For front cover of my school magazine, I design a questionnaire that I will be later handed out to the current students within my school. This would be done, due to the fact that I need to consider and take notice of other individuals (students) opinions. This is vital, because as I would be asking the target audience those questions, it will demonstrate me what is significant within the front cover of a school magazine and also the contents page. This would make my task more successful, as I would take the student views for consideration and try doing something about it.

1.)     From 1 to 5, 5 being the highest, how vital do you think the appearance of a front cover of a school magazine is? Give reasons, for your answer.

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2.)    If you were to design a front cover of a school magazine, what would you consider as the most significant part? Explain your answer, if possible.

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3.)    What would you like to see on a front cover of a school magazine, and how would this attract the target audience?

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4.)    Do you prefer more formal approach or exciting look within school magazine? Give reasons for your choice.

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Magazine front cover

Overall, the posters that I have chosen helped me to overcome some of the matters that I have been having with my “school magazine,” ever since I couldn’t decide on the colours that I will be using later on in my project. So, it visibly demonstrated to me that it is important to use colours that would attract both male and female as part of my target audience – teens. Also, since my magazine is for students between 16 -19 it is vital to use exciting colours, rather then dull that would mostly attract elders only.

Research

This is a mid. shot of a student, in a learning environment. I have taken this image, in order to clarify that my magazine is a school magazine, since it’s visible that this picture has been taken in school. The mid. shot is able to show what the student is doing and also to portray what is behind him. Although, whilst this picture was taken, I did not consider the person behind the student that I was aiming to take a picture of and as a result, this process is no longer successful, because I will not be able to use it for my school magazine. Although, I might be able to edit it with Photo shop if that would be appropriate.

Target Audience for a magazine

7^th October 2010 – Media lesson

In today’s lesson we investigated on some of the magazines. This illustrated the ideal readers (target audience.) This was due to the fact that we examined it in more detailed and asked our selves questions like – “What TV shows do they watch?” This helped us to consider what type of audience could be reading this magazine, e.g. – one of the magazines that I surveyed was “Visor Down” and me and my partner decided and judged that the “TV” shows that this person would be watching reality shows like –“Top gear” and action films, ever since the target audience would be those who are into motorbikes or even an average cars. 

 This research helped me to question myself, whenever I do my own school magazine that I need to consider my target audience and if everything that I put into my front cover is suitable.

Media Text;

 Research from 5th October 2010

In the previous lesson, we identified how media text can create representation for an audience. This clarified that it is incredibly significant to make sure the colors and font that is being used would appeal to teens. However, it should also intend to both girls and boys. Therefore, I have researched one of a school magazine that show how it should look like, if you want your magazine to be set to both genders. 

This school magazine front cover clearly portrays that the colour used is successful, because it’s intended for both genders, because it isn’t a girlie or masculine colour and could be argued that it’s proposed in cooperation for boys and girls.Furthermore, I have also discovered that it is important to choose the right image, for a front cover, due to the fact that it could appear stereotypical. E.g. – to see a group of students learning is stereotypical as they are in a school environment and that’s what we as a audience would expect to see on the front of a school magazine. Although, some magazines might have something on the front cover that you wouldn’t expect for a school magazine to have, e.g. – prizes. However, this is what would attract the target audience to read the magazine, because it would sound exciting and would give motivation for the students to do better at their learning.  

Evaluation for chosen existing teen movies;

Overall, the posters that I have chosen helped me to overcome some of the matters that I have been having with my “school magazine,” ever since I couldn’t decide on the colours that I will be using later on in my project. So, it visibly demonstrated to me that it is important to use colours that would attract both male and female as part of my target audience – teens.

American Pie 2;

Furthermore, I have also chosen to survey – “American Pie 2.” The reason for this is, because it’s a very good example to illustrate a teen movie poster. It visibly exemplifies that this is a thrilling movie, as the image used appears to be colorful and noticeable, due to the colors used. However, I believe that the characters could have been separated to show their position within the movie, so this could illustrate their role. Continuously, I personally think this image used doesn’t give details for what the movie is about; therefore it wouldn’t sell, as the audience wouldn’t be as interested, since from my prospective they would like to see what the film is all about, just by looking at the front cover/poster. 

Although a number of teen movies, don’t always relate to both sexual categories. I have chosen a perfect example – “Mean Girls’’ to illustrate so. The way the director represented his movie within his poster, demonstrates that this movie would be considered to be watched my teen girls only. The reason for this is ever since he used girlie colors like – pink. This clearly shows that the target audience would be ladies. 

 However, guys could also be watching this movie, since the poster portrays four attractive females. Therefore, it suggests that they might also want to see this film. 

Continuously, I also like the way director chose to use his color combination, since the writing font matches with what the girls are wearing on the right hand side. Although, the teenager on the left is wearing dissimilar color (red) top, from anybody else in the poster, which doesn’t even match the color of the ‘tag line’ or the ‘masthead.’ Nevertheless, the reason for this was to make the girl on the left to stand out, ever since we can clearly see that she’s the protagonist. 

Also, what has drawn my focus is the contrast that has been made by means of the masthead. The effect of this is to show the target audience that the girl on the right hand side, does not get along with those girls that are on the other side of the movie poster. This is significant as it tells the audience what the movie is based on. Therefore it attracts the viewers, as they would be asking themselves to why have these girls have split up in two different teams. So, I believe this method is very significant as it is very straight forward and easy to identify, why this has been done, because it not has only been used to make the poster look appealing.

Existing Teen Movies;

Existing teen movies:

I have explored on some particular teen movies that I think are very significant within my research, due to the fact that it indicates what today’s youths are like. I have chosen – “John Tucker must die,” Mean Girls” and “American Pie 2.” I believe those movies are going to illustrate the idea of my subject, since teenagers are clearly portrayed within those posters. Although, the posters don’t have to include youths within the poster, because the director could have used variety of colors that are intended for teenagers and therefore an image is not needed. However, I have chosen those movies that embrace teens within them, in order to demonstrate what a teen movie poster should or could look like. The font and color is very important, since this is what mainly attracts youths, because they are attracted to exciting and fascinated things.

Continuously, I have chosen to explore on “John Tucker must die.” The reason for this is because I think many teenagers think this is an exciting movie that might relate to their lives. Also, the way the teenagers have been presented, signifies that this movie is about a boy that has many girl fans, ever since he’s surrounded by four exclusive ladies. For this reason, it symbolizes that this movie is for teenagers as this situation is more likely to occur in teen lives. Although, an easier way to portray that this movie is for teenagers, because it demonstrates that the target audience is {12.) Also, the choice of colors suggests that is an exciting movie, due to the fact for the colors used. The colors used also imply that the “guy” (John) in the middle is the guy that those girls are all after, for the reason that his clothing has different colors, therefore the main focus is on him as he’s the protagonist. Also, for this poster a slogan is used. The way it has been layered out, indicates that this movie has its up and downs, ever since these four girls are all chasing after a very popular guy, within their school.