Evaluation QUESTION 1

IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE,DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

My music magazine both used, developed and challenged the normal codes and conventions of already existing music magazines I think.

How it used them...

-I designed my logo for my magazine so that it conformed to the normal codes and conventions, as most music magazine have a bold title with sometimes it going slightly behind the main image or another feature. This is normally a sign that the magazine is already well recognised which is why I did it to my magazine, as well it meaning that it is using the conventions.
-My magazine front cover also contains a main image which is similar to most mainstream music magazines already existing.
-My front cover has a main headline quote to focus on which I found also included in many other already existing music magazines.
-My double page spread used the typical feature of the 'exclusive' text to lure the reader in to read more. Lots of DPS that I have read and researched use this feature. I also included it in the contents page as well in my final design to persuade the reader into reading further.
-I set out the text in my DPS in columns as well like existing music magazines do so that my reader wouldn't find the text too overwhelming and not bother reading all of it.

How it developed them...

-Some music magazines I researched only kept their brand identity and colours on the front cover. I developed this by developing throughout all 3 pages, keeping the white,black and pink shade consistently shown in all.
-Some music magazines also only keep the feature of pulling out quotes from the text inside the DPS whereas I decided to develop this and include it on the front page as well. It was also taken slghtly out of context as well deliberately to make the reader more curious about the storyline and therefore more eager to turn the page.

How it challenged them...

-On the front page instead of following the typical codes and conventions for camera angles, I decided to do the photos with the model looking down and making no direct mode of address with the reader. In most existing music magazines the music artist/ subject is making eye contact with the reader to give it an intense atmosphere, with there being a relationship almost between reader and the artist. However, by not making eye contact with the reader, I hoped to get the atmosphere where the reader thinks that perhaps she is not looking at them because she has not spoken or made any relationship with them yet, either because she is new to the music industry or that the music media has attacked her with rumours etc and she doesn't wish to speak out. This heightens the story, making the reader more curious and excited about what they are going to read inside because it says that it is an 'exclusive' article. So in this way, I am going against normal conventions.

-I have also not put any other images on the front page apart from the main one. Most magazines have at least one other image on the page to focus on but for mine I wanted it so that the reader focuses only on the main artist in the centre of the page. This would give the reader the feeling that this artist is somehow very important and that they should be reading about them.