EVALUATION – QUESTION 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In order to appeal to my target audience I have represented relatable artists with a similar age range, although females are dominantly visible here I have appealed both genders with the contents of my magazine (the tone, text, links with varied artists in pop/hip-hop backgrounds, layout, features etc.) and turned the conventional male gaze around by using powerful shots and body language (making the females subjects of the magazine and not the objects). Despite the short range ethnicities within my magazine, the context within the magazine will appeal to other ethnicities. I have also used elements of a more sophisticated layout to appeal to wider audience and the top end of my target audience’s age range, yet there are connotations of a younger approach in the language and features. Overall, this positions the audience in the preferred reading of the magazine, by perhaps contrasting with the hegemonic ideology of young artists.

Front CoverYoung woman represented - as I wanted to appeal to both genders in my target audience - who want to aspire to a successful position in society – therefore a woman is being represented with strong body language (the girl will appeal to both genders as her success is radiates more than her sex) – unconventional use of a woman as I want to appeal to the unrepresented and body language contrasts against the male gaze. Existing media that represents this and conforms to also:

LayoutThe layout represents a younger generation, as it is very visual and simplistic. Social media elements have been used to appeal to a wider young audience however other features such as subtle text and informative ‘editors comments’(uses and gratification theory) could suggest more mature target audience. I have organised the information to make it easier for readers to locate specific items and provide enough contents to fulfil cognitive and social integrative needs. Hermeneutic codes are created here without the distraction of crowding several images (e.g. Q magazine) however some images do overlap to accommodate my young target audiences preferences. The text as well as the layout is simplistic therefore it gives a profession aseptic which can appeal to a more sophisticated target audience (at the top end of the age range).

ImagesIn all of my images I have used direct mode of address which creates a personal relationship with the audience (uses and gratification theory), and makes the use of females and their visual facial expressions as the subject and not the object of the magazine (going against the conventional male gaze). This attracts female as well as male audiences as it contain attractive connotations of success amongst young artists. I used a range of long shots, mid-shots and close-up shots and in all (except one) they are large in scale, allowing the audience to relate the artist and reflect the importance and power of such an artist.

In my contents page, the editors picture I am representing a young white female adult. Her mise-en-scene is formal for her age to represent her position and success, also the direct mode of address prevents her being objectified. The target audience of a similar age group car relate to her.

She is making direct mode of address, in turn creating personal relationships with the audience (uses and gratification theory), the mise-en-scene is ‘fashionable’ amongst a younger audience, therefore they are able to relate to her. Casual body language, decoded by the audience in a positive way. In the double page spread picture, alike the front cover picture and the larger contents picture I am representing a young European woman however it is the stories of the artists that attract and represent different ethniticites. The expression on her face and mise-en-scene could be pluralistic of teenage stereotypes as it presents her as a mature female and a positive model to the target audience, this means that the target audience of a similar age group can relate to her.

Preferred ReadingReception theory – ability to relate between the audience and similar aged artists featured within the magazine – represents other aspirational young people and their potential (represented by the powerful body language and facial expressions throughout the magazine) – direct mode of address creates personal relationships with the reader (uses and gratification theory) – creates narrative tension and could bring in regular readers. Magazines such as NME, Kerrang, Q magazine and CLASH grab the readers attention – the audience is therefore positioned to get the preferred reading of the media text.