Evaluation, Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?





My target audience is mainly teenagers; this is why I chose to use a teenage model, so the audience are able to relate to him. I subverted the conventional mainstream double page spread image and decided to have the model covering his face to connote embarrassment. I used a mid-shot like the professional image to show both the facial expression and the costume so the audience are able to relate to the model. These features were determined by thorough research into the expectations and likes of my target audience.
From the two images used above in double page spreads, you can clearly see how I have conformed to the typical representation of a teenage boy, to suit my target audience. My photographs are based on some images which are already present in popular music magazines such as Q, NME and Mojo. I will discuss the similarities and differences between my image (right) and the professional image (left)
From the image on the right hand side, this shows that the two images above are similar. A similarity between these images is that both of the models are male and in the centre. I asked my model to be in the centre of the image, similarly to the professional. Also, the models are both covering their faces, I chose to also do this as I believe it has connotations of embarrassment and therefore attractive to readers. This may also persuade readers to continue and read the article. I chose to use a mid-shot as the model on the left as it shows the main features of the model without having too much of the background on the photograph, also showing the costume and expression. I chose to use a mid-shot rather than a close up to show the emotion of the model and the costume they are wearing. This is likely to be more popular with the target audience as they will be interested in the clothing that celebrities wear.
However, I chose to use a white background, unlike the professional image on the left. I did this to follow the house style of my magazine and to fit into the colour scheme. Also, as I was adding text to the right of the image, it was a more contrasting colour as the writing is black. The image on the left mainly relies on natural lighting whereas I chose to place lights around the model to illuminate the face and make them stand out from the white background, highlighting the embarrassment on his face. The model in the image on the left is wearing a shirt and blazer, which is quite formal. I chose to keep the costume of my model casual as it better suits the audience. Through using clothes that the audience can relate to, it gives readers something to identify themselves with the celebrity, unlike the image on the left. The model on the left does not have his face totally covered, like my image. I chose for the model to cover his whole face to show the level of embarrassment or shock the article may be about. Through his costume, this also represents the genre of music, which is Indie.





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