Evaluation question one

As media.

For my As media coursework we have explored music magazines, how to format them and present a front cover, contents page and double page spread. To do this we researched into great detail the features it has to include to attract customers to buy the magazine. Such as the correct image to fit the genre and a bold appropriate font. These are few of the many features that make up a generic conventional music magazine.

Layout & FormatFor the layout and format for my front cover, I feel I used conventions of a music magazine. I shaped the text around my image to show the relation between the two. A prime example of this was shown in my textual anaylsis of a mixmag front cover, showing that is it conventional. For my contents page I feel I also used conventions of a real music magazine. I presented the information about the pages in a box, next to the image. This is regularly done in all genres of music magazines. For my double page spread I feel I used conventions of a real music magazine because I positioned the text around the background image to show the relation between the two. This is a regular layout magazines follow.

For example;

Colour SchemeIn terms of colour scheme for front cover I used a soft range of warm colours throughout, and black on the font to empathise the importance. I feel I used conventions because it sticks to a similar scheme throughout which seems the norm in every magazine front cove. For my contents page I feel I developed conventions because although I stuck to two colours in my font, My loud, vibrant background creates a multi-coloured feel. It also helps portray the festival/summer atmosphere. I feel it developed conventions because it usually follows the same colour scheme from the front cover and usually fits in with the background. For my double page spread I feel I used conventions of a real media product. I used a natural background followed by the same pink and black that I used in my contents page showing the connection between the both which is a common feature in magazines.

Typography/font

In terms of font for my magazine front cover, I feel I have challenged conventions. My font is mainly elegant and formal as it is wrote in a joined handwriting like matter, this describes the unique music taste and shows it’s a more relaxed take on matters. Whereas most magazines have a bold font to advise there magazine. For my contents page I feel I used conventions of a real media magazine. I created a competition to help attract buyers to the magazine which is reminded on this page along with the details. I also used a clear bold text which helps the reader skim the text quickly to decide which part they want to read. A real media product example of this being the same is in my textual analysis where the text is easy and clear to read. For my double page spread I started the article with a interrogative to involve the reader in the text before it even starts. This is a skill I have seen in a lot of magazines, talking about topics which are desired followed by a question. The text is bold to help it stand out from the background and give it importance. This after seeing it in other magazines means I used conventions of a music magazine.

ImagesI feel in terms of the images for my magazine front cover I used conventions of a music magazine. My image portrays a female gaze, I used a attractive female dressed in festival/holiday clothing. This appeals to females because of the dress sense and men because of the women. This is a skill regularly done in magazines and my textual analysis is a prime example. In terms of images with my contents page, I use a similar technique using a different attractive model, however this time she is in a natural beach like setting suggesting a better feel to this particular magazine issue. This is a common feature therefore I feel I used conventions of a music magazine. For my double page spread I feel the same applied and I used conventions. I used the same model from the contents page as it shows the relation. However in my image for my double page spread I displayed beautiful scenery which attracts the reader to find out what the article is about.

ImagesReal media examples of the female gaze.

My version of female gaze.

How is the DJ presented?

The DJ is presented on my front cover how I wanted to the music taste represented, relaxed and unique. However it could be that I challenged conventions because it could be considered a fashion magazine or a completely different genre of music. For my contents page of my magazine it could be considered challenged because of it being a different model. However it follows the same relaxed unique theme. For my double page spread I feel I developed conventions of a real music magazine because it does not represent house music image wise, however it has Ibiza written in large which represents that genre of music and also follows the same theme as the front cover and double page spread.