Weekly Update 3

From analysing two features articles, I have decided that in my features article, I will include:

• A page number at the bottom right hand side of at least one page with the magazine title next to it
• A big bold heading at the top of the page
• An introduction underneath the main heading
• Columns 
• 2/3rds of the two pages taken up by a main image
• Shapes
• Connections to the front cover and/or contents page
• Quotations

I will also include a separate text box with separate text, to appeal to the reader.

From analysing two magazines, I depicted the main conventions of a rock magazine. This is good because I can either choose to follow or challenge these conventions.

I created a brainstorm to generate ideas for my magazine. E.g. I looked at mise-en-scene, typography, images, genre, colour scheme, magazine names etc. This has helped me to get a basic idea of what my magazine will look like and which aspects I am to include. 

I analysed the colours used in order to decide on a colour scheme for my magazine. My colour scheme will include black, red and white, and may also include blue and yellow.

I used images to represent who my target audience are. This is good because I am able to visualise who they are, and I can bare this in mind whilst creating my magazine.

Target Audience

My magazine will be aimed at males and females aged 16 - 25 who are interested in rock music.

Below are some images of the type of people I hope to attract with my magazine:

Colour Representation

In rock music magazines, the predominant colours are:

• Black
• White 
• Red
• Yellow
• Baby Blue 

All of the above are used for a specific reason...

Black and white are used because they are easy to read. They can also be a symbolism of death and danger, i.e.

Red can also be used to symbolise danger and violence. It is the colour of blood and is often associated with anger. There are many real life signs and symbols which use the colour red - 

Yellow is also used in various signs, and usually used to warn people of hazardous conditions or danger. Here are some examples - notice that in some cases, red and yellow is used together -

Rock is usually represented by very masculine men, hence the use of the colour blue. (However in the case of NME, baby blue is more feminine to attract females)...

Brain Storm

Magazine Name Ideas

Conventions of Rock Magazines

I am going to follow these conventions as well as possible.

Features Articles Analysis - Kerrang!

Like the NME article, this features article also has the accent colour of blue. It has shapes with a crackly, blue fill as does the front cover.
Like NME, the image takes up most of of the two page spread. The image is black and white. The man has his arms crossed with a serious expression on his face. He is at an angle with his face facing the camera. This expression and position conveys a person who is serious about something, i.e. he is going to 'carry on until he drops'.
The heading 'I'M GONNA CARRY ON TILL I DROP!" is a mixture of different sized text to accentuate the words 'carry on' and 'drop' - as these are the most important words. As well as different sizes, different colours (blue and black) are also used to distinguish between the importance of the words.
A blue text box, at an angle, has been placed over the image with the text "MUSIC'S MY DRUG NOW". This quote has been picked out specifically because it is shocking and could be seen as quite obscure. This grabs the reader's interest, and so they want to read the article.
Under the main heading there is an introduction to the article which uses different typography. The font is like a typewriter, very basic and not elegant at all - rock music is not elegant.
Amongst the two columns of text is another text box with two black headings, "THE HIGHLIGHT" and "THE LOWLIGHT". This offers extra information for the reader to read quickly without having to read the whole article.
At the bottom right of the page is the magazine name followed by a page number.  The colour behind this is black and the typography is white in order to stand out and follow the colour scheme.

Features Articles Analysis - NME

 The majority of the double page spread is taken up by an image of the featured band. The image is taken in a park or outdoor area, with the band members placed around an old car. Cars are not usually found in parks, so a rebellious vibe is created. The band are also propped up against and sitting on the car which makes them look 'cool'.
The double page spread has an accent colour of blue, which connects it nicely to the front cover. Blue shapes are randomly placed around the pages, with text layered over them. The random position of the shapes create an unstructured, random layout which coincides with the nature of rock music.
There is text written over the image in blue and white. The font is similar to somebody's handwriting, as if someone has written over the picture -  a bit like graffiti, which is rebellious like rock music is. This text is quotes from the article - the difference in colour is used to differentiate between question and answer.
The text is in columns like a newspaper, this is how the contents page is too.
There is a symbol at the top right of the page which is on every page in the magazine. It says 'RADAR ISSUE', and is made up of smaller versions of the shapes splayed across the pages. This is a theme throughout the magazine.
Page numbers at the bottom right hand side of the page have the magazine title next to them.
The title font is bold and large, followed by a smaller introduction to the article, and then the article itself.