Evaluation Question 2

HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS?

The social group I represented in my magazine was white teenagers/ young adults. I decided to represent this social group because:

It was similar to the one of NME and Q (which were magazines that were the same genre as mine).

I wanted them to be similar to my target audience so that the audience/readers can relate with the people featured in my magazine (eg: same age).

Even though my magazine is aimed at both males and females I have purposely decided to just include a female to break the conventions of females being objectified, as this time the female is the subject of my magazine (eg: no dismemberment).

Ways in which I am representing a specific social group:

Appearance/garments of the model. Facial expression of the model. Layout Mise-en-scene. Shot types.

Appearance of the model & mise-en-scene: Makeup - Red lipstick

Clothing - Leather jacket (associated with 70’s rock look) Model is against metal background (associated with ‘rebel’ attitude and

also give off urban/vintage vibe). Facial expression makes it obvious that she is subject and not object. She isn’t dressed or positioned in a provocative manner which

challenges Mulvey’s male gaze theory and breaks the hegemonic norms. In fact I used a mid-shot radiate the importance of the model.

Direct mode of address (uses and grats), model has fearless expression which emphasises the power of the female (unconventional).

All of these things are associated with what my target audience would be attracted to (connotative level).

This front cover doesn’t follow the hegemonic view as the female model is represented as powerful, however could be possibly seen as hegemonic due to the ‘rebellious teen’ stereotype due to the facial expression.

My audience would be drawn to all these things as all them reflect my target audience and this could allow them to relate to the subject.

In all three of the front cover, contents page and double page spread I wanted my model to make eye contact with the audience to create direct mode of address (ie: audience can create a personal relationship with artist (uses and grats).

This breaks conventions, because in many magazines women are objectified but here the fact that there is direct mode of address means that it gives a sense that she is the main focus of the magazine and not just an ‘accessory’ or being objectified. This is done purposely to combat gender inequality which is often seen in many music magazines.

Both covers sexualise women here

Since my magazine is aimed at both males and females I purposely chose to have a female as the subject so that females coul relate to her.

The mise en scene