Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of a

real media product?

Front Cover

The front cover of my music magazine uses similar forms and conventions of the real media product RWD Magazine which is a prime example of a similar genre of my music magazine. Examples of the similar conventions are the web site ad. However there are also aspects that are adverse to RWD magazine. The limited cover lines could not be implemented because of the reputation. RWD is a long standing magazine and while that was the effect I was trying to achieve it does not work as an effective media convention. The colour scheme is also adverse as the vibrant colour scheme does not work as effectively on the media product I have created. The main use comes from the website promotion. RWD uses a lot of advertisements to remind the readers of their website available to them taking advantage of e-commerce and proliferation of modern day technologies. My front cover also uses the same feature implying that the magazine has a much wider way of targeting their audience rather than just directly via magazine. In addition another feature I used was the colour scheme. The vibrant blue/aqua on RWD cover indicated cool but calm feelings about the genre. I wanted my magazine to do the same however to challenge the convention the colour scheme was darkened as grime as a genre is a more darker form of music; even though the music still catered for mainstream I did not want it to loss the essence of what my original idea was a grime/hip hop magazine. Finally another feature used is the word play of the main cover line. The main cover line on RWD is “Tinie Tempah Tears it Up” which has direct links to the pose on the front cover of the magazine. My magazine uses a similar convention as the main sell line reads “Scorpzy Taking over the Game”. The image looks dominating thus shows direct line to the main cover line.

Content Cover

The contents page was difficult as when trying to alter it as the example from RWD looked dull however the genre then changed too much to look like a hip hop/r n b magazine. So I figured the best way to use the concept would be to separate the text and images and place them differently in regards to my magazine. The look of the main body text and the use of the 4 additional images is similar however there layout of the magazine is where they differ. I placed them underneath the contents title, all in a column placed on the right side. I found this feature specifically allowed the magazine to become strictly a grime music as it was a different and almost like a freestyle of the contents much like in the grime genre. Then the 4 additional images, to make them additional images and not take the interest away from the main image, I placed them in the lower left corner. RWD magazine’s layout means that there is no real differentiation between the main image and additional. By making may main artist the overall image attention is always draw towards him. Furthermore to make sure the main image was always in focus I placed a grayscale effect on the additional images. This also keeps within the colour scheme of the deep red and grey/steel. Finally the development of the contents heading uses the same typography as the title to both remind the reader that they are reading my magazine; a feature that can not be clearly seen in RWD’s contents page.

Double Page Spread

My music magazine both uses and develops some of the features of the double page spread on RWD. Firstly the layout is of the same conventions of RWD with the main image on one side and the main body of text on another. Some double spread incorporate multiple images which has also been used to vary the range of shots used within the text to be of main text. It also makes them part of the overall layout. This makes the text easier to read as it is all in one place. However to develop it, unlike RWD by incorporating a colour scheme on to the text it becomes even more clear to the reader what part of the interview is a question or answer. Another feature used is the double pull quote both imbedded in between the text and on the image on the other side of the double page spread this is done because the same effect RWD achieves by engaging the readers from the pull quotes and encourage them to read further. Nevertheless my magazine develops the feature RWD uses regarding the image. It is obvious that a studio shot with artificial lighting has been used as it creates a yellow glow on Skepta, so instead of using another studio shot much like that one the front cover of the magazine I challenged the feature by using a studio shot in a recording studio, while placing a colour overlay upon the whole page while keeping within the colour scheme. This brings both elements of the natural movement when recording music with artificial lighting used.

Overall my magazine mostly develops and uses the similar features of a real media product. This is because when changing many of the features of the media product the magazines type and genre both change which then defeats the purpose of the media product. In order to ensure that my music magazine conveyed specific conventions using and developing the techniques of RWD magazine was most effective.