By: daniyal sattar

Q1. How does your product

use or challenge

conventions and how does it

represents social group or

issues?

I think that the cover page of a Music Magazine is the most important part of any music magazine. It is because it gives the audience the know how of what to expect from the magazine and interests the reader into buying it.

Which is why I have paid a lot of attention to what goes into the cover page of my music magazine. Consulting various examples of magazines such as Billboard, Rolling Stones, Vibe etc. I used, developed and challenged various codes and conventions of a music magazine.

Considering that I kept “Billboard” as my ideal in the process of development of my music magazine it is only just to prove my uses, development and challenges of the codes and conventions of a magazine by comparing it to one of the Billboard's own magazine.

In this particular comparison between the mastheads I have to say that I have chosen to CHALLENGE the convention of an existing music magazine. The difference is clear. The mast head of my magazine’s cover page is much more centralized as compared to the Billboard’s magazine's cover page. The font chosen is obviously different but the one of the most important convention that I have challenged is the placement of the mast head with respect to the main image on the cover page.I decided to take the mast head of my magazine’s cover page above the image. And one other convention that I have challenged is the color scheme of the mast head. It can be seen that the Billboard magazine’s mast head follows the color scheme as per their logo, where as I decided to keep my music magazines mast head fairly simple and one compared with the image.

In this particular comparison between the features of the magazine, I have decided to DEVELOP the conventions of the existing music magazine. As it can be seen, the arrangement of the features remain the same, however the quantity of features are lesser comparatively. Also the additional features such as bonuses are also present in both the magazines however the placement is something I CHALLENGED. The placement of additional features of an existing music magazine are placed in the top right corner of the cover page where as in my music magazine they are a little left and below of the cover page.

In this particular comparison between the cover line of the music magazine, I have decided to CHALLENGE the convention of an existing music magazine. In the existing music magazine the cover line towards the right of the cover page whereas the cover line of my music magazine is on the left side.

In this particular comparison between the placement of barcode and issue date of my magazine to an existing music magazine, I have decided to USE the convention as it is i.e. towards the lower left of the cover page to occupy less space and does not appear prominently to the reader.

The main image of a music magazine cover page is the main attention grabber and one of the most important convention of a music magazine. Although the placement of the image is the same in this comparison however I have CHALLENGED the camera shot of the existing music magazine. The camera shot used in the existing music magazine cover page is a close up where as the shot I decided to take is a long shot, and without replacing the natural background with plain white background as done in the existing music magazine cover page.

In this particular comparison between the convention of direct mode of address in the magazine, I have decided to USE the convention as it is. However one of my models is wearing shades preventing the reader to know exactly where he looks but I have positioned his in a way (behind the other to models) to make it less attention grabbing point.

In this particular comparison of color scheme between my music magazine and an existing music magazine in term of consistency, I have decided to USE the convention. As it is a sign of professionalism to keep a color scheme consistant.

This here is the contents page of my music magazine. This page hold a lot of significance because it lets the reader know what there is in the magazine.

Which is why I have paid a lot of attention to what goes into the contents page of my music magazine. Consulting various examples of magazines such as Billboard, Rolling Stones, Vibe etc. I used, developed and challenged various codes and conventions of a music magazine.

Considering that I kept “Billboard” as my ideal in the process of development of my music magazine it is only just to prove my uses, development and challenges of the codes and conventions of a magazine by comparing it to one of the Billboard's own magazine.

In this particular comparison between headings of the two magazines I have chosen to CHALLENGE the convention. In an existing music magazine the heading “Contents” is a little more toward the top right of the page where as in my music magazines contents page the heading “contents” is vertically written on the left side of the page.

In this particular comparison between the subheadings of an existing music magazine and my music magazine I have chosen to USE the convention. Firstly the color of the of the subheadings is different than the rest of the text but placement is somewhat not the same i.e. my page placement is toward the right of the page but that magazine’s placement is on the left side of the page.

In this particular comparison between the images of an existing music magazine and my music magazine I have chosen to CHALLAHGE the convention . I haven’t used subsidiary image. Secondly the main image, rather than putting it away from the line of pictures, I put them along the line differentiated by the outline and size of the image.

In this particular comparison between placement of page numbers I have chosen to CHALLENGE the convention of an existing music magazine. The page number of my music magazine is in the bottom left corner than the right corner and in a bubble to stand out.

This here is the double spread page of my music magazine. This component of the magazine is really important as this is the main highlight and main attraction, in terms of text, in the magaizne.

Considering that I kept “Billboard” as my ideal in the process of development of my music magazine it is only just to prove my uses, development and challenges of the codes and conventions of a magazine by comparing it to one of the Billboard's own magazine.

In this particular comparison between the heading of the double page spread on an existing music magazine and my music magazine I have decided to CHALLENGE the convention. Firstly the obvious difference is that along with heading the entire placement of the double spread page is different i.e. the text of my music magazine is on the right, left and above center and image on the middle of the double spread page where as that is not the case in an existing music magazine.

In this particular comparison between the image of the double spread page of an existing music magazine and my music magazine I have chosen to CHALLENGE the convention. The first difference being its placement, image in my magazine is on the middle of the double spread page but not on the right page. Secondly the image I put up is of a band and not an individual artist. Thirdly, the editing of the picture is completely different as I have kept it more realistic.

In this particular comparison between the text of a music magazine of an existing music magazine and my music magazine I have chosen to CHALLENGE the placement. I have chosen to place the text on the right page, left and on the center of the double spread page rather than on the left plus I have not added any text behind the image. However I paragraphed the text in the same way as it was done in the existing music magazine.

Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Hard rock had been established as a mainstream genre by 1965. From the end of the 1960s, it became common to divide mainstream rock music into soft and hard rock, with both emerging as major radio formats in the US. Soft rock was often derived from folk rock, using acoustic instruments and putting more emphasis on melody and harmonies. Major artists included Carole King,Cat Stevens, The Hollies, James Taylor and Bread. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes saxophones. The electric guitars in soft rock are normally faint and high-pitched.

The target audiences for my music magazine, as mentioned before, are teenagers and young adults firstly because of the selection of the genre. Secondly because of the content of the magazine. Lets see each component one by one.

Starting off with the main image of the cover page of my music magazine, the model and his “style” seems more appealing to a younger audience. Given the changing fashion trends of today, the leather jacket, the posture of the model and his clothing is reaching out to a larger number of younger audience rather than grown ups.

Secondly, the color scheme of the magazine cover page i.e. black, white, yellow is representing a social group that is neither for professional grown ups, nor is it too childish and hence, young adults.

The price of my magazine is in the reach of an ordinary person, I have kept it in a reasonable price limit to attract a larger “price conscious” audience, but another reason is that my target audience is willing to pay within his limit of price.

Starting off with the color scheme of the contents page, again these colors i.e. yellow, black and white are more appealing to a younger generation.

Secondly the content is all about the latest music, parties and interview with the young band (that too falls into the same age category as that of my target audience) and so the content attracts teenager and young adults.

Thirdly the image, the main image is again of the person that fall under the same age category as my target audience. Plus the gesture of the model is somewhat attractive which also shortens the list of admirers of the magazine to a younger audience.

Starting of with the image of my double spread page, the models and their get up is representing a particular social group that not only likes soft rock music but is somewhat a admirer the back ground image. This along with the fact that the models fall under the same age category as the target audience for my magazine it is easier to reach out to them.

Secondly the content again is attracting teenagers and young adults that are fans of the band and want t o know more about them.