Magazines

This is your first Textual Investigation

You will need to submit 2 of these for your Coursework requirements

This one is looking at Genre and there are specific titles which are

given by the exam board.

The Title isThe Title is : :

Investigate how Genre conventions are used in Investigate how Genre conventions are used in the cover of Style magazine.the cover of Style magazine.

Magazine Cover AnalysisInvestigate how Genre conventions are used Investigate how Genre conventions are used on the front cover of STYLE Magazine.on the front cover of STYLE Magazine.

Objectives

A02To Analyse and respond to media

texts/topics using media key concepts and appropriate terminology.

To see how the marks are awarded go to the website.

First we will do some revision What is a media TEXT?What is meant by genre? What is meant by convention?

We will now look at the Magazine Industry in general

Keep all notes and research.Then at magazine covers past and present to

analyse the generic conventions that occur on the covers.

Magazines come in two major categories General Interest /Lifestyle Specialist Magazines have to establish close relationships with readers. They often use a specialist language to attract target

audience and influence brand loyalty. Compare the language in Top Gear to the nme for example

Make 2 Lists showing examples of both types of magazine titlesMake 2 Lists showing examples of both types of magazine titles

Investigating Magazine Covers

Look at the media text book.Page 72: investigating covers Page 74 Analysing a front coverPage 76: uses and gratifications.Page 78: Ideology Page 92/93 Convergent media You can find more information on the media

edu website and log on to – Topics.

AudienceAudience

Target audience, can you identify the target audience? How?

Can you Identify the age, gender, race?

How might this effect the content?

GenreGenre

Do you buy magazines? What genre?Genres are constantly changing Hybrid/ cross genres. Examples?

Analysing Magazine Covers

We will analyse the front cover of Style magazine from May 2012 using the prompts and the example on page 75 of the new book

Style magazine is a monthly addition to the weekly Sunday Times magazine.

This a ‘free’ magazine given away with the Sunday paper.

Masthead style -connotations?

Branding, cross media links - Synergy

Mode of Address-P84

Buzz word

Genre signifiers

Key areas: age, Key areas: age, gender, ethnicity, gender, ethnicity, Positive / Positive / negativenegativeStereotypingStereotyping

Symbolic Symbolic codescodes

AudienceAudience

Camera shot /angles

Colour signifiers

Pun

Use of slang language - audience?

coverlines

Image Analysis- Analytical terms Try to use some of these when analysing your cd cover.

Camera shots CU, LS, etc. Depth of Field. Focus. Composition – rule of thirds, Golden section, Diagonals, Use of perspective. How is it framed- landscape, portrait, cropping eg cropped tightly Texture, grainy or glossy, why? Significance? Photo montage? Typical Codes and Conventions Stereotypical Camera shots – CU, VLS POV etc. Mode of address - direct , indirect – reasons?

Symbolic codes: Body language e.g his body language signifies he is in control. Gesture Dress Setting Composition: rule of thirds, perspective, Use of Colour to portray mood. Eg Blue= cold, sad. You should identify the range of symbolic codes and explain why you have been used by the

producers of the text.

Typographic codes: fonts, plain, bold, italic, decorative, serif / sans serif . Upper case , Lower case? Why are certain fonts more effective? A Serif font is perceived to be more classy and often used to

portray up-market goods. Why do Primary teacher always use ‘Comic sans’? ( sans–serif) sans = without in French Anchorage. Mise en scene, a useful word here which often describes many symbolic codes. Basically means ‘what

is in the frame’ Denotation and Connotation (same as signify and signified) Use the word signify to suggest the possible meanings to a signifier (sign).

Key areas for inclusion in investigation.

Key concepts covered• Conventions of Magazine covers.

• How people represented on the cover and in the media.-Image!

•What part does the magazine play in promotion and marketing?

• Audience, who are the target audience – Demographic.?

• Use of Text to Anchor meaning.

• Font style to show Genre..

•Are any narratives suggested on the cover?

•You must include references to other texts. Look at magazine websites or other similar magazines.

Genre

Representation

Organisations

Audience

Representation

Genre

Narrative

Convergence

Supplementary Texts

You must refer to other (Supplementary) Texts when completing the project.

These could include:An Alternative Magazine cover.Magazine websites - Synergy

Colour signifiersColour signifiersCOLOURS COLOUR INFLUENCE SYMBOLISM

REDActivating, warm, love, aggression,

extrovertLove, revolution, fury, aggression,

warning

ORANGEJoy, extrovert, encouraging,

activatingFire, heat, joy, sun, vitality

YELLOWStimulates, logical way of thinking,

joyCowardness, falseness, sickness,

vitality

GREENCalming, harmonizing, strength,

self controlHope, renewal, freshness, youth,

inmature, jealousy,

TURQUOISE Cooling, refreshing, calming Cold, freshness, eternity

BLUEPromotes concentration,

absorption, quiet, relaxingSadness, melancholy, quality,

stability, spiritual

PURPLERestlessness, nervousness, fear,

depressionStorm, solemn, spiritual, mystery

PINKStrains fear, stress and depression,

intuitionUnrealistic, fantasy, daydreaming

WHITE Hushing up, emptiness Purity, peace, innocence, sensitive

GREY Depression, balance, elegance Sadness, boring

BLACK Pessimism, depression Grief, evil, pessimism, ban

BROWN Stagnation, stabilising, safety Earth, safety, well-being

4 week project. Deadline. 4 week project. Deadline.

Remember your POV is important. Word limit 400-850 words.Think about presentation

Have fun!