Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine focus was for all genres of music including rock, hip hop and R’n’B and therefore would include a mixture of content aimed at a diverse group although a particular age group – teenagers. For my representation I therefore tried to not focus the look on one particular genre and tried to adapt on a look which could incorporate a variety of genres instead of just one genre and tried not to dominate one genre against the other as this would not follow my idea of a mixed and diverse magazine. 

In order to make this look versatile I have incorporated a range of different uses of colour/tones, typography and artists’ names which could all be aimed at all the different types of groups in its unique way. Although I have used only a minimum of three colours in the masthead I have used individual shades of the same colour on each letter as connotations where the use of yellow is aimed at all teenagers, although the light yellow for example could be aimed at all teenagers interested in hip hop whereas the pastel yellow for example, could be aimed at the rockers instead. 

In the masthead I have made the ‘I’ in infectious in a non-capital unlike the rest as it almost replicates ‘iTunes’ use of it’s non-capital ‘I’ as this relates to music as well as my generation of teenagers who are dominated by their iPods and could therefore connote that same sense of their craze of the apple generation alongside my ‘INEFECTIOUS’ magazine which represents the social groups as the new generations of new technology. My masthead itself represents this social group as it is a connotation that everyone should be intertwined into my magazine as anyone can read this or get ‘infected’ by it. 

For all components whether it is the selling line or a cover line, they all provide a new typeface as I wanted to keep in tune the whole versatile look which affects the typography also. The use of light and bright colours against a dark black represents the social groups of teenagers as young, edgy and modern. To provide this representation of all social groups I’ve used a range of conventions in my media product to connote this. 

 For the model I’ve used a young female who is not particularly of a chosen ethnic background but somebody who looks as though they can pass of as someone who could look like they listen to any genre type and therefore wouldn’t exclude an audience as a result. Her long dark hair which partially covers her face could tie in with the ‘Emo’ look of the deep dark look and engaging no eye contact whatsoever with the audience however it could also relate to hip hop fans or any other social groups as she if listening intently on her headphones in a high-key lighting which could show their zest for the music life. I didn’t want her expression to be too expressive or too revealing where her being sad would only connect with the Emo’s where her smiling would connect with hip-hoppers but contrast with the Emo’s completely. Therefore I had her NVC of looking down focused and engaged with her music as everyone would seem to be. 

Her costume is a simple dark jumper with a hint of some yellow which again would not contrast with any social group but could tie in with all teenagers as they have a fond liking of the dark colours as it could make them appear ‘slim’ and stylish. I have used these clothing and the prop of headphones deliberately so that it fits in with all subcultures.