Magazine Research

I researched a magazine on the Ipad called POST magazine which is a free magazine that has only had 2 issues created this year. Whats good about this magazine app is that the images allow the reader to interact with the images allowing the images to move in certain directions. Although I physically cant do this myself we can see the direction magazines in the future are moving to. The issue I looked at was about gravity and allowing the images to move as if it were galaxys and atmosphere really interests the reader.  These images moved left to right and could spin around the screen . If I did have the technology this would be a great idea to go for.

Animoto Video of Typical Audience

http://animoto.com/play/xuDn8slaE0o7DD0v506uPA

On my animoto video I have included what the typical audience of my magazine would be, where they like to go and other interests they may have.

Images with different model and backgrounds

 

My first image I decided to take  was a medium shot including the models waist upwards. I chose to have a pattern background and indoors because my previous images were took outside. The patterned background is a modern background which I thought would reflect a fashion magazine as its a fashionable pattern. I like what the model is wearing because I like that the white dress contrasts the black patterned wall. I like that the model is looking at the camera allowing the image to bring in the reader ( involve the audience). The body gesture of the arm on hip also I think reflects my magazine because she looks confident and independent. You dont see fashion magazines with unconfident models on the front and thats why I think this one shows a good view on this.

 



This next Image I took I decided to change the background from a patterened wall to a going with a plain background. I like that with the background the image is focusing on the model and doesnt have the distractions of the patterned background. Again with the arm gesture makes the model look confident and sexy which is something you want to achieve on a fashion magazine. The costume the model wears is a personal preference from herself which is something she would wear when going out in the North East . I like the full bodied shot again compared to the one I took of a different models headshot.

Typical Audience for Magazine

 Firstly my main target audience is typically that of a female aged 16+ that likes to sit back and chill with a drink and read the latest issue of a magazine. They dont mind to experiment with fashion and wear what they feel is right for them , not caring what anyone else thinks. They show style, creativity, trendy and fun. The female has a motivation to look good on a morning as she gets ready for the next day at work or university. Students or workers who also like to go out with girlfriends and have a catchup and a gossip. 
Makeup particually intrests the reader also as fashion and beauty are like brother and sister. They love getting dolled up for nights out but also dress down for nights in. There job is typically being a student and working part time on weekends to get a little money together to buy the latest outfit. 60% of readers drive a car and mostly all like a starbucks coffee on the way to work.        

magazine sample





I decided to create a mockup using publisher on what my finished front cover could look like with different colours of text or different images. I like this image because it shows a model that goes well with the genre of fashion.

Audience Theories with Media Coursework

Blumler & Katz
Blumler & katz which uses the uses and gratifications theory can be applied to my A2 coursework in many ways.
- Diversion : The reader may want to form an escape which is why they want to pick up the magazine in the first place. They may read it on a train or at a lunch brake to help chill.  The fashion magazine could form an escape because the reader typically enjoys fashion and feels relaxed when reading it.
- Personal Relationships: When we see the image on the front cover typically being confident and made up on my fashion magazine this can influence the reader by having someone to look up to. The model on the cover who wears makeup may give the reader reassurance or someone to look up to. The clothes in which they wear can hook the reader to buy those type of clothes.
- Personal Identity: The reader then can compare their life to the character on the front cover. The magazine is typically for a female audience so females can compare the makeup or trends they wear to the cover model. Comparing the pose or how confident she looks on the cover.  In order to relate to the model because it is a North East magazine , North East female girls may relate more to the lifestyle.
Surveillance: Being a North East regional magazine the audience can get a supply of information from this part of the world specifically on the fashion they wear and the places they buy from.

Stuart Hall
Known as the reception theory Stuart Hall theory could be applied also to my A2 magazine.
-Dominant Reading: On the magazien cover the reader will pick up the magazine and fuly believe the cover the way that the creater intended them too. They believe the models expressions and poses . Everything seems the way it should.
- Negotiated Reading: When reading my magazine each reader will have a different perception on what they see. The reader may reflect the cover in the way they want to regarding experiences.
Oppositional Reading: The readers social position makes them reject the theory , rejecting what the model is doing or acting like. There social position places them oppositional to whats on the cover.
Polysemy: ( the capacity of signs with multiple meanings) The front cover may have multiple meanings coming from the models facial expressions or the pose they are doing. The reader may interpret these differently to what another reader may do. For example the makeup on the model in one culture could mean something completely different to what makeup in another culture means.
Third Ideologies: The subject constructs the thoughts on the main cover and allows them to create there own thoughts about it.

David Gaurtlett
David proposed that identity is fluid and that it is constructed and negotiated , the media can direct audiences in constructing a certain identity. 

Research

What I like about the magazine above is the written text behind the main image . Its unusual and gives the magazine a creative feel towards it. You can see that it doesnt really tell you whats inside the magazine it just shows the image which is something I will also take into account when creating my magazine.

What I like about this magazine is the colour scheme and how its limited to just black an pink. I like that The Crack magazines main image is just a head shot and the artistic feel of it. Its artwork not photography. I like the pink as and black together as they go well together and can take this into account when creating my front cover. 

A2 magazine task

-          Barthes codes can be applied to my regional fashion magazine in a range of ways. The cultural code can be applied to the way in which the models dress and why they would dress in a certain way. If I included images of passer buys it will be their own style that they follow. This can be influenced by a certain culture.  The audience can then interpret using knowledge to why they may have dressed in that way.

 

-          The semantic code within the magazine can relate to the pose that the model does. The pose can suggest a particular personality to the reader as well as a meaning for why she poses that way. For example the fashion magazine would should the model to pose in a upright way to show that she is confident and sexy.

 

-          The enigma code doesn’t apply to my magazine as there is no tension trying to be built up with a regional fashion magazine.

-          Symbolic code can feature with the sorts of colours that are used within the magazine. The two colours can create a contrast together bringing out the important features.

 

-          The genre which is a fashion magazine will create a stylish and sexy feel for the regional readers. I want to make it suited for students and over  and create a meaning that this audience age could relate to. For example why they wear those clothes? Or why they are posing in a particular way.

-          The costume of my models could differ  with what they wear and this can symbolise something such as a certain group they could be part of such as jewellery could symbolise having money or a tattoo can symbolise a member of a group.

-          The makeup of the model will be natural and this can be shown as the model having natural beauty.  She will be shown as a strong character and the semic code which can be interpreted by certain actions will be shown through the action of the model.

Images

What I like about the first image is the props included within the image aswell as the lighting and weather of the image. Its not dark and shows the model off well in the image.

The images below I like the background which is a graffitti art wall which local people created. The image shows off the art from the region. The head shot of the model I also like because it shows the facial expression the model gives. It shows of fashion by the makeup she wears.  changing these angles allows me too see whether a head shot or a full body shot woul dbe best.

Prezi Barthes Theory and Se7en

http://prezi.com/t9pcwxxaqqnh/seven-barthes-theories/

Moodboard

My moodboard features pictures that reflect the typical reader of my fashion magazine. It is for an age of 16 over and I included pictures of what the typical reader might do such as go for drinks with the girls for a social catch up or a visit to the cinema with friends. Not only do they like to go out they dont mind a night in with a lush bathbomb a chinese and the tele. On  a weekend they love to shop and take time spending on clothes. I like the picture of the model with the background of graffiti because it shows the region off where the image has been taken , It also shows a sense of art for the image. The makeup image shows also what the reader likes. The typical reader also enjoys listening to music. Most of the readers will typically be students.  i like the street style images and would like to incorparating this into my magazine for my region.

Regional Fashion Mag

I like this street magazine which shows the magazine to be regional because the images are taking of passerbuys in the street which gave me an idea for myself. I like that it includes the backgrounds of the street . I like the full body shot of the model and the fact you can see some members of the public shows that this hasnt been organised with professional people.

These images are from the same magazine which show the pages of people that the magazine have took photos of. All differ in style and places which I really like this.  You can see the members of the public walk past in each of these shots also.
I like how the girls have there own props of things they've possibly bought when out before being asked for a picture or carrying their coat because they are to warm. I like how the models are doing what they want to do .

1)

Looking at many types of regional magazines made me realise that you can have a magazine that can be based on one topic for your region. I would like to create a regional  magazine based on my area which will be suited for the ages of 16- 25 on the subject of fashion. In order to make the magazine regional fashion based I could take pictures within Sunderland of different styles on the street. If I done this I would hopefull see a range of fashions from this area. I could also take pictures of my textile class within Shiny Row and see what garments or designs the students are in the process of making. This could include interviews , pictures and discussions. The teacher who at one point had her own business of screen printing could give an interview on the subject. 

Magazine Flatplan

 

My flatplan for my magazine will involve a colour scheme that will run through. When doing my questionnaire it was a good way to find out what people wanted but as I move on and get feedback I would like to change some of my original ideas. Again I would like the font to be simple as I want readers to be able to read it easily, if the font was swirled we would have difficulty reading the stories the magazine has printed. The colours I would like to use will be pinks and greys as they coordinate well together. For my main title of FLASH I would like to have a glow behind this so it likes with the title and looks like its got a flash.  

The images throughout my magazine will feature both models and fashion items as I wanted to mix it up throughout. Seeing the same image of model can get boring for the reader but if they can see a model and see what clothes are available it will give the reader something else to look at.

Subscription will be available in my magazine so readers can get the magazine delivered to their door without having to go find one within the region. Although my typicall audience is for younger people 16+ thats not stopping older people/ adults reqading it and so could easily do a subscription.