Message To Mr. Hibbert

Hey sir, i have improved my research and planning with the improvements you gave me, and have also posted the progress of my magazine to my blog.

Magazine Production: Front Cover (Progress)

Magazine Production: Contents (Progress)

Summary Of Research

Summary of Research in Magazines

Throughout the research I have carried out on Music magazines I feel that I have found out a lot about the various conventions that are incorporated and what I will need to put in my magazine to make it successful. I have seen a variety of Colour schemes, typographies, Images, Mise-en-scenes and various camera shots.

The typography used in most of the Indie/Rock magazines I have researched seem to use very bold san serif fonts that stand out amongst other elements on the page. The colours of the fonts also contrast with each other adding to the effect of standing out on the page. Kickers are used to attract the reader to read the article on most of the double page spreads that I have looked at. The pull quotes used on the magazines are usually written in serif fonts so they stand out from the other text and when the reader reads them they will hopefully go and find the full article it is associated with. The magazines use in formal language and sometimes use abbreviations to appeal to the target audience.

The colour schemes used in the magazines have been well thought through. The colours that are used usually symbolise specific things such as red for envy, blood, rebellion and angry or aggro. This relates to the rock and indie genre as there music provokes a rebellious behaviour. The most common colour scheme I have seen used is Red/white/black which is good as the colours connote various things and they contrast to make things on the page stand out rather than the colours clashing with each other.

 Images that are used in the magazines I have researched have mostly been taken at Mid-shot but I have seen other varieties of shot composition. This means I will probably incorporate various shot types within my magazine when I come to the production process of the task. A variety of shots also helps with a variety into the magazine and making it not look repetitive and all the same.

The Mise-en-Scene within the images of the magazine shows that they have used dark costumes and indie/rock type clothing to help promote the genre. They have also used people with tattoo’s in the magazine which relate to the genre and the rebellious vibe the magazine portrays.

Some of the magazines I have research also signify the sound of their music such as the kerrang title and tag line ‘life is loud’. The cracked effect shows how the music they magazine is associated with isn’t peaceful and is listened to loudly. This give a whole different dimension to the magazine and I will hopefully try and incorporate this within mine.

(Research Addition) Contents Analysis

The typography of the Magazine contents page shows that the producer has used a variety of font types that are mainly san serif fonts (Fonts without little bars). This emphasises boldness of the font and makes them stand out on the page. The colour of the fonts, Yellow, Black and white is contrast with each other assisting to the boldness of the text. The quote in the top right corner is typed in a different font that stands out from the rest to draw the readers to the quote that might be a ‘pull quote’ from an article on another page. The main titles of the various articles are blocked out with yellow and black to show they are the titles of the articles and stand out from the other text on the right side bar.

The layout consists of one main image on the left hand side of the page. Everything else on the page is placed around the main image. For the main articles of the magazine they are shown with an image and a title which portrays them as the main articles of the magazine. The page titles and the page numbers are positioned in a Bar along the side of the page which is a popular theme to modern magazines. The title is on the top left of the page so when it front cover is turned over the first thing the reader can see is the title of ‘contents’ so they don’t skip one of the most important pages of a magazine.

The Colour scheme of the page is Yellow, Black and white. This helps the various fonts stand out amongst one another and the yellow and black can be easily read on the white background. The colours can also be linked with the genre of Modern Rock and is noticed by the reader when they first look at the magazine.

The image on the page is composed at a close up to show the features of the musician in the image. Like the image on the front cover of ‘Q’ magazine the rough beard on the face of the musician can be associated with sound of the music played, a rough loud music style. The white background of the image makes the image stand out from the background.

The Mise-en-Scene of the image in the shows the tattoo on the band member which is related to the different conventions that portray the genre of the magazine.  He also has long darkish hair that are shown in other magazines I have research into. 

(Research Addition) Double Page Spread Analysis

The Typography of this kerrang double page spread shows fonts styles that are relatively the same. However it uses a variety of colours changes in the fonts such as White, Purple, Black and Grey which compensates for this. The ‘Absolutely’ stand out above all the other words as it is a positive response to the reader of the magazine. The article on the left hand side of the page, like most on a double page spread uses a Kicker to attract the reader to read the article. The producer of the magazine has also used White to highlight certain pieces of the article also making it stand out.

The layout of the Double page spread is similar to some others I have researched, with the main image on the right side and the article on the left. The double spread isn’t as cluttered like the front cover and other pages of the magazine which makes it easier to read. The title of the article isn’t presentenced at top centre of the page like most article but is positioned right of the main body of text. This is another element to draw the reader towards the article. Overall everything on the page is fairly aligned and a lot neater to other pages in the magazine.

The colour scheme used on the double page spread mainly consists of White, Purple, Black and Grey which can be linked with indie/punk genre.  The purple within the colour scheme can also portray glamour to the magazine making it slightly more feminine than some other magazines on the market. The white colour contrasts with the grey to highlight certain aspects of the magazine the draw the reader into conventions such as the articles of the magazine.

The camera work used on the image of the double page spread is taken at a mid-shot showing the body from the waist upwards. Mid-shots seem to be used fair often throughout the research I have carried out. The person in the image is addressing the camera by looking directly at the camera making a connection with the audience. The image is large and covers the whole of the page which attracts the reader to reading the double page spread as it stands out.

The Mise-en-scene used in the image, for example the costume connotes an Indie/Punk genre. The graphic T-shirt and the crucifix necklace emphasises the genre. The tattoo the Man has in the picture also fits with the Punk genre and connotes a rebellious personality that might be related with the music.