I have decided to evaluate a front cover of the music magazine "Rolling Stone". This si to help me decide what to include in my own music magazine, to see what people are looking for in their music magazine.


The main attraction to this edition of Rolling Stones is the model Megan Fox who posing for a picture. This supports the idea of Laura Mulveys feminism theory. Mulvey argues that audiences look at magazines in two ways; voyeuristicallyand fetishistically. Mulvey argues this voyeurism involves turning the represented figure into a fetish (object) so that it becomes incleasingly beautiful but more objectified. This can be in relation to the picture of the movie star Megan Fox found on this particular front cover. The picture is there to attract the audience to her beauty so as a result they will buy the magazine. The theory argues that voyeurism can lead to two effects: objectification of female characteristics in relation to this controlling (male) gaze; and narcissistic indentification, with an ideal image seen in the magazine. Mulvey suggests fetishistic looking leads to the cult of female stars, celebrated for their looks but considered as an object abd often treated as such. There is even an example of this on Megan Fox's tattoo on her arm of Marilyn Monroe who, even years after her death, is seen as a object rather than someone who was a human being. Therefore on screen, or on a page, women can be used as "eye candy" to appease the male gaze of the male audience. The masthead "America's sexiset bad girl" also appeals to feminism as it is to attract males to the magazine.

The fact that Megan Fox is on the front of this magazine shows that music magazines do not always have to be about music. Magna Fox is an actress and model, she has no influence in the music company. This tells me that Rolling Stone magazine does not only concentrate on music but on popular culture as well. The puffs on the front cover also tell us what are included in the magazine, such as, "Best Fall Albums...".

The background is a plain white colour to make the magazine look professional as possible. Also if there was colour in the mis en scene the magazine may look to hetic and out potential buyers off purchasing it.

Rolling Stone magazine naturally has all the conventions of a typical music magazine, such as, bold mastheads and 4 - 6 puffs of writting to tell us more about what is inside the magazine, to help attract a wider audience.

The title of the magazine "Rolling Stone" is placed at the top of the magazine with the celebrities head covering some of the letters. This is common for a Rolling Stone magazine. Even though the colour of the wrriting my change depending on what edition of the magazine you are buying, the letters are always in the same font and the celebrity is always covering some of the letters, this is the audience can relate to the magazine.

This is my second design for my school front cover. I have decied to make it alot more colour as it will appeal more to my target market.

I have continued to use the colour red to appeal to to the older generation of my target audience and have used bright colours, such as blue yellow and orange.

I am unsure as to whether to keep this picture for my end product or take another picture.

I have designed two front covers for my school magazine:

My first magazine cover is arranged very simply, just as any fashion or music magazine on the highstreet is, therefore this is following the conventios of untemporary design. The name of my magazine, "School PAS", appeals to both parents and children themselves. The word "School" is written in very formal writting, whilist the word "PAS" is written in much more modern upbeat font. "PAS" is an abbrevation for Parents And Students. This title shows the ideology between parents and students within the school. I have put most of the topics my magazine will be covering on the front page for my taregt audience, such as, general school news, fashion and the annual school/college topics and events like exams, trips and deadlines. I have also included a section which is primaly targeted at adults about inforamtiopn about the school. The badge of the school is also included to give the feeling of an educational envrioment.

The Chosen target audience for both my magazine cover designs is students aged 11-19 and parents aged around 28+. I have decided to target my magagzine to both students and parents to show the close relationship between children and adults in the school. This magazine discusses issues and topics that are usually dealt with in schools and colleges like exam preparation to notices about up comming inset days and half term.

With both my magazine designs my main attraction will a medium close up of one of the students in the school looking exetremly excited, this expression matches the article which follows. This will greatly attract the younger generation of my target audience.

The mis-en-scene of my first magazine design is a plain light colour, I have chosen this colour as the front cover will have much writting on, if a bright or dark colour was used the magazine may look too "hetic".

A small section of both my magagzine designs will be targeted directly at adults. This section is found in the right hand corner of the front cover and includes what adults may find of interest inside the magazine. This section, "Parent's Corner", will be formally written.

I have used different colours in both magagzine designs to appeal to everyone whether they are 11 0r 50. This is because different colours attract different people. Foe example 13year olds prefer bright colours such as yellow or blue, whereas most 30 years would prefer more relaxed and formal colours, such as red.

Welcome to my blog!

This blog contains my Media AS Portfolio and all the work I have been doing thus far in ASmedia. I add and upload work to my blog frequently so be sure to check for any updates.

Also if you have any feedback or improvements that could be made feel free to leave comments as it would be very useful. I havealso set up some polls for people to perticipate in, as I will be needing feedback on my work and might need help wiuth making certain decisions involving the production of my magazine.

I really hope that you enjoy exploring my portfolio and thanks for visiting!