Evaluation Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The media market is in a state of flux, and magazines are struggling to survive. So ensuring I can relate to my target audience social group was vital. Due to choosing the style of Indie there is already a lot of magazines that represent this Genre such as: Q Kerrang and NME. Although yes, the magazine industry is in a state of flux, I had to ensure I engaged with the Target audience at all times, through my ideas, I then went out and asked people what they thought of them. If they liked them then they would go on the magazine, if not they wouldn't.

So, I decided to compare my magazine with other magazines that are on the market at the moment. As I took some inspiration from some magazines there are some similarities. The image on my front cover is very sophisticated allowing me to connect with the upper end of my target audience also. This shows that I have tried to bare both ends of my target audience in mind. Some magazines such as Kerrang don't stick with just a simple picture such as just the model, they add a lot off effects and 'Rock Type' products to further enhance the genre. Q and NME keep the image quite simple usually just focusing on one Artist picture on the front cover. However again they don't just focus on the model they add things to show the genre such as cigarette or a guitar, this shows the platform between the Artist and the Genre. So to get the model and the genre correct I decided to have a background which isn't conventional white background I decided to use one with Skulls at the back, referring back to my post about Indie Fashion this is what they are in to. So I tried to import this into my magazine in a clever way rather than just a conventional skull T-Shirt. The model herself is wearing a plain black Dress with limited back up however round the eyes it is shown, this reinforces again what I found out from their makeup and clothing research. The gaze shows a sense of engagement with the reader, luring them in. I wanted the model to look natural hence there hasn't been much editing to the photo or too much going on in the background, I feel it was simple yet effective. 

Although other magazines were an influence I had to ensure my magazine just wasn't a copy, I had to try and find unique and individual ideas to put my own stamp on the magazines. So perhaps other Indie magazines go for the more rocky edgy type of photo, with a lot going on in the back ground, my peer feedback showed that the audience could still tell it was an Indie Magazine. The pose of Artists on the front of other magazines seem very straight forward with a direct gaze, which was I chose to use on mine, it is important to have the central gaze and eye contact. Although some magazines tend to go for a full length photo with obvious hand gestures, I decided to do a medium long shot of the model and have her as the most dominant feature. This shows the model being the main focus and part of the magazine. It again will draw people in.  

The lighting in the photos remain similar like the style of the photo remains similar in all front cover photos, the model is shown in the best light so the magazine can achieve the best photo and work around the photo to edit it to make it look even better, however they must have a good photo to start with. The lighting can also be changed through the use off Photoshop and the curves tool, this makes the photo more versatile, as it can be changed to be darker or lighter, this again portrays dominance and power to the front cover image.

Here above, I have shown My final image along with some magazines that have been published, I compared them all to magazines with a Woman on the front as this is the same as my magazine. Looking at the images I can see compared to mine they may represent the genre more, such as the Rain Look in the Cheryl Cole picture. However Cheryl Cole and the Lady Gaga pose is quite sexual and extreme, I steered away from this due to wanting my magazine to appeal to all ages. 

Although the NME magazine and My magazine show similarities. Due to the pose and the photo being quite natural and having a clear and central focus on the model. This would be to engage the reader but also sometimes less can be seen as more. I would say that both my magazine and NME show a sophisticated magazine, the photo hasn't been edited to much and the lighting is good.