Q1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

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

During the production process of creating my music magazine, I had to design/create an original front cover, contents page, and double page spread that fitted in with my chosen genre dance. Amongst each original product I followed the same colour scheme, by using the same chosen colours that suited my particular genre. Through having the same colours it created continuity between the pages linking them all together. The reason why I chose to use three colours was through analysing other existing magazines; I found that it was a conventional way of producing a music magazine. I noticed because of my models clothes white writing stood out the best on a black top, this would help my magazine to effectively draw the attention of the targeted audience. Throughout all three products I used original images to meet the requirements, but to also reinforce my models importance as she is on each of the pages. More the less, it adds to maintaining the continuity and the significance of the artist to the audience, and preserving the genre to the reader. Another main aspect that I followed was the same font throughout the magazine, this also added to the continuity of it. I made the decision to use a bold and dominant font to reinforce the importance of my magazine; also using the same font allows the audience to recognise the identity of the magazine. Furthermore, I have placed the brand name of my magazine ‘Remixed’ on each of the pages I have created to add to and follow the continuity.

Through researching and analysing I have found some common conventions that are typical of most magazines. From this research I was able to input the conventions into my own music magazine, creating the final product that match and challenge the conventions. On my front cover I have used all the conventions that are similar to other music magazines such like; main image, masthead, sell lines/feature stories, banner, USP, barcode, skyline, and pull quotes.

On my contents page I have had inspiration from other existing dance magazines such like, MixMag and DJ Mag that have helped me to create my contents page. I have also kept my house of style consistent and conventionally used; columns, page numbers, the magazine cover, date issue number, and pictures relating to the magazine genre. I copied a similar style from these magazines for my column layout, with the sub-heading naming the contents that are going to fall under that particular sub-heading, this helps to guide the reader and is conventional of a music magazine. Also, I have a similar layout with the page numbers at the beginning of each content, to help indicate the reader to what they are looking for and so it is clear. I think having a similar professional magazine design for my contents page, adds to helping the magazine look effective and making it age suitable to relate to the target audience’s needs. Again, to make my magazine conventional I have included the magazine brand name, issue date, and the name of the actual page (contents page), all at the top of the page as I found that this was a repeated pattern in other magazines from the research I did. On my contents page I have used several of images, to appeal to the reader and to make my magazine consistent with other magazines. I created a collage of the images making them different sizes to add originality to my magazine.

Creating my double page spread I have used a traditional layout, I have kept the colours consistent to fit in with the overall continuity of the magazine. I kept my double page spread simple but used the conventions expected such as; image of the artist, columns, pull quotes, questions and answers, drop cap, introduction, magazine branding name, and the name of the artist.