Our main task is to design and write a double page spread for our magazine. However, before going straight into this we needed to do some research and get some ideas.

So in this task we chose an article which had one of the following –

• Biography
• Intro to a long read.
• 10 Tips for Life
• Q&A
• New Band
• Album Reviews
• Interview

and began to analyse looking at a series of subcategories.

Below is the article I chose:

And here is my analysis –

The article

‘Maverick (September 2017), James Lavelle, Dorian Lynskey.

The article I chose is from a magazine known as the Maverick magazine which is traditionally for the genre of country music. 

Structure 

This article is presented as a biography and displayed through columns. The fact that a biography is chosen gives an inside perspective into the artists life for the reader which provides a uniqueness which the audience can appreciate. 

Presence Of A Journalist

There is a clear tone that there is a journalists presence straight away due to the tense being written in 3rd person ‘In February 1998, James Lavelle celebrated his 24th birthday…’. This conveys the idea that the journalist stays hidden but gives a sense of a narrator.

The article states the journalists name ‘Dorian Lynskey hears his story.’ However, it stays anonymous as we don’t hear it again, and the article stays formal due to no personal or opinionated speech/language. 

Detail in the article is shown to be from a journalist rather than the writer due to the fact they ask specific questions to get the information to write about, ‘By 2003, however, his star had plunged. Mo’ Wax was dead and Lavelle was in debt to the tune of £270,000’.  Although, the article still stays formal as there is not much indication that the journalist is there.

Language And Aim

The opening suggest an introduction for the audience as it sutterly gives them information of the event, it answers when, why, where and who. So this portrays to the audience to visualise the events and have an understanding of what is going on. 

However there doesn’t seem to end in a conclusion, this indicates evidence that it is a biography as a conclusion isn’t written in a biography. Since there is no conclusion it also portrays that the story isn’t over which will intrigue the audience more on what happens next.

Location is made obvious at the beginning ‘London’s Met Bar’ and so is the event as in the first sentence is made clear to be his 24th birthday party. The words used are mature and formal there is no slag, which indicates a serious tone which fits with what he is talking about. There are no similes or metaphors as the writing is kept simple and spontaneous which is a feature of a biography. When reading this, the reader will experience the events that happened that night and the way Lavelle felt. It highlights the extreme milestones he faced and gives the reader an insight to his life, and how he felt about them.

Representation Of The Performer 

The artist is represented as genuine and ordinary as the writer conveys Lavelle is just like everyone else and faces challenges in life, but also keeping his genuine side and there is evidence he worked for everything and kept going when things got tough. It also displays of his personal identity to the audience and how he says ‘iv’e put myself through quite extreme situations, both financially and emotionally’ could create a sense of admiration from the audience. 

 

Aims for location shoot –

• See how nature/ the environment can be used to my advantage
• Get photos that are less posed and more natural
• Photo can generally seem more real
• Explore different angels for my model

Meeting notes –

Below is a risk assessment –

 

 

Above is a prep for my models.

This is my second draft, I began to improve it by looking at my targets from the first draft.

My improvements from my previous targets –

• So I added in a background with some colour to make my magazine more eye catching.
• I added more writing and some with colour and different fonts to make my magazine seem more fun while giving them an insite on the magazine.
• I made a logo to give my magazine a unique factor to it, and I find the logo gives it a brand customers could recognise.

Changes I made from Draft 1 –

• Moved the ‘Wing’ from ‘Swing’ up and over so it over laps on the S more.
• Switched the font/size/place of ‘Alice’ the name.
• Kept the writing simple

New Targets –

1. I am not satisfied with ‘Alice’ the name, I feel like I can play with it more and change it.
2. The writing seems squished so I feel as if I should adjust spacing
3. Beyonce needs something to make it pop but I am not sure if the circle is what it needs.

Above is my first copy.

I asked One media student some questions so I know how to improve my magazine from another perspective.. I reviewed there feedback so I can see what is good and what can be improved on my magazine. I see that the background needs something to make the image pop, they said the title is very creative and that should stay, and that more writing and to improve I should use colour with the use of my creativity should be added to add unique attention grabbing product. Below I have set some targets to now work on;

Targets:

• Do something with the background
• Make her name Pop
• Add more writing
• Add something like a stamp or somewhat to give the magazine it’s own thing.

Above are the contact sheets from the photo shoot I took of my model. There is a wide range of different angles and some being in focus and out of focus.  Just by looking you can see some are dark, this is because the flash equipment was not connected to the camera and it makes such a difference. When looking at the photos it made it clear how a pose and stance can communicate emotion which has made it easier to pick the cover photo for my magazine.

Above are only 4 photos which are my favourite from the shoot. I have noticed that some of the photos are not sharp focused however the stance and look is what I really like so I will be using indesign and Photoshop a lot to help design my magazine cover.

To get this look I used the research I had been doing and from lessons on camera and flash equipment it made it easy to take photos. I find these photos illustrate confidence, and class, which is a main factor I am looking for in my star.

Above is the photo I have edited in photoshop which is the final image I am using for my magazine. I used different tools such as eye whitening and made her lips slightly bigger ect.

Above are some master-head designs I created using indesign. I have some various ideas to test what I liked most and what will fit well with my star on the cover.

Overall I want to go for a fun unique vibe that pops the colour.

Above is a voice thread I created when researching on my competitors to make my magazine the most successful it can be. Also I researched magazines which look at the same genre as I chose to know what my competitors include because it is important to be conventional to the genre but at the same time different in order to gain an audience.

 

Above is the outfit I am going to get my model to wear. A spare outfit – black jeans and a white long sleeve plain top. Ear rings will be rose gold stars. ( been discussed) .

No other props or tights needed.

Below I have made a prezi on a star that I thought is best suited for the Genre I am going to use when I create my magazine. I chose Beyonce because I think she best describes the ideal person for my magazine and target audience.

Richard Dyer (the media theorist) looks at the paradox of the star. Which is;

• Extraordinary – the amazing talent the star has
• Ordinary – How we as an audience would relate to them by common jobs such as driving and shopping.

We also look at the meta-narrative which should be complimentary and communicate the same star image or brand ideas. Could be constucted through;

• Music covers
• Album covers
• Concerts
• social media (twitter, Facebook ect)
• Words and images in magazines

For more information please click on the link on the photo.

Above are my ideas of how I want my star to be portrayed. With hair I want it to display the modal as tidy and presentable. The makeup will be kept simple to portray a bold and confident look for the star. The jewellery will also be kept limited due to the fact it isn’t necessary and I don’t want my star to be presented as if they show off their money. The outfit will be classy to display my star as respectable.