going along the top and the right hand side, is supposed to resemble paint running down a wall, which doesn’t only give the magazine a more visual and artistic effect. It is also iconic for the genre, which why audience will use for identification, especially when the magazine is one the shelf, hence the top cornering position.

The tag line ‘at the heart of rap and hip-hop’ links creativity to the genre, showing that it is actually more sophisticated, than it is stereotypically seen to be. This appeals to the more sophisticated target audience.

The very iconic out fit of the model will attract readers, as they simply by looking at the picture can tell what kind of magazine it is. Showing of things like the cap and accessories like the cap appeal to readers, as talking about the clothes with friends, gives them the gratification of social interaction.

The colour scheme of black white and gold, I believe gives the magazine a very prestigious style. This will attract readers, as it particularly targets the new and wider spread rap audience. As the genre is constantly changing, it changed from being a sort of unsophisticated genre, to becoming more classy, and more sophisticated.

The medium close up connotes the rappers confidence. This power is appealing to the rappers fans, as it is iconic and inspirational for the readers in the lower part of the income bracket.

Content PageThe title ‘What’s up?’ appeals to the reader in the lower income bracket of my audience, as it addresses them through slang, which the target audience would use. So the reader automatically feels more relaxed when reading this, as he knows, that he will be able to relate to the text.

Due to my target audience being aspirers, the expensive clothes and jewellery will attract the readers in the lower income bracket of my audience, as it supports the rags’ to riches’ attitude’.

The ‘rapper’ being a good representation of the African target audience, will allow the audience to feel connected to the artist, as well as the magazine he is portrayed in, and also gives the audience social interaction through them being able to associate themselves to the actor.

The font is designed, to represent, a typical 1920 style. That time notorious for crime, it suits the rap and hip- hop genre well, which is stereotypically associated with gangs and crime. This suitable font, allows the reader to enjoy the whole design of the magazine more.

The graffiti in the background is not only iconic for hip- hop, but the text on the mans T- shirt in the picture says ‘stop wars’ which is a great way connote the genres new image of innocence, hidden in a hip- hop icon.

The longshot connotes that the rappers is alone, but the low angle portrays this loneliness as being positive, and showing that the rapper is independent and dominate, and doesn’t rely on anyone. This allows the audience to relate with the actor, giving them Maslow’s sense of self esteem.

Double Page SpreadThe pull quote attracts the reader, as receiving such brief information, gets the reader interested, and makes him want to read more about it.It also places the reader on the same sort of level with the artist, in the way that they are both inspiring to something, in Zeedo’s case the ‘big break’.

Seeing celebrities in expensive clothes, doesn’t only gratifies the reader in terms of entertainment, but it allows the reader, to aspirer to something, especially as my target audience are aspirers.

In all the photos, the rapper is dressed in very different costumes, the first being smart casual, the second very smart, and the third being very casual. Seeing a famous celebrity in such different ways, allows the reader to feel more connected to the rapper, especially if that is supported by a written interview from him.

Having an effect on the picture, shows how the magazine adapted to the modern culture, and supports the fact that the magazine is very active and progressive, which naturally is very appealing to readers in the C-B income bracket.

Having one page with a black background and the other with a white one, highlights again the great emphasis the magazine has on the design, which includes the colour scheme.

ConclusionIn my four pages, are many things which attract the readers attention, and makes the magazine appealing to the audience, such as giving the reader gratification through my magazine supporting underground rappers, showing that it is worth aspiring to thrive. Several layers of Maslow’s hierarchy are going to be pleased with the magazine, for example the social layer is pleased through he magazine supporting social interaction, and being generally very active towards the audience. There are also several things which would have made the magazine even more attractive for my target audience.

Seeing as most of the target audience for my magazine is male, including something, which gratifies the theory of the ‘make gaze’, would have made the magazine more effective for sale. Also including some more iconic things, which represent hip- hop, would have made the ,magazine more appealing.

Overall I am happy with the result, there were several things, which were pleasing to the reader, for example the general design of the magazine, including the fonts. Also, I think the front cover was especially effective. In my audience feedback I was also told that they liked the mix of casual writing and use of slang, with the sophisticated design and relevant topics mentioned.