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IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

FRONT COVER

Firstly, my main image is in direct mode of address, appealing directly to the reader and focusing their attention solely to the image and then subsequently the surrounding text. This coincides well with the fact the image is in the centre of the page, allowing for text and other images to be placed accordingly.

My cover lines are all based on the same text design and colour, whilst adjusting the size depending on its appeal, giving my front cover a professional look. This adds to the fact it allows for easy reading.

Incentives entice the consumer into buying the magazine. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as free posters (as included on my front cover), competitions (included on my contents page) and discount vouchers.

My masthead is easily readable whilst keeping within the theme of the 1960s Mod and 1990s Britpop scenes. This allows readers to associate this font with the said genres and subcultures and in particular, uniquely with my magazine.

The strapline is a secondary line commonly underneath or above the masthead. This is a basic message or motto of the magazine used as a selling line to the consumer. Often relating directly to the ethos of the genre or subculture, this further gives the reader something to associate themselves and their subculture with. For example the strapline featured on my magazine focuses on the past traditions of the subcultures of Britpop and Mod, whilst indicating that there is still and will be for a long time, people with a passion for this scene. It also indicates that readers should take inspiration from previous years.

The border of my front cover adds a professional look, whilst adding an overall frame to the images and texts. Secondly, the border is red as not only does it link in with the masthead, main story and other features, but will also appeal to any consumers browsing the selection of magazines.

I added the date and issue number as it is something essential to any magazine. This allows readers to remain update and also look specifically at this magazine if required in the future. Both of these are also added to the contents page. In addition to this I also added the magazines website address, allowing for readers to stay up to date with the latest news and information as well as the magazines history and information.

Underneath the subtitles I added a brief appealing description of the article featured, which gives the reader further incite prior to reading the article. These must be appealing along with the cover lines as it is a major selling point.

CONTENTSThe images on my contents page are centred in order to give a column affect, resulting in an appealing look and easy reading and navigation. This clearly sets the layout in a well organised manner, allowing for other information to be placed either side.

Continuing with the organised theme , this column (detailing the page numbers articles are on) is also structured and organised with the main focus being on easy navigation and reading, whilst also being aesthetically appealing (the very ethos of the mod subculture). This is addressed by a vertical line running down the side, along with simple but effective titling.

I further added a band index which allows the reader to easily identify if and what page a particular band is mentioned on. This is common in many music magazines and further allows for easier navigation of the magazine as a whole for the reader. Also, note the consistent text style of the main titles.

This logo adds consistent house style to the magazine and in particular this page. Again, this allows for easy viewing for the reader.

Underneath the subtitles I added a brief appealing description of the article featured, which gives the reader further incite prior to reading the article.

I added this self-made symbol as it keeps the house style from the cover, as previously stated. This add consistency and a more professional look. This symbol is featured on the front cover, here and at the top of the contents page

I added the date and issue number as it is something essential to any magazine. This allows readers to remain update and also look specifically at this magazine if required in the future. Both of these are also added to the front cover.

DOUBLE PAGE ARTICLE

Continuing from the contents page, this vertical line keeps the consistency and house style. This allows for readers to associate this layout specifically with this magazine, even at just a glance of the article.

This title is bold, straight to the point and quite dramatic, giving the reader almost no option but to look at the article. This is decisive as the key to any good article and subsequently magazine, is to keep the reader interested. Furthermore, I applied this font and text size to focus the reader firstly onto this point, then the subsequent article and photography.

Here is the basic info of the page – the page number and specific to this page, who the article is about. Again,. This is done in the same colours as all titling throughout the magazine, again adding consistent house style.

This Pull Quote is use d to draw attention to a dramatic, interesting or important piece of text. While a reader is skipping through the pages, they will see this quote even at just a glance, as a result drawing them to the article and page, subsequently making them read the it.

Imagery is crucial on a double page article as it can be used in many varieties. The main image must be appealing, interesting or inspirational for example, whilst also being practical to place text around. Here I used the right hand side of the page solely for a clear image of the artist and also the title. The image of the figure of the artist is framed within the wall in the background, and the wall to the right is effectively used for a background to the text.

I added this translucent frame to give the overall page a more professional look and allowing for easier reading. Furthermore, instead of the box being full colour I added a slight translucent effect to allow for the brickwork in the background to still partly show through. This gives quite an urban, industrial feel, whilst still remaining easy to read. Lastly, this border and box clearly defines the text from the rest of the image, something which may have been difficult to distinguish if it hadn't have been added.

The text itself related heavily to my genre/subculture I aimed to appeal to. The article precisely talks about the bands past, present and future, as well as other notable bands from the genre, and lastly the bands fans and audience. Throughout the article I retain the readers interest by asking questions the public wants to hear, as well as language followers would be accustomed to.

HOUSE STYLE

Throughout the magazine I aimed to keep a consistent house style associated with my subculture. In order to achieve I used many shapes, borders, images and symbols.

Firstly, I chose a specific text for the name of my magazine; ‘My Generation’. This was used on both the front cover, and contents page. this will allow for the magazine and font to be recognised with the magazine and genre in particular, even at a glance.

Secondly, I created a remake of the symbol which is commonly associated with the ‘Mod’ subculture. This was almost an addition to the text logo and again appeared on both the front cover and the contents page a number of times. Similar to the first point, this symbol will be associated with the scene and the magazine in particular.

Furthermore, I predominantly used 3 set colours (red, white and blue) for the whole of the magazine. This gave a professional and appealing look, whilst also allowing for a recognisable theme, combining with the text and symbol. These colours were used on all pages in some form.

On the contents and double page spread I used a blue vertical stripe which would appear on the vast majority of pages throughout the magazine. This combines well with the ‘Mod’ subculture as it has a keen association with stripes, circles and symbols. This stripe added an overall more ‘Mod’ look, whilst also adding a professional edge.

This title text is repeatedly used to add a consistent feel and look to the pages, whilst also being a simple, easily readable font.

Lastly, I used the appearance of a simple but effective red box to add titles and basic information to pages. This was done on the contents page and double page spread to further add a more professional yet still relating to my subculture’s look. It also linked in with the earlier said 3 main colours I used.