Evaluation:Question 2

Evaluation:Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My music magazine is in the genre of pop/chart music, this means that it would be stereotypically aimed at teenage girls who are obsessed with boy bands. They would be seen in society as bubbly, loud who show this through their music and clothing. However, just because this is the typical consumer of the pop genre does not mean that all readers are like this. The exiting pop music magazines are very bright in colour with bold uses of font to attract their readers, I have included some of these convections within my own work, but have also used some other convections that would not be typically associated with the pop industry to try and attract readers from all backgrounds and tastes and show that the stereotype is not always right. I have done this through including different topics in the magazine not just simply focusing on the music for example advice, fashion and fun leisure activities that all teenagers would enjoy. I therefore have tried to appeal to the existing target market and also a different social group.

The stereotypical group my magazine targets is the teenage market, with 85% of them being female. Their typical lifestyle would be sports, relationships, with friends, school life and also going to concerts of their favourite bands. Their ages would range from 12-17 years old.

How have I targeted my social group?

I have targeted my social market in many ways throughout my design product of front cover, contents page and double page spread. 

One main way I have appealed to them i through my photography and use of image on my front cover. The main photograph is the most important part of a magazine and can help convey a message to the audience. On my front cover, I features my friend wearing a white top with a bold statement necklace which instantly shows you that girls would be attracted to the cover. This is also influenced by the use of mise-en-scene and how it communicates to the readers. She is placed against a plain white background which instantly puts the main focus on her which is evident in existing magazines. Her makeup and style also looks very clean cut and pretty, something in which all teenage girls want to look like. Her body language looks relaxed and also natural while engaging in eye contact which is very important and draws the reader in. This can also be done through the main cover line, I have kept it brief, giving just enough information for them to read the double page spread.

I did not use any props which are clear in my photos, however I did consider the use of a guitar. After deciding I felt this was not the best idea because it may imply a different image to the reader, for example, many pop artists very rarely play or produce their own music. With the use of guitar it may imply to them that they that they do write their own songs which is something not mainly featured on a pop magazine.However, with this in mind this sort of image may have attracted a different kind of teenage audience and while being a convectional pop magazine.

I have also targeted my social group by specifically choosing cover lines that related to the pop genre. For example, I have included artists that are popular in the pop charts and are of those that they would listen to. I have included a diverse range of these popstars with them being male and female, group or solo artist so that they appeal to the most readers as possible. The non-music related cover line is a free Barry M nail polish; this appeals and represents my target audience by recognizing their other interests such as make-up. Yet, this may not target my whole target market as not all teenage girls like making up and benefiting from the giveaway.

I think that my representation of my audience doesn't challenge dominate ideas through my social group, but shows the stereotypes of my pop genre through the use of cover lines, images and colours. My images are clear and easily relate to the target audience through  using interests they are associated with and enjoy. My use of bold fonts for the masthead and important cover lines highlight the appeal to gain their attention. The uses of colour are also related to the pop genre of being bold, bright and colourful. If I had used grey, red and green it would not have the same effect and therefore missing my target audience completely.

If I were to do this again, I would have represented my social group with more range of ideas through mise en scene and props which show a the connotations of her being a huge new popstar sensation.

Within my music magazine I have represented youth through the colours of the magazine. For example they are bold and eye-catching something that you would normally associate with younger children being easily influenced towards. 
Feminity is also a prominent ideology within my magazine as it is heavily influenced in teenage girls looking up and towards the main model on the front cover. This ideology is reinforced throughout the magazine by giving away free make- up products to use to look more like the model featured. I have also included a free make up product which shows that I feel that it is main importance to the magazine and the way in which i would attract the buyer. 
I have also used the representation of youth through using relevant cover lines on my front page but also within my contents. For example Quizzes which give a more childlike and fun approach to the magazine which younger readers would be interested in.