In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real life media products? DARCIE NAYLOR

Genre conventions Bright colours

High key lighting( with additional gel filters which create a more happy and

aesthetically pleasing overall look.

Imperative verbs, demonstrating confidence

Constant association with festivals and upcoming events

Female wearing minimal clothing

Night time environments e.g clubs, streetlamp lit streets

Masthead, cover lines, pull quotes, sell lines, price, bar code, date

Where did I meet or challenge these conventions? In order to make a product that looked professional and approachable, I decided to stick

to the conventional layout of a magazine, rather than subverting the expectations of the audience, which Is common for the House genre. This made my magazine look realistic, something that would appeal to both my primary and secondary audience, as it demonstrated order and sophistication. My headline was central in the top third of the cover page, it was also a prominent feature within the magazine cover, this is a common technical devise, used by many other magazine institutions as it gives the brand identity, something that the audience will remember. I also wanted my focal image to stick to the conventions, I instructed my model to make direct eye contact with the camera with a medium close up , once again an effective devise used to intrigue the audience and make them want to read/find out more.

It was unconventional of me to choose House as my genre for my magazine, as it is not a common genre written about, Despite it being so influential and popular. I chose this genre as it is not only is one of my personal favourites but I also wanted to create something that could be seen as new on the market, something that has not really ever been seen before that could excite my audience. However to ensure that my product was a success I needed to stick strictly to the magazine conventions, due to the hegemonic idea that we as people do not like direct change. When we are shown something that is something that is something other than the stereotypical norm, we question its success and what it is.

Where did I meet or challenge these conventions?

I chose to go against the stereotypical expectations of House music when introducing woman. I wanted my model to demonstrate empowerment and self belief. I wanted her to chose when she was to be sexualized by the audience rather than the other way round, indicating her work ethic and her love for music. I tried to emphasis his idea through the poses, the cover lines and the actually article itself, none of which suggest anything other than determination and self assurance. I felt that this also gave my magazine a sense of sophistication as it does not rely upon the sexualisation of woman to be deemed as interesting or relatable. However the chose of outfit that my model is wearing almost contradicts what was just said, as she is in minimal clothing. I purposely chose these outfits to not only still to he conventions of house music but to also further demonstrate her own confidence in herself and her music, therefore justifying the choses made.

Where did I meet or challenge these conventions?

I wanted my magazine to appeal to my target audience, both groups of which are innovators and experiences. This then encouraging me to meet the conventions of including upcoming events, such a festivals, gigs and shows. Not only does this appeal to my audience as it tells them about what they can expect. It also additionally adds to the concept of genre identity, as the audience is being constantly informed on where they can be surrounded my House.

My choses of locations could be seen as conventional and unconventional for both shots. My focal image and the collection of images selected with the double page spread article were taken in a photography studio. Although at first you could suggest that this is only sticking to the conventions of a magazine, you could also suggesting that my artist is surrounded by technical equipment, much like they would normally be when they are preforming a set, therefore we can say they this location meets the conventions of House music as it uses professional technical equipment to impress the audience. My location chosen for my content page was a dark garden, lit with high intensity lighting. The use of the night combined with the strong lighting, meets the expectations for the conventions, However the use of the garden could almost subvert them, as you would not stereotypically expect House music to be surrounded by a garden.

Where did I meet or challenge these conventions?

The lighting in my main photography shoot was key to meeting the conventions of a House Magazine. I used coloured gels to create an almost electric atmosphere. It also stuck to the colour theme of purple, which has connotations of wealth and confidence. It also brought a sense of style which is something that is very important when it comes to House music. It is rare that a House producer does not have a distinct style, weather that be with their style of music or the way they preform or produce.

My target audience was under the income bracket of C1-E, as I was trying to appeal to a younger audiences, most likely one of which was still in education, and therefore was limited to very much disposable income, which is why I wanted my magazine to be of the best possible quality. Due to this target audience I chose to write an article that was quick to the point yet informative. Younger audiences lose interest quicker and can become easily distracted which is why I didn’t use too many long complex sentences and used facts instead in the hope that it would appeal to my target audience more. This is a convention used commonly by magazine institutions when they know they are specifically targeting a piece at a younger audience.

Compare your production with a similar production-where are the similarities and differences?

Did you purposefully challenge any conventions? Why?

The main convention I followed throughout my production was the use of genre roles. Stereotypically house Producers are known for being male, however I wanted to challenge this stereotype by using a woman. Within house music, Woman are often objectified upon, they used for the male gaze and are therefore more often that not sexualised. I did not want my magazine to incorporate this ideology and therefore tried to make my artist an empowered female role model. I achieved this by focusing my focal image on her eyes, which helped me to demonstrate to my audience her confidence and assurance in herself and her music. I also made sure that within my article I focused primarily on my artists music and career rather than other trivial topics that could distract my audience away from her talents.

Application of theoretical research. Within my research I found myself drawn to the ideology of Empowered females by David Gauntlett, He spoke about the Fluidity od identities and the deline of tradition and how the mass media is a “force of change”. I leant that views on gender are changing, that we no longer live in a society that accepts discrimination upon the sex that one in born. Our audiences are passive and will therefore decide for themselves what they believe and how they want to react to it. We have become a generation that can “act” their gender rather than letting the genre “act” the. For instance, it is stereotypical for a woman to work until she becomes pregnant, after that she becomes a house wife, and her primary role is to look after the family . We know that this is not a reality and woman of all ages are aspiring to work and be successful In what they do. Woman are increasingly taking on roles which are stereotypically male dominanted, and it is therefore becoming more and more common for woman to be seen as capable of success as men.

Gauntlett also suggested that “The binary divisions of male and female identities should be shattered” DJ’ing is stereotypically a male dominated- and the idea of “genre trouble” can inspire my primary audiences, as they will be shown that despite something being dominated in the opposite sex, that does not mean you can be as successful in that field- especially as they are easily influenced by the media.

Similarities of Coverpage

Mastheads are central and within the top third of the overall page

The majority of the cover and sell lines are on one side of the pages, creating a neat and clean looking page rather than one that is messy and cluttered.

The focal images are what the main articles inside the magazine will be based upon.

Synergy with colour and font are consistent throughout the pages

On both covers, a main feature on the page is the artists name.

Both consistently feature the key elements that make up a magazine. Such as cover lines, puffs, barcode,date,price,sell lines, anchorage text.

Both models make eye contact with the audience Both use High key lighting

Differences of coverpage

Mixmag used filled in white boarders around the cover and sell lines.

MixMag has used promotions on their cover ( 20% off) Both magazine has used a model from the opposite sex My focal image is a medium close up, whereas Mixmag have

used a medium shot. My cover lines were specifically positioned around my models

face in order to keep her the main focus. (the audience is always directed back to her face).whereas MixMag have chosen to position their cover line down the right hand side in relatively ordered line.

MixMag have used props in their photoshoot in order to intrigue to reader.

Mixmag is a magazine focused on clubbing music, whereas Subculture Is a product revolved around house music, although both are very similar and have elements of each other in, they are technically different genres.

When comparing the cover pages of Mixmag and Subculture you can see that they are relatively similar in the way that they are structured. Each include the basic elements require and are appealing to the eye. They are colourful and look interesting, which is key when producing a magazine. When producing my magazine, I took inspiration from Mixmag and I liked the overall look that it created, they always managed to create a product that looked welcoming and exciting, something that would inform me on events that I would want to attend rather than events that would not interest me or are not suitable for my age range.

Similarities and differences of the contents pages

Similarities

Articles listed are in chronological order There is one focal image that links with an

important article. Monthly issue date Masthead “Contents” Overall layout is relatively similar, focal image is

next too page listings, with other information at the bottom on the page.

Both medium long shots, however subcultures focal images has a lot more space above than Mixmags does.

Differences

Colour pallets are on the opposite ends on the spectrum. Subculture has used light pastel colours, with the occasional bright purple. Whereas MixMag have used a monotone pallet throughout the page.

Subculture have included links to their social media websites, as their target audience is young and will therefore appeal to this feature.

Subculture offer a yearly subscription in order to try and make the highest profits on print production.

Subculture use more images inorder to appeal to their fox thinkings

When comparing the two contents pages, I found that Subculture used more pictures and larger fonts. I believe that this was a more effective way of engaging my younger target audience as they are fox thinkers and are prone to losing interest quickly. However I do feel as thought my secondary audience would appeal more to the MixMag contents page as it is overall a more sophisticated looking page.

Both pages use the conventional elements needed to produce a successful contents page.

Similarities and differences of The Double page spreads.

Similarities

• The overall layouts of the DPS are very similar

• They both use three columns of writing

• They both have a page dedicated too images of the artists

• A pull quote within those images linking the two pages

together

• Pink background colour

Differences

Subculture has a masthead and coverline Mixmag use an individual image on the page with

the written text From what it looks like, Mixmag have

incorporated some sort of logo in the top left hand corner

Subcultures text varies in their use of font size and colour in order to separate out the article

Overall the double page spreads are very similar in look and style, I took a lot of inspiration from MixMags double pages spreads as I felt that they looked particularly interesting and inviting; not too much strain and effort. I think that the incorporation of images is really effective as it not only condenses the amount written, which will appeal to my target audience but it also gives the audience and insight on what type of individual they are reading about, making them feel included.