production log

Today I started making my front cover of my magazine, I used adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator. I used adobe illustrator for the 3d effect on my front cover.

production log

Today I took pictures of the main artist of my magazine at the city learning centre. I took as many images as possible so that i could have a variety of images. I Only took pictures for the front cover so I will I am to take pictures for the rest of my magazine some other time.

First draft of my magazine cover

This is the first draft of my magazine cover I have chosen a name for my magazine but as I go along I may decide to change the name. The name I have chosen is 'Sreet Ent'. I have chosen this name as I feel that the name fits in with the genre of my magazine. As you can see my first draft has the typical conventions of a music magazine, for example it includes a barcode, date of issue, issue number and a large area for a main image. This first draft look quite plain as I aim to produce more drafts and develop a lot more ideas.

Questionnaire Results

I gathered these results from my questionnaire and selected a few questions so that i could input the data into a chart.

My Questionnaire

This is my questionnaire; I gave it out to people between the ages of 14 and 20. My questionnaire included 10 questions with most of the questions being closed questions so that I could transfer the data into a graph/chart and it would be quicker for my target audience to fill in. The questionnaire allowed me to get a greater understanding of peoples tastes and what the enjoy most about magazines. The results from my magazine will aid me in what features I will include in my magazine and what features will be included to allow my magazine to be both unique and appealing to the younger generation.

Textual Analysis Of Double Page Spread

This is a double page spread from an NME magazine, in which the British pop/rock artist Lilly Allen is being interviewed. In this double page spread Lilly Allen is represented as a stereotypical rock star. This is shown through the use of dark makeup around the eyes and jet-black hair. The type of clothing she is wearing is associated with rock rather than pop as it is not colorful. The mise en scene of this image allows us to have an understanding of what type of magazine this is. Lilly Allen is also posing in an unusual way, her body language suggests that she doesn’t care; this is the stereotypical attitude of a rocker. Although it looks like she doesn’t care, there is still direct address as she is looking at the audience.

This double page spread has unconventional features. One of the unconventional features is that it only has one image. The image is very large as it takes up a whole page. This could have been made to show the audience that Lilly Allen is very important. NME have also made the double page spread look a lot like a poster. This could have been deliberate, as it will attract their audience to read it. The big image mean that the interview is limited to a small amount of space therefore it may attract a lot of readers as too much information could get boring. The title of the magazine looks very attractive as it the text is laid out in blocks. The double page spread is very visual with large images to take up space. There is probably more of the interview on the next page, if so this is a very good way to lie out a double page spread, as it is very visually entertaining. This double page also has conventional features as the text is laid out in columns; this is seen in every professional double page spread, making the text easier to read.

Another conventional feature of the magazine is that it has a direct mode of address. This is very important, as the correct mode of address will keep the audience reading. The text has to shut the audience preferences and should be writing n a way that the target audience can read. For example if a pop magazine interviews were writing as if it were to be in a Hip-hop magazine a lot of the audience would find it hard to understand therefore the magazine will loose a lot of their target audience.

This double page spread is also conventional as it has a floating quote. The floating quote in this magazine is “People think I’m an attention seeker, but I’m just honest” this a very effective quote as it what an artist would say as they say what every they want to say. The quote also allows the audience to know a bit more about the person the magazine is interviewing. In this double page spread the quote is at the top of the interview, which takes up a lot of space. This is very unusual as quotes tend to a lot smaller than the main image taking little space. The use of colors in this magazine is very limited to about three colors white, black and red. These are very dull colors and there aren’t any bright colors to attract the young audience.

Overall I think that the magazines unconventional features overweigh the conventional aspects. The use of the layout looks attractive and looks as if it will attract the target audience.

Textual Analysis Of Double Page Spread

This is a double page spread from Karrang magazine. From looking at this magazine you can come to an assumption that it is a rock magazine. This magazine looks very convention in terms of the use of colours. Black and red are strong bold colours, these colours are usually seen with rockers as they have dark hair and wear dark makeup such as eyeliner. This title of this article is “were being the best MCR we can be” this suggest that they are doing there best whether you like it or not. This title is very effective as this is the type of attitude of a stereotypical rock star. The colour red in the title could have connotations of blood, suggesting that they put their blood, sweat and tears in their music.

The article is presented in columns making it look conventional and professional. There are a lot of images on both pages. These images take up most of the space so there is a limited amount of text, although there is a limited amount of text on this page there is probably a whole page filled with questions and answers on the next page. The pictures subvert typical conventions as none of the images are giving direct address; none of the images are looking at the audience. This is very common in most rock magazine as this represents their attitudes toward rock.

The title of the magazine is also a floating quote. This is conventional in most double page spreads as it gives an insight of the type of people they are interviewing. The aim of floating quotes is to attract the audience so they have to be interesting to be successful in attracting the audience. In spite of this floating quote is unconventional as it takes up a lot of space in the magazine. It is also unconventional as it is the titles of the magazine you wont see this in a lot of magazines.

Overall I think that this magazine subverts a lot of conventions. Without the direct mode of address less people will feel involved whilst reading. This could be good for the readers that understand the rock star stereotype and attitudes to life.

Textual Analysis Of Contents Page

This is the contents page from Vibe magazine. As you can see this magazine is quite plain and simple with very little going on, although it is very plain vibe can afford to make it look like his as it has 3 pages worth of contents pages instead of having al the information within one page. Vibe has laid out there contents page to take about 3 pages, this image shows the second page of the contents 2/3. The use of plain contents pages are used a large number of times and is very common with vibe magazines.

The way the word CONTENTS is laid out is also very common and effective with Vibe magazines, it is sort of like a trademark as you can always remember it as a part of a Vibe magazine. Vibe has also includes an image of the front cover of the magazine, this is very useful as you don’t have to turn the page to view the contents page again although many other magazines don’t tend to do this (unconventional) it is very effective. The main focal image of this contents page is of an artist called ‘Movado” who makes Jamaican dancehall music. This is very unusual as vibe magazines tend to have R&B and Hip-Hop artist featured within the magazine. The image of Movado is symbolic of wealth as he is wearing a Gucci belt, diamond bracelets and a diamond chain. The use of the image being black and white is very effective as it suited with the background atmosphere of poverty.

Vibes have used contrasting images for their contents page. The image of Movado has connotations of wealth whilst the background image is off a ghetto in Jamaica. Using these two types of images is symbolic as it shows the transition from living in poverty to being wealthy due to his talent in music. The background image also shows that he hasn’t forgotten where he came from and his struggle t get where he is at now. The contents page doesn’t subverts typical as it has the page numbers of information held in each page, it also includes an image. Although is doesn’t subvert typical conventions it does in a way as it has the image of the front cover.

The use of typography is very unique and looks like it will appeal to the younger generation although it has a serif type of typography. The use of the colour black for the typography fits in well with the dull atmosphere of the background image and the colour of the clothing the main image is wearing. Although the typography appeals more to the younger generation the contents page as a whole looks like it if for the older generation as it has no bright colours witch is mostly common with teenage magazines.

Textual Analysis Of Contents Page

This is a contents page from a magazine known as ‘in the mix’ . The contents page subverts typical conventions of magazine contents. This is shown through the use of an image and most importantly the page numbers. The page numbers are highlighted in a bright colour so that it stands out and is easier to read. The main purpose of a contents page is to allow the reader to find what they a re looking for, this is achieved by being user friendly and uncomplicated. This contents page is also satisfying as it has a brief description of what each page is about this is very effective as you don’t have to waste time going to page to find what your looking for. The contents page has a limited amount of colours which is effective as it wouldn’t suit the genre if it was colourful. Content pages also tend to mostly use the colour white in the background to make everything on top stand out a lot more.

An additional convention that is found in a majority of contents pages is an image(s) this is important as it draws the readers attention as it is usually someone who is associated with the genre of the magazine. This contents page includes an image of a Hip-Hop icon 50cent. Although it is a medium long shot of a side image he still uses direct address to engage the readers. On the other hand most contents pages do not include a issue number and date this could be a good idea as it allows us to understand when it was made without going back to the front cover it can also be argued as a downfall as it can be annoying to the reader as it looks like an addition piece of text.

Textual Analysis Of Image

Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine which was launched in 1993 by its founder producer Quincy Jones. It is a widely known mainstream magazine and has previously had features of many famous music artists for example Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Chris Brown and Kanye West. From the front cover of this magazine you can see that the target audience ranges from the ages of 16-25. The magazine also looks as if it is mainly targeted at men; this is shown through the main focal image of an R&B singer Mariah Carey in a 2-piece bikini. The main focal image also portrays sexual connotations as bikinis often represent a sexy image. The main focal image of Mariah Carey is also effective as she is using direct address by looking at us to engage with the audience. Although the main focal image is appealing to men, feminist wouldn’t share the same opinion as they would think the image is too revealing and is representing women in a negative manner. The magazine also is a summer addition as it was issued in June and has an image of a beach in the background.

The front cover of this magazine has a lot of sell lines. The sell lines include a fashion section; this is very appealing for the younger generation as they are mostly the ones that are known to be fashion conscious. On the right side of the front cover the sell lines include a couples section for example Jay-Z & Beyonce do the ‘I do’ and Are Chris Brown and Rihanna next? These sell lines are valuable as the younger audience like to know gossip on celebrities. The right side also includes sell lines of music artist which more or less produces the same genre of music.

This specific front cover uses bright vibrant colours which correspond with the background image of a beach. The layout also only has a few colours: yellow, orange, red and white, although only 4 types of colours are used the text is clear and standout in front of the background image. The typography in this front cover varies as the main focal images name ‘Mariah Carey’ is in a much stronger and bolder typeface which is easy to spot. The numbers are clearly in a different type of typeface which Vibe magazine editors tend to apply in most of their magazines.

The front cover also subverts typical conventions of magazine front covers as the masthead is placed behind the focal image and has a conventional layout with a limited amount of colours. Another way in which it adheres to typical conventions is through the use of barcode and website.

Textual Analysis Of Image

This is another cover from XXL. XXL magazine is an urban lifestyle magazine which specialises in the Hip-hop and R&B culture. From the front cover of this magazine you can see that the target audience ranges from the ages of 16 to 35. There are very few sell lines included in this specific magazine cover this could of been triggered by the limited amount of space on the page. The sell lines include famous artist of the Hip-hop culture and also tell us about exclusive interviews (unique selling point)featured in the magazine, this is very effective as it makes the audience want to buy the magazine for inside information on celebrities. The layout of this magazine is pretty much the same as all of the other magazine made by XXL as they all employ typical conventions of magazine front covers, for example the masthead is placed behind the main focal image so that the image is visible but is less visible in comparison to the main focal image which is the main attraction.

This magazine includes a main focal image of Hip-hop icons Lil Wayne and Birdman(Baby). Birdman is 1/2 founders of Cash Money records, Lil Wayne is a also a part of Birdman's label as he was signed at a very young age. The reason why Birdman has his arm around Lil Wayne is due Birdman being a father figure which Lil Wayne never had. The editor's have deliberately used an image of a poor neighborhood/ghetto as a background image to show us that the rappers went from rags to riches. This image is very effective as the majority of rappers wear baseball caps and have a collection of diamond jewelry. Jewelry usually represents success, wealth and trend both rappers in this image are wear similar items as these add to stereotypes of rappers. From this magazine cover we can also see that the both rappers are covered in tattoo's these also add to the stereotypes of rappers as most of the tattoo's have no meaning, tattoo's also have to connotation of strength and power and is usually use to enhance the appearance of rappers.

The designer has been specifically chosen to link with the background image of a broken/damaged house