AS Media Studies AS Media Studies Coursework EvaluationCoursework Evaluation

Anna BroomheadAnna Broomhead

http://bhsfpannabroomhead.blogspot.comhttp://bhsfpannabroomhead.blogspot.com

My magazine is conventional in the sense My magazine is conventional in the sense that it uses similar colours and fonts to that it uses similar colours and fonts to other existing rock magazines. My two-page other existing rock magazines. My two-page spread is structured like a typical article in spread is structured like a typical article in a rock magazine, with the large photo and a rock magazine, with the large photo and the footer with the trivia. My model is the footer with the trivia. My model is wearing a stereotypical ‘angry rock star’ wearing a stereotypical ‘angry rock star’ expression, and is standing in front of a expression, and is standing in front of a wall, which is also quite often used in band wall, which is also quite often used in band photographyphotography

However, my magazine has some However, my magazine has some unconventional features, such unconventional features, such as borders. Many magazines do as borders. Many magazines do not use borders around titles or not use borders around titles or pages, but in my magazine, I pages, but in my magazine, I used a theme of borders. On used a theme of borders. On my contents page I used 3 my contents page I used 3 borders, 2 of them red, and I borders, 2 of them red, and I carried this theme on into my carried this theme on into my 2-page spread. I also used 2-page spread. I also used some unconventional models some unconventional models and poses in my photography. I and poses in my photography. I also decided to use some also decided to use some unusual phrases.unusual phrases.

Some groups that I think are represented Some groups that I think are represented through my magazine are Americans, through my magazine are Americans, women, celebrities and the British public.women, celebrities and the British public.

The band ‘Memphis’ that I created are The band ‘Memphis’ that I created are American. The quote “we totally love the American. The quote “we totally love the British public!”British public!”uses the word ‘totally’, which is typically uses the word ‘totally’, which is typically American, and sounds a little patronising American, and sounds a little patronising towards said British public.towards said British public.

I created ‘Dogstar’ as an all-girl band, which I created ‘Dogstar’ as an all-girl band, which suggests that women are just as equal in suggests that women are just as equal in the music business as men. I wrote the music business as men. I wrote ‘Dogstar’ as talking ‘boys, beer and being ‘Dogstar’ as talking ‘boys, beer and being in a band’-the word ‘boy’ suggests they in a band’-the word ‘boy’ suggests they are of a certain age and that they try hard are of a certain age and that they try hard to impress men, but the subject of beer, a to impress men, but the subject of beer, a supposedly masculine drink, shows that supposedly masculine drink, shows that they are possibly not that ladylike.they are possibly not that ladylike.

Celebrities are mocked slightly in this Celebrities are mocked slightly in this magazine. Although I have no personal magazine. Although I have no personal opinions of celebrities, this magazine opinions of celebrities, this magazine focuses on their faults and failures. The focuses on their faults and failures. The subtitle “embarrassing moments caught subtitle “embarrassing moments caught on camera” is advertising celebrities’ on camera” is advertising celebrities’ mistakes, and the story focusing on mistakes, and the story focusing on ‘whatever happened to’ Mickey Spencer ‘whatever happened to’ Mickey Spencer clearly shows he has not made it in the clearly shows he has not made it in the world of celebrity.world of celebrity.

The British public could also be considered The British public could also be considered to be obsessed with celebrities and their to be obsessed with celebrities and their lives when reading this magazine. The fact lives when reading this magazine. The fact that most of the stories focus on the that most of the stories focus on the celebrities and not their music shows a celebrities and not their music shows a keen interest for gossip and news.keen interest for gossip and news.

Most of my representation comes from my Most of my representation comes from my contents page.contents page.

My project would be best distributed as a My project would be best distributed as a newsletter, or a ‘free’ magazine newsletter, or a ‘free’ magazine supplement, to be given away with a supplement, to be given away with a larger, more popular music magazine. It is larger, more popular music magazine. It is unsuitable for mass production, and would unsuitable for mass production, and would probably not sell very well as a magazine probably not sell very well as a magazine on its own.on its own.Alternatively, it Alternatively, it

could be could be published on the published on the internet, perhaps internet, perhaps on a celebrity on a celebrity gossip site, or as gossip site, or as a link from a a link from a charts site.charts site.

The intended target audience for my media The intended target audience for my media product would most likely be teenagers and product would most likely be teenagers and people in their early twenties; some topics people in their early twenties; some topics covered in articles might not be suitable or covered in articles might not be suitable or interesting to children younger than 15 or 16. interesting to children younger than 15 or 16. My magazine focuses mainly on rock, punk and My magazine focuses mainly on rock, punk and heavy metal music, therefore people interested heavy metal music, therefore people interested in this genre of music would be expected to in this genre of music would be expected to read it. A person who likes R&B is highly read it. A person who likes R&B is highly unlikely to read it.unlikely to read it.

I think the audience is first I think the audience is first attracted by the magazine’s attracted by the magazine’s appearance. The white title on appearance. The white title on a black background jumps out a black background jumps out at the audience, and the font at the audience, and the font hints at the genre of the hints at the genre of the magazine. The purple magazine. The purple background of my photography background of my photography also catches the reader’s eye. also catches the reader’s eye. Once the reader’s attention has Once the reader’s attention has been caught by the magazine’s been caught by the magazine’s physical features, they are physical features, they are drawn in by the stories and drawn in by the stories and articles. The cover acts as a articles. The cover acts as a teaser- with only one article teaser- with only one article and a handful of bands and a handful of bands mentioned, the reader is led to mentioned, the reader is led to turn to the contents page to turn to the contents page to read more. Even here there is read more. Even here there is an element of mystery, but an element of mystery, but there are more articles there are more articles mentioned and stories are mentioned and stories are summarised in more detail to summarised in more detail to give an idea of the content of give an idea of the content of each one.each one.

I had already had prior experience of I had already had prior experience of using Macromedia Fireworks before using Macromedia Fireworks before taking Media Studies, but this project taking Media Studies, but this project allowed me to develop my knowledge allowed me to develop my knowledge and skills of both this program and and skills of both this program and others. I can now upload PowerPoint others. I can now upload PowerPoint presentations, as I have with this, and presentations, as I have with this, and I was also able to use a number of I was also able to use a number of websites whilst searching for my websites whilst searching for my fonts. I learned to take more time fonts. I learned to take more time whilst using editing programs such as whilst using editing programs such as Fireworks, and how to use parts of the Fireworks, and how to use parts of the program I had never used before.program I had never used before.

During this project I learned more about During this project I learned more about the music industry and the media. I the music industry and the media. I was able to research many existing was able to research many existing magazines and learn more about each magazines and learn more about each one. I can now distinguish between the one. I can now distinguish between the different genres with a lot more ease, different genres with a lot more ease, and associate certain bands and and associate certain bands and names with each one. I have learned names with each one. I have learned how to make a magazine look more how to make a magazine look more professional and I now know what kind professional and I now know what kind of articles, language and photography of articles, language and photography is used in certain genres of magazine.is used in certain genres of magazine.