Evaluation Question 1

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

My front cover:

The title: The title flipside came from the idea of being alternative different and unique. I felt this worked well with the overall design and genre of the magazine because it was indie based and this would reinforce the genre throughout. Although it isn't a word usually based with music terminology I personally felt it worked because it was different and hadn't be done before, especially with the literal flipping of the magazine title, it worked and complimented each other. The magazine Kerrang which is an indie magazine got it's name from the literal sound being made from a guitar note,this shows and reinforces the genre, this is what I hoped would happen through the title of my magazine. I think magazines get defined by the title, it shows the genre, personally I think mine works well together. 

The positioning of my magazine of the title was left in the left hand side of the page of the magazine, like in NME and Q. This keeps it out of the way, and allows more space for the coverlines and the photo to be the most dominant part of the page.

The image:

The setting of the image for the front cover is the studio shot, however it isn't the normal studio shot, it isn't the conventional white or black background it has skulls on which personally, and from doing my own research, further reinforces the idea of the indie theme and genre. My model is shown in a way in which is quite casual, I decided to do a close up of the model with just her face in, the lighting wasn't great so I changed the curves and adjusted and got rid of the red eye to ensure it look professional. My model had to look like an indie artist, so i kept the color scheme quite dark and not bright to show want the target audience had previously said they wanted. I aimed my DPS article around the reader, I put her age range at 19 years old so it matched the image at the front ensuring there wasn't n unbelievable age gap between the two. Clothing was left simplistic and the more edgy and extravagant look came out in the DPS. There have been no props used such as the use of a guitar as I left this to put into the DPS.

My images aren't studio shots, they are taken in a house with a background that was convenient but didn't fully connect with the background from the frontcover. One image was taken at a previous Oasis concert, this allowed me to capture a real sense of Indie Music and put it onto my magazine. For the other two photos again I took the style of capturing their face through a close up, however one being a low level medium long shot.The dress code again was simplistic yet effective as it did fit in with the front cover and the indie style. The pose of one is relaxed girl sitting down, shown in good lighting. The photo was taken during the day therefore in good natural lighting. The other was taken more at night with the flash from the camera. It is quite an amateur photo due to the poor lighting and perhaps we could say that it doesn't actually work within the magazine. Again throughout no props were used this shows the main focus was the upcoming celebrity.

DPS

Different clothing,shows artists from a different perspective. Changed location added props, shows the artist in a different light, gives them something else to look at. Hairstyle and makeup remained the same due to still wanting to fit into the indie culture and fashion sense as this was my main focus throughout. A prop of the guitar has been added this reinforces the idea of an indie product. The guitar again reinforces the idea of it being a music magazine. One photo shows a direct gaze again this is connection with the reader and the other shows the model looking down this shows a different side to the reader, a darker side, as if she has something to hide. Both photos were taken outside in the dark, by a tree. Therefore there was artificial lighting. But also the tree reinforces the idea of it being an autumn magazine with the leaves on the ground.