Preliminary Task Front Cover & Contents Page

Using Publisher, I created a magazine cover and contents page based on a college magazine.

 

 

 

I recieved feedback from this task that stated both positive and negative comments. Firstly, the use of appropriate and varied images worked well, although the quality of them could be improved. Similarly, I used evidence of key conventions such as the masthead, barcode, coverlines etc. In regards to improvements I could make, I agree with the fact that the colours and fonts are quite dull and boring, and the major spelling area in the masthead demonstrates how I need to take more care in producing my final magazine. The contents page is also quite bare, which is another aspect I will take into consideration. When I create my actual magazine, I will have a lot more time to produce it, so it should look much more professional. I only had 90 minutes to create this magazine, including taking and uploading images. When I create my actual magazine, I will have much more time.

MOOD BOARD

 

 

This is an image I created by using a mosaic tool on a website called BigHugeLabs, through this I can demonstrate bands I may use in my magazine.

CONTENTS PAGE DECONSTRUCTIONS

I created a presentation on Microsoft Powerpoint to demonstrate a contents page analysis. I then uploaded it to the website SlideShare so that I could embed it into my coursework.

Media contents pages from charkari

CONTENTS PAGE FLATPLAN

 

I am using another main image on the contents page for a visual aspect, this way I can avoid everything just being in writing. Again, the image may have a quote layered on top of it, or even another page number (The page number that would be on the image, would be the relevant page number to the band/artist the picture is taken of).

 

The contents page information and page numbers would be placed to the left of the main image below the masthead, in the same contrasting colours used on the front cover. A subscription box would be found at the bottom of the contents page to pursuade the reader into subscribing and why they should. The background of this would likely be white so that the black writing contrasts making it easier to read.

COVER FLATPLAN

I placed the masthead at the top of the magazine cover so that it is the first thing the reader would notice, therefore they would recognise the company and what genre it focuses around. I would make the masthead bold, and a contrasting colour to the rest of the cover, so that it is prominent and noticeable, and not hidden by other aspects of the cover.

The main image would be in black and white, as they are contrasting colours, and it would be placed between the masthead and the coverlines/selling points at the bottom. It may be layered with quotes and other coverlines however they would be in a contrasting colour so they'd be easy to read. The main image would fit the genre and reflect the style of music so that it is relevant and so the reader may recognise the band/artist.

I would place more coverlines at the bottom of the magazine front cover with a plain background (e.g plain black with white writing) so that they stood out and were easily readable. I would place the bar code, date & issue number etc in the bottom right of the cover as this is where they are commonly found.

INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

I completed some research into the types of music I want my magazine to be focused on. I concluded that the genre will be post/hardcore, pop punk, and also focused on unreleased hardcore bands.

FRONT COVER DECONSTRUCTION 3

Firstly, the masthead, 'Q', stands out greatly against the main image of the magazine cover, which is used as a background in this case. The masthead is bold and has contrasting colours (red & white) so that it catches the eye immediately. The main image, Florence Welch from Florence & The Machine, is used as a vibrant background and a hint of the main focus of this particular issue. The gripping coverline - "Woman on the edge" and a quote from the artist - "I feel so alone" - is used to show how the magazine may include an intense/personal interview with Florence which would have fans of the artist wanting to know more.

In regards to the colour scheme, it is kept to a minumum of red, blue and white. The red is obviously caused by the artist's hair, however works well as it contrasts to the much bolder red used to make the masthead stand out, reinforcing it further. Coverlines are wrote in white, to make them stand out against the red of her hair, and also to match the other colours, so there is no awful clashes which would take attention away from what it actually says. Blue colouring is used in minor aspects of the cover, such as bulletpoints and to seperate different coverlines etc. There is a specific part of the cover regarding the Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe, which has a blue highlight around it, possibly to appeal to audiences of the alternative/indie genre of the music he plays on his radio show, and also audiences of the magazine. It is evident that the colours have been chosen for a specific reason, as the artist in the main image has blue eyeshadow to highlight her eyes - linking with the other blue aspects of the cover.

The coverlines are used in an intelligent and gripping way - to create an idea of what the magazine will entail, but to also allow the audience to use their imagination as to what it may mean. For example, "SKRILLEX - Dance genius or noisy git?" as well as humouring the audience, this coverline demonstrates that the article may portray two different opinions, which can also attract a larger audience - those who hate Skrillex, and those who are a fan. Similarly, '16 page gig blow-out!" is used as a selling point as it shows how the magazine will focus a lot on upcoming gigs, which would appeal to the whole audience as they would all be interested in music/live shows.

FRONT COVER DECONSTRUCTION 2

This magazine focuses around the heavy, post-hardcore genre. This is evident due to main elements such as the main image, coverlines, fonts and colour scheme.

Firstly, the main image is shown layered over the masthead, as well as props in the main image being a loud speaker and brick, and the various bands (BMTH, You Me At Six, The Blackout etc) have facial expressions that connote anger and loud music - all of these features demonstrate the 'in your face', heavy music that the magazine publishes. You can still see the masthead, due to the white colouring, which contrasts to the dark colours of the main image. Colours have been kept to minimum low key themes, with occasional phrases coloured yellow, to draw attention. For instance, 'Posters' has been created yellow to draw the audiences attention to this particular selling point. 'Plus' is also yellow, to demonstrate the coverlines which show what else is included in the magazine. Instead of going into slight depth about interviews and tour dates, the coverlines are simply just names of bands, such as 'Alesana', 'You Me At Six' and 'We Are The Ocean' - this is used efficiently to quickly give the audience an insight so they can see if bands of their interest will be included in the issue. It also gives a sense of genre as they again, are all quite heavy bands. The final point in yellow, is 'Brits on the Rampage', this makes one assume that the audience is aimed at younger people, due to the slang tone of the word 'Rampage' and the shortening of 'Brits'.

The fonts on this cover are made easy to read and stand out. 'We Predict A Riot' is written in upper case lettering which may reinforce the loud music scene, and it also has a smashed glass effect to it, provoking and connoting violence within the scene. With this idea in mind, the artist in the bottom left is holding a brick, which furthermore connotes violence.