L.I.I.A.R. Analysis of Front Cover

Language: The masthead follows magazine conventions as it is placed across the top of the page. Although the main image is slightly covering it, the audience are still able to read it as it is large, bold, and contrasts against the blue and white background. The main image is a mid shot of all the band members of All Time Low. The way they are positioned shows their place in the band. For example- lead singer, Alex Gaskarth, is placed at the front while the drummer, Rian Dawson, is placed further towards the back- much like how they would be positioned on stage. As the main theme of the magazine is valentine's, the red, blood like substance, covering them relates to this theme- as red is usually associated with valentine's day. This creates a house style as the masthead, some text and background of the header are also red. Blue and white are also used to create a colour scheme. Most of the text is white which is mounted on these colours to make them easy to read and to emphasise the theme. Alex has his hand over his heart which is also in relation to valentine's day been associated with  hearts and love. This hand placement can also be in relation to the teller as they 'open their hearts'. The plug, placed across the posters and main image, is used to tell the audience about a specific feature in the magazine which may interest them. As Fall out Boy are a well known pop punk band, the audience will be more willing to buy the magazine as they would want to read their interview. A page number is displayed which follows the conventions of a magazine. The plug is also made visible to the audience by using a bright coloured background which will make the audience look at it first. The bar code is conventional as it is placed at the bottom right hand of the page and includes the issue number, price and date underneath.

Ideology: Kerrang's ideology encourages people to be more unique as they oppose the mainstream look on music. This is shown through the choice of colour scheme and how they represent the theme. In a more mainstream magazine, a Valentine's day themed cover would be more associated with love rather than blood and guts.

Institution: Kerrang is a rock music magazine published in the UK by Bauer Media Group. As well as Kerrang, Bauer also publish Q which is another alternative music magazine.

Audience: The magazine appeals to the target audience because All Time Low are a well known pop punk band which many of the readers will listen to. There is also a plug which advertises a Fall Out Boy interview, another very popular band, therefore catering for the target audience's needs as Kerrang advertises bands that fit in with the rock music genre. 'Dating Tips' is used in the cover line which shows that the magazine is aimed at young teenagers.

Representation: The masthead looks cracked which portrays violence. This stereotypically represents the target audience as violence can be associated with the general look, attitude and lyrical aspects of a rock band/artist. However, it could also represent that it has been smashed with a guitar or has cracked because of music been played too loud, this ties in with the genre of music Kerrang focuses on. Alex is seen to be holding his fist in a ball as if he were punching something, this could also represent the fact that the masthead is cracked. All Time Low represent Kerrang as they a band which are often associated with the magazine and genre of music. This shows that they are passionate about their type of music which is reinforced by Alex covering his heart.

Double Page Spread Conventions

This compares the conventions of the main articles in the two magazines I looked at. I chose not to do the first double page spread of the articles as not as many similar conventions were shown.

Contents Page Conventions

This compares the same two magazine and the conventions of their contents pages. Although not all the conventions are seen in both, they have the same layout and both serve the same purpose.

Front Page Conventions

These are two of my own magazines which I scanned in so I could compare them. I compared the two different magazines which are both aimed at the pop punk genre/target audience. This was to show that they have the same conventions as each other and could link them to my own magazine cover.

Music Genre: Pop Punk

I created a prezi to present information about pop punk- the genre I am focusing on for my music magazine.

Main Task

Produce the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you-a minimum of four images.

Unused Photos

I didn't use this photo because I didn't feel it was very representative of the target audience and would not appeal as well.

This photo wasn't used as it is too dark and the camera is too far away from the subjects.

Evaluation for Magazine Cover

For my preliminary task I had to create a front cover for a college magazine. To do this I first conducted a L.I.I.A.R and conventions analysis of existing magazine covers. I analysed three college magazine covers as these were in relation to my product design. The conventions included the positioning of the masthead, sell lines and main image. This helped give me an idea of what I should include on my own magazine cover. I then went on to look at examples of shot types to have a better understanding of the different connotations shown through the images. 

My most preferred shot type to use was the two shot because it helps portray to the audience the relationship between the subjects which impacts on the way they perceive the image. For example the main image I have used on my magazine cover is a low angled two shot of two students studying. This portrays a friendly and welcoming mood as the students look like close friends. This also shows that the students attending the college are hard-working and the low angle of the camera gives the impression they are important.

The next stages in my planning were creating an initial ideas spider diagram and mock-up of the cover.  The spider diagram was created on PowerPoint and included the shot type, colour scheme and fonts I planned to use. I used the mock up, which I had created on publisher, to show where I planned to place the sell lines and masthead as I had not included this in my spider diagram. I created two mock ups of the cover as I added an image to the second to give me a better idea of the overall layout.

I then created a mood board which included a range of  images which related to my target audience-college students. It also includes colour schemes and fonts that I was thinking of using on my final magazine cover.

My magazine cover represents young teenage social groups who attend college. The main image I used also represents willing and confident students who attend the college. This links to my target audience because my product is aimed at college students.

I attempted to attract my target audience by using sell lines which appealed to them. This included advertising student discount. Using an image of people the same age would also attract the target audience as they feel they could relate more to those in the magazine. I also created a colour scheme by matching the colour of the sell lines to the masthead. This meant that the cover was not over crowded with colour and was easy to read. This would attract the audience as it isn’t overpowering to look at and seems more welcoming to read.

Looking back at my perfume task I have learnt a lot more about planning and organizing before I produce a final product. This particularly helped me when deciding on the conventions and features of the magazine cover and made me think more about the connotations of the product.

If I was to do this task again I would conduct more research with my target audience and look at a wider range of related media. Conducting more research would have helped me understand what should be aimed at the target audience.

Questions for Evaluation

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

Q2 How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Q3 Who would be the audience for your media product?

Q4How did you attract/address your audience?

Q5 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Q6 Looking back at your perfume task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Q7 What would you differently and why? 

Final Magazine Front Cover

This is the final Magazine Cover I produced. I have used a low angle two shot to show the mise-en-scene and importance of the students. I made sure to use props such as folders and text books to represent a student that would attend college. This makes it appeal to my target audience. I have created a house style by matching the sub headings to the masthead. If I were to produce this piece of work again, I would add more conventions such as a barcode and pricing and skyline. I would also make sure to us the left third convention as there is space that should be filled on the page. I would also experiment more with different fonts and create a better house style. 

Ideas Moodboard

This is a moodboard I put together to show a range of different objects and activities associated with college students. I have included several other college magazines to give more of an idea of what my own college magazine cover should look like. The moodboard also includes unused photos which shows different shot types.

Contents Page Mock Up

This is the first mock up of the college magazine contents page. I have placed the masthead in the top right hand corner of the page as this is a convention used on content pages. Other conventions I have also included are a plug, advertisement and issue number and list of features displayed. The advertisement is placed at the bottom of the page in the right hand corner as this is the last thing the reader will see when turning the page. 

Second Mock Up of Magazine Cover

In this mock up I added the photo I want to use for my final cover to see where I could place text around it. This also gives me a better idea of how the final cover will look and whether I need to change the layout. It also gives me a better idea of what colours I should use.

First Mock up of Magazine Cover

This is my first mock up of what I plan my final cover to look like. I have used conventions such as a masthead, barcode, and left third. 

Initial Ideas Spider Diagram

This spider diagram shows the initial ideas I had of the main features which I would like to use on the cover. I looked at the type of shot that could be used and what colours would best suit this style of magazine.

Examples of Shot Types

Close Up (CU)-

CUs are usually of a certain feature, such as someone's head, and takes up the whole frame.

They can be used as a way of indicating the subject's importance and makes the audience focus most of their attention on that subject. They are also used to show detail and emotion of the subject.

Medium Close Up (MCU)-

We can clearly see the subject's face and also the clothing which allows the audience to get an idea of who the subject is and their importance by the type of clothes they're wearing.

Extreme Close Up (ECU)-

ECUs shows more detail than a close up shot. An ECU of a face allows the audience to see more of the emotions conveyed. This is effective when the photo is trying to entice and make the audience sympathise or empathise with the person in frame.

Cut-In-

This is used to specifically show some part of the subject in detail. It can also be used to emphasise emotion. For example, a cut in shot of the subject's hands can show enthusiasm and nervousness. 

Extreme Wide Shot (ESS)-

Establishing Shot-

This shot type indicates where the next scene will take place. It also establishes the whether and time of day which will change the mood of how the audience perceives the photo.

Conventions of College Magazine Covers