AS Media Exam Practise

This poster that I have made, in my opinion, effectively summarises what the theme of Class & Status means to me. 

In most contexts, the upper class are presented to be quite arrogant and proud of their wealth and money. this is shown through the over-exaggerated costume and the palatial settings that they are in. As well as this, their personalities show them to be powerful and they are always trying to assert heir dominance, in order to keep the divide between rich and poor existent. 

The lower classes are often submissive to this, and they are usually presented in a way that provokes pity from the audience, because they are the minority and equality does not exist for them. However this may cause them to be represented as angry and violent, to try and assert some power of their own, and remove the divide in social class. 




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Home Learning: My Music Magazine

For my magazine cover, I will be featuring a female on the cover, who will be presented quite dramatically, to create a specific atmosphere that conforms to the intend genre of Pop/Rock. In terms of gender, considering that the person on the cover will be a female, I feel that this is conforming to the stereotype of the Pop/Rock genre, because women in the contemporary music business are highly celebrated for their music, such as Florence Welch and Jessie J. Therefore, by having a female on the cover, with dramatic makeup and costume, I will be conforming to the stereotype, because the dramatization of the female will show her celebrated stature in the music industry.

In terms of age, she will be a female in her youth, which is again conventional. I feel that it is best to feature an artist in their youth, considering the fact that my target audience is young people in Britain. As well as this, since the magazine will have new and current artists, it is better to have somebody young and fresh, to contribute towards the magazine’s theme. Her youthful features will be emphasised through the intended close-up for the cover.

Besides this, the ethnicity of the female will also conform to the conventions, as we are intending to use a white female on the cover, who will therefore represent the dominating white British culture. This is effective as it will contribute towards the magazine creating a British atmosphere, along with the colour scheme featuring red, blue and white as the theme colours, celebrating British music.

Uses and Gratifications Theory

This theory can be applied in the context of my music magazine, because the magazine intends to achieve all of the intended aspects of this theory.

The idea of identification is present through the image on the front cover. By presenting the music artist as someone of prestige and youthful beauty, through the use of dramatic makeup and editing of the image, the young audience will associate themselves with her, and recognise her as somebody that they could see themselves to be, either through looks, personality, or through aspirations in music.

The magazine will also entertain the audience, as it provides escapism from daily life as a youth, into the world of the music industry, which we intend to present as fun and exciting, which the audience would see a great interest in. In addition, they will be educated with some kind of knowledge, particularly that of new and current artists in the dominating Pop/Rock genre.

The features that will be included in the magazine would relate generically to a young, British audience. Considering this is quite a mass market, most people will be able to discuss the events and artists presented, and be able to spark up a conversation, possibly based on common grounds of interest of disinterest.

Props that I intend to use

·         Bright, dramatic makeup, to create a fun, fresh look for the cover model

·         Costume of contrasting colour, possibly moving towards an edgy Rock genre

·         Instruments, such as the guitar or drums, again relating to the Pop/Rock genre.

·         Statement jewellery, to be bold and stand out to the audience