Evaluation 1.

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

My media product (music magazine) consists of a hip-hop genre and is entitled ‘WAX’, a slang term used in the hip-hop community given to a record or CD. My magazine uses, develops and challenges forms and conventions of media products. Arguably the most generic convention of a music magazine is having the masthead situated at the top. My masthead is in the top left hand corner in accordance with the XXL masthead (a hip-hop magazine I’ve used to inspire my own). It has white, bold, capital letters with a red background - two colours linked closely to the genre. I’ve followed the convention of block colours for the masthead. Below are examples of The Source and Vibe; their mastheads usually consist of block colours.

The masthead should be the most obvious piece of text on the page in order for the reader to automatically decipher the magazine. I think I've slightly challenged this convention. Although my title is imposing - in terms of the strong blend of red and white and its presence on the page - my artist does cover half of the 'X' and to a degree obscures the name. This can be seen on a few front covers, but not all! I would rely on familiarity of the masthead (colours and structure) to attract an audience, rather than letting the masthead reach out to a potential buyer.

Another convention is having a medium close up of the artist on the front page. I've used a mid shot in order to create an intimidating image - one rapper's try to portray more often than not. My cover artist is also a male, I'm therefore using the conventions. Unusually, I have my artist in grey scale, an uncommon form associated with any magazine. I feel however that I have managed to pull it off; the plain white background with bold black writing really complements the grey scale. All of my 5 photos used throughout my magazine strongly follow the conventions of a hip-hop orientated magazine. Everything from the props used, to the artists' body position and facial expressions. On the front cover, my main artist 'Kilo Fum' has his hood up with no shirt on and is sporting a chain; in addition to having his hands on top of each other. Collectively a gangster image is connoted. The chain represents wealth, the hood reinforces the negative stereotype often associated with criminals and the position of his hands really create an 'I mean business' impression. Furthermore 'Kilo Fum' can be seen on my contents, and double page spread. He has a cigar in his mouth and is wearing a bucket hat. These two props highlight my use of key conventions. Artists featured on hip-hop magazines often have luxurious props and are stood in very masculine positions. Another one of my artists has a bandanna on his head with sunglasses, immediately suggesting a street persona, likewise to those created in magazines such as The Source and XXL.

I have used some very hip-hop friendly locations for my photos. On the double page spread 'Kilo Fum' is sat in the back of a car outside of a barbershop, with a hat on and the window rolled down. A very hostile atmosphere is created and the shadow created around his head and the window, could represent the scene of a drive-by shooting or violence of some sort - a common topic rapper's speak about. There is also a common fixation between rapper's about wealth. Two of my artists are incorporated with a vehicle. My female artist is sat on the hood of what was an expensive BMW. Also, 'Kilo Fum' is in the back of seat of a different car. Having the cars with the artists certainly portray the conventions of wealth, displayed throughout any hip-hop magazine. I felt it was definitely appropriate to include a female artist seeing as it's a hip-hop magazine, rapper's are always pictured with women; it's a common convention for a hip-hop magazine to have a section dedicated to female models. My other artist, who has a bandanna and sunglasses on, is photographed in front of pipes. Although the pipes may seem like an odd background, a gritty, almost 'cold' atmosphere is created which would build on the association with rapper's having a hard life (before their fame). 

I used the 'plane crash' font for the title 'Kilo Fum' on the front page. I have stuck to key conventions as the title, being bold and large, is the biggest font on the page. My magazine would attract a masculine audience - the desired preference of a hip-hop magazine. Evidence for this is the masculine fonts used throughout my magazine, more notably the block capitals of the surrounding text. The position and structure of the text also pertains to the key conventions; there is not just information in random places. Text on the right hand side of the artist, 'THE OLD TIMERS ISSUE' etc. is positioned around the outside, giving the magazine an organized format. The bar code is also in the corner, a key convention for any magazine.