In what ways does your media product use,

conventions of real media products?

Rachael Allen

Front Cover• I have previously mentioned that the conventional norms of real music magazines are

to reveal a short and memorable title that appears very dominant and bold. I have adopted this idea in my pieces of work, my using the title R.E.A, I feel this is conventional because it creates the correct amount of attention and is easy to remember. I have used a font for the title that is also very bold and large, which ultimately creates a very dominant and over powering effect which helps make it eye catching and remember able.

• Another convention of a music magazine is the use of the large and dominant photograph that is used to take up the majority of the layout. I have developed this convention into my own pieces of work, by using a very large and over powering image that takes up the majority of my front cover structural layout. I feel that my image provides dominance, because it is fairly colorful due to the clothing that it worn (mise-en-scene), and also because it is used for the background of the cover, making it a paramount feature of the layout. I also feel this because the size of the photograph helps create supremacy and suggests power and significance over the other features, as they are very minute compared to the other features on my front cover. As you can see I have added a cover of NME to show the dominate use of the image.

Front Cover• In terms of the common phrases and colour schemes that are

conventionally used in music magazines, I have developed these features into my pieces of work by ensuring that the reds, blues and white are repeated throughout my work to ensure a uniformed and individual appearance. I feel that this has helped my work to conform to conventions because; it has ensured that my magazine has an identity and acts as the representation of my magazine. In regards to phrases/slogans, I tried to adopt this into my pieces of work by using phrases such as ‘R.E.A exclusive’, ‘The world best music guide’ and ‘the official music magazine, for R&B lovers’. I feel these provide a conventional approach because it provides the magazine with charisma and suggests a professional feel.

• I have also ensured that a bar code, selling line, price and issue number

have all be included in my front cover to allow it to provide a conventional format.

• I have inserted this NME cover, to show the aspects I have mentioned above.

Contents Page• When discussing my contents page, I feel that I have adapted the conventional

normality’s of a real music magazine by ensuring that features such as a page title, and issue number have been identified in a large and dominant font that is clear for the audience to read. I ensured this by allowing the top section of the page to be taken up by these aspects, so that they didn’t become drowned out by other features on my contents page. I feel it helps identify my page. I have also developed the idea of using images of artists to feature in my contents layout, to help make it clear to the audience who else will be featured in the magazine; I have used a large photograph of my artist so that it provides importance and ensures that the audience is fully aware of who the main feature is. I have also ensured this by adopting the convention of breaking away the main feature from the conventional list of page listings, so that it enables the artist to be of significance and importance.

• I have also ensured that I have broken up my text so that it is obvious and straight forward for my audience to read, an example of this is how I have made the age numbers and introduction to each pages different colours and font’s sizes to ensure it is precise and easy for my audience to read. I feel this technique ensures that the contents page doesn’t appear too dull and over loaded with too much text.

The image below shows how NME have used sections.

Contents Page

• I have also addressed the idea of using sections to break up my text, to emphasise my earlier point of ensuring that the page didn’t appear to text orientated. I have adopted this idea by using a title for the different sections, these being the ‘Reviews’ and ‘Features’, I have used different colours to help breaks these up. I feel by using these titles, it helps identify the section for the audience making it straight forward and exciting to read (due to the fonts and colours).

Double Page Spread• Finally, I will be identifying how my double page spread, conforms to

conventions. Firstly, I have included the same colour font and style onto my double page spread that I have used throughout my other pieces of work, to help emphasise the identity and individuality of my magazine. I have also continued the use of my shapes, these being the stars and circles; I have adapted these into my double page spread by conforming to the idea of using features to help break up the text, so that it doesn’t appear too formal and text orientated. I have used stars within my article, which have quotes taken from my article to help do this.

• I have also used photographs of my artist that featured on the front cover, to ensure that the audience is made fully aware of who my main feature is. I also feel, that using images helps create energy and vibrancy to the page, as it breaks away from the dull text that over powers the page. I feel it creates a balance between the two.

Double Page Spread• Another aspect I have featured within my work, are the idea of

placing quotes around the two pages, away from the main article its self. This conforms to conventions because; I have ensured that I used the idea of writing it in a different colour or front from the rest of the article, so that it becomes more eye catching and interesting. I have also ensured that I have used a title which is ‘R.E.A exclusive’, this conforms to conventions because, it ensures that the page is identified and provided with importance. I also feel the use of a title, ensures that the audience is aware of where and what magazine the article is being featured in.

• Finally, I have also adopted the convention of using a letter larger than the rest of the article at the beginning to help identify where the beginning is and also add excitement and characteristics to the article. I have also used two or three columns and page numbers within my work to ensure a professional and interesting layout is provided.

• When considering discussing how my magazine challenges the forms of conventions of music magazines, I feel that my magazine doesn’t because it doesn’t identify any features that are outrageous or different compared to real music magazines. I feel that I have followed and interpreted features of real music magazines into my own work, without challenging the normality of them.