Deconstruction of a Contents Page

This contents page is from Elle magazine. I chose to include this because I actually really like this contents page and would like to use it as a kind of template for when I come to do my own contents page. The first thing that really pops out at me when I look at this is the background. Its a collage made up of images what will presumably be featured inside the magazine, it gives the target audience a small insight into what this magazine is about; fashion. The background is very unique and I haven't really seen any other magazine which has a background quite like this one. The image of the model in the top left hand corner really shouts out high end fashion, with its use of quirky makeup, which is very minimalistic yet bold at the same time.

 

Considering that the background of this page is very busy the key information is very understandable and can be seen very easily. The simple white boxes includes black text and font. The fact that the titles of each page are highlighted in a red colour makes it stand out. Also the colour red connotes passion- a passion for fashion, power- powerful and independent woman will read this as magazines such as Elle and vogue and aren't necessarily cheap.

Deconstruction of a Double Page Spread

Personally I really like this Double Page Spread its extremely simple and focuses on the most important factor; fashion. Although it may not seem as though there is a lot of information included in this, small, article, there is in fact a lot of key information such as name of the designer and we get a small insight on what the clothing will be like and the genre of it. The colour and style of the font is very simple but stands out against the dark image behind. Looking back at the text there is a lot persuasive words used, which will stand out to the audience 'Indulgent, elegant'. These words really help sell the magazine, makes it sound very classy and expensive.

 

I did mention previously that I did like this double page spread and the simplistic aspects however when I create my own magazine I will ensure that I include more information, more of an article.

Description of Target Audience

My magazine will be aimed at 16-30 year olds. I have chosen this age range mainly as I myself and I know others that read magazines of the fashion genre and I believe that it will make it easier for me to create my magazine as I know what kind of things people want to see and what I should include in my magazine.

 

As I have previously stated my magazine genre is fashion. Therefore this means that the target audience who would buy magazine and others like it, will be interested in fashion; clothing, make-up, models etc. Which makes it easier to plan out what I will include in my magazine and what my main focuses will be; fashion.

I know that my younger target audience will want my magazine to include fashion tips e.g. where to buy dupes for high end fashion pieces, where to buy dupes of makeup etc. etc. This is because many of them will be students and will not be able to afford high end fashion. So I have decided that my regional magazine will include fashion advice like this. However I also know that my older audience will be woman who have worked hard to get where they are and will want to treat themselves to higher end pieces so my magazine will offer advice on where to shop for high end brands (also at cheaper prices if necessary).

 

Research into conventions

I have chosen to look at three different fashion magazines to analyse and hopefully to give me an understanding of what makes a good fashion magazine. I like the images of these magazines because it makes the magazine look extremely professional and eye catching to the target audience, for example the Elle magazine, Keira Knightly has been used as the front cover model. Obviously you straight away are aware that this magazine will contain an article on Keira Knightly herself, but more onto the her clothing, pose and makeup. I like how she has been style, a simple black dress, with a plunging neckline, the black emphasises power and mysteriousness and the way in which the model is posing, her hand on her neck and staring deeply into the camera really does show mysteriousness. Her makeup matches the colour scheme perfectly and really helps make her eyes stand out. I also really like the colour scheme that has been used on the Elle magazine cover as it is very simple; grey, black and white (monochrome) and the fact that the model matches this colour, her makeup and clothing, its very modern and sophisticated and will attract the target audience. I would like to incorporate this into my magazine.

The vogue magazine is very different to the Elle front cover because obviously there is a different model on the front and the colour scheme is very different. I believe that the colours used and the way that Emma Watson has been presented really makes the audience believe that Emma is grown up and has left Harry Potter behind, its kind of like a coming of age. The colours to me are very festive however it appears that the magazine was released in July. I would have really liked to have used a celebrity like Emma Watson for my own product, but unfortunately I am only creating a regional magazine and cannot have a real life celebrity appear in my own magazine.

And finally the Bazaar magazine. I really, really like the colour scheme. The red connotes, love and power. The model looks very sultry and is staring into the camera with her mouth slightly open, this will attract both men and woman- woman will want to be her and men will want to be with her. The photographer has been very clever and done this purposely as it will obviously help sell the magazine.

 

 

Review of my AS Coursework

For this task I am going to look back at my AS media coursework and create an overview of it. I will include things in which I did well and things that I will have to improve on throughout A2. 

For the AS media coursework I had to design a music magazine. It had to include a cover page, double page spread and contents page. 

Here is my finished magazine:

This is my final double page spread. Overall looking back at the DPS I can understand why it wasn't marked very highly. I believe that the colour scheme is very bland, for example there is really only one main colour, which is purple and the a
background is very plain- white. And I believe that images don't particularly look very professional. I think that my images really let me down because it wasn't something that I was used to doing; taking photographs of a high standard, but fortunately I have now learnt from mistakes I made and will be able to correct them for my A2 task.

This is the finished contents page. I like the colour scheme of this page because the colours all seem to work well together. I think my images were too miss-matched which let the contents page down a lot, for example all of the images are in colour and there is one that is in black and white which doesn't match at all, which in my eyes makes my magazine look very un-organised and unprofessional. I also could have included more information telling the audience what the magazine would include and finally make the layout more easier to follow.     

And this finally is the finished cover page. After carefully analysing this page I think that it was bad however it certainly wasn't good. I personally believe that the image I chose really let this page down because it doesn't really with the genre which was music. I think the white background is too plain and simple and more colours should have been used to help make it stand out more. I like the layout of the cover page as it is easy to follow and understand.

Inspirational Texts

Like I mentioned in previous posts my magazine genre is fashion, so to help give me some inspiration I decided to look at other magazines. I will be looking mainly at the layout of the magazine and looking at the different images used, this will hopefully help me decide what I should include on my magazine.

I will mainly be looking at magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire. I believe that these will help me most because these are magazines that I read at home and I know the target audiences and what they would like the magazine to include. If you look at Elle magazine, the first thing that really stands out to me is the background colour. The colour pink is probably the most feminine colours ever, and I think that this really contrasts with the model as Lily Allen is a well-know notorious singers of the 21st century. I really like the way Lily has been styled its old but with a modern twist, as her is very 1950's. Similarly if you look at the Vogue front cover there is a pink background which is probably more suitable to the model, Lana Del Rey. I really like these pastel colours and would like to incorporate them into my own product. However one magazines colour scheme I am not too fond of is the Marie Claire one from above. Although the colours do work well together, they aren't personally my cup of tea, like I mentioned previously I would prefer to use more pastel toned colours rather than blue. I also don't like what the model is wearing as I believe it makes her look frumpy and doesn't really suit her. I personally would choose something that would really make the magazine stand out from the rest of the text, make it pop.

 

Action Plan

This is my action plan for A2 media coursework; this is here to help ensure that i complete the deadlines:

*September 20th- Research and Planning must be completed

*October 10th- Photography must be complete 

*October half term- Photographs must be taken

*End of October- Photographs must be edited

*December 7th- Magazine work finished

*Christmas Holidays- First ancillary task finished

*Start of January- The second ancillary must be complete

*February half term- The evaluation must be complete