The document discusses how the media product both uses and challenges conventions of real magazines. It uses conventions such as a masthead, coverlines, consistent page numbering and layout. However, it also challenges conventions by having an informal band photo on the cover where members are swearing, an untidy double page spread layout, and photos of smoking and swearing which would typically not be allowed. The goal is to have a magazine that appeals to an indie audience by staying true to the genre rather than strictly following mainstream magazine conventions.

1. Media StudiesEvaluation 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

2. Front Cover On my front cover I do use some of the conventions like the Masthead. The Masthead named TREND is big and bold like most other magazines. It also has puff below it which explains what kind of magazine it is by using the word Indie. I challenge forms and conventions by the picture as on my front cover the band called The Chains are walking as though they are off to a gig and they’re not in a studio doing shots that they are being told to do they are just being themselves which challenge the forms and conventions as many major magazines use studios and shot lists to take the photos. I took photos of real life as if the band was going along there way doing what they wanted to do. I also challenge the forms and conventions from my picture as the lead bassist is swearing at the camera whilst looking away. This challenges the forms and conventions as in major magazines like Q they would not allow the artists to swear at the camera because swearing is seemed to be rude and offensive. I want to stay Indie and try to use very little forms and conventions so I allowed them to smoke and swear at the camera to put across the Indie feel.

3. On the Front cover I use the same type of font for everything apart from the bands name. This could develop the forms and conventions as I am being simple by using the same text which is what most magazine try to be when creating their magazines. I have edited the picture by editing the backround of the band to black and white and keeping the band in their normal colours this uses the forms and conventions because I am editing the photo to keep the audiences attention on the band and not on the whole picture. This editing will keep the main focus on the band and try to attract my target audience. Major magazines use editing to make their magazine attract their target audience I have done the same thing to attract mine. The black and white colours of the font keep the magazine simple but attractive to the target audiences eye. This develops the forms and conventions as it is trying to capture the target audience into reading magazine and not to avoid it which is what many other magazines like Q and NME try to do.

4. The price of the magazine uses forms and conventions as the price is £3.99 , most major magazines are priced at this price as they want to make as much profit as they can without losing there target audience because the price is too high. I went for this price as I believe a high quality magazine deserves a good price and when people buy the magazine they will be getting there moneys worth. I have used forms and conventions by using the coverlines, these coverlines use forms and conventions as on the major magazines like Q they use coverlines to tell their target audience when they pick up the magazine what is in the magazine in this issue. I have done the same tactic and have put coverlines about what is going to be in my magazine but have not told them everything so I keep them guessing until they read my magazine.

5. Contents Page My contents page is a very conventional contents page. At the top of my contents page I have used a smaller version of my masthead with the major header ‘Contents’ this is use of conventions as the design looks simple but good at the same time it is also used in every page I have. I have used forms and conventions by using a faded in picture of my front cover, this makes the contents page seem more filled up but looks like a great design at the same time. I decided to use this because in magazines like Q they use this to explain the weeks issue which is what I have done. I have used the same design for the page numbers and the page titles this is a use of forms and conventions as the same style of writing countinues down the page to not only look good but to appeal to my target audience. I have used a different writing style to give a brief explanation on what’s on that page. This is using forms and conventions as the font is being changed to appeal to the target audience and to make the contents look appealing. This method is used in all magazines to make it stand out.

6. On the pictures I have on my contents page I use forms and conventions as to make the contents page look more designed I have put in the bottom right the page number of which the pictures can be seen with similar ones. I have used this as the design looks more indie/mod look and makes the magazine seem more designed to the Indie/Mod look. At the end of my contents page I have put my page numbers with the date and a smaller version of my main masthead. This is using forms and conventions as the style continues through the magazine. The design of the page numbers and the date fits in well with the magazine and makes the magazine seem more mainline but I tried to make it seem more Indie by putting the masthead the same font and the page number and date in a completely different font.

7. Double Page Spread For my have used some forms and conventions but then I have also challeneged the forms and conventions. I have used the forms and conventions by using the same design for my page numbers at the bottom of the page. This uses forms and conventions as it continues throughout the magazine to keep the magazine designed which is what magazines like Q,NME and Kerrang Do. As you can see my font changes, I have mede the changes to the font to suite the page. As you can see ‘Trend’ stays the same colour and this font is also used for the paragraph titles. I have used a different font for the bands name ‘The Chains’ this is to address my audience on what band I am with and what the double page spread is about. I have also used a different font for the paragraphs this font. This font appeals to the genre of my magazine as it suites the audience as Mod/Indie. This uses forms and conventions as you see in many magazines like Kerrang. As it gives the magazine a more designed look that fits the target audience that I am trying to appeal to. I have also used forms and conventions by using my main masthead at the top of the page like I have done in the contents page to keep the magazine the main point of what my target audience is looking at, it also makes it recognisable as a real magazine.

8. On my double page spread I have also challeneged forms and conventions. I have challeneged forms and conventions by my layout of the double page spread. In magazines like Q in there double spreads the layout of the text and pictures is a column layout and everything is stuck in place as neat and tidy. On my double page spread I have created a more Indie layout as I have made my double page spread to look messy and I have put the pictures in a almost way that it looks like they have been just taken and stuck on to the page. I have also challenged the forms and conventions by putting the pictures of people swearing and smoking in my double page spread. This challenges the forms and conventions as it is seen as rude and inappropriate to swear and smoke so this gives the magazine an Indie/Mod look. I did this to challenge the forms and conventions as because my genre is Indie/Mod I wanted it to be as Indie as possible and Indie does not obide by what people say and do.