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

My magazine focus was for all genres of music including rock, pop and R’n’B. Therefore, my magazine included a mixture of content aimed at a diverse group of a particular age group – teenagers. For my representation, I therefore tried not to focus the look on one particular genre and instead, tried to adapt on a look which could incorporate a variety of genres where one genre would not dominate another too much as this would not follow my idea of a mixed, versatile and diverse magazine. 

In order to make this look versatile, my colour scheme and style needed to incorporate a range of contrasting and different aspects including typography and artists’ names, which would include different types of groups in its own and unique way but together. Although I used one colour in the masthead, I used individual shades and tones of that colour on each letter used as a connotation, where the yellow targets all teenagers, yet the light yellow for example could be aimed at  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’ and this therefore relates to music as well as my generation of teenagers, who are dominated by their iPods and could therefore connote the ‘hype’ of the apple generation alongside my ‘INEFECTIOUS’ magazine which represents the social groups as the new generations of new technology and music. The masthead’s name itself represents this social group as it is a connotation that everyone should be intertwined together into my magazine, as anyone can read this and get ‘infected’ by its strong and powerful ‘infection’. 

For all of the components, be it is the selling line or a cover line; they are all presented in a new typeface as I wanted to keep that 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. The contrast of the neon, mellow and dark colours put together contrasts against each other symbolising teenagers as what they are – rebels.

For the model, I’ve used a young female who is of an Asian ethnic background who could pass of as someone who looks as though she listens to any type of genre and therefore wouldn’t exclude too much of an audience as a result. Her long dark hair which is held up in a quiff could tie in with the ‘Emo’ look of the deep dark look with an almost rude and threatening NVC which could also relate to the rock look as her NVC is her biting the wires which connote rebellion and danger. It could also relate to hip hop fans as she is standing in a medium shot standing bold and expressive and looking directly at the camera in a high-key lighting which could show her 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, whereas her smiling would connect with hip-hoppers but contrast with the Emo’s completely.

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 a wire from the headphones so that it fits in with all subcultures of music.