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1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT USE,
DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
Of real media products?

2. ANALYSIS OF KERRANG

 The front cover:
 Red, black and white colours are used which presents a dark but not grim or evil theme to the cover. The main image on the front displays the popular band “You Me At Six”. The band members are dressed
in a sort of mismatch of clothes with the lead wearing leather but the one to the right is wearing a sweater. This indicates that the magazine is trying to represent people whom ignore social norms and
dislike conforming to such norms. The image covers the masthead “KERRANG!” This suggests that the magazine is popular enough that people will automatically recognise it with or without the masthead.
This also cements the band into the magazine by indicating their importance meaning that they will feature in the main story. They are confident with smart hair and no makeup which suggests a casual air
about them. They are all directly gazing at us as consumers but it is most effective on the lead who has been placed ahead of the others and draws the most attention.
 The main cover line is related to both the image and the main story inside. The band is easily identified as You Me At Six. This indicates that the magazine wants to attract fans of the band and also that the
band is popular to feature on this magazines cover. The words are large enough to identify and read from a distance, meaning that readers can read this from a distance. The words “YOUR BAND! THEIR
STORY!” are written in red and draw in the reader. Especially with the word YOUR as it uses direct address techniques. It is all printed in sans serif to indicate that it is important.
 The cover is effective at appealing to its target audience with its use of its image of a popular band. It also indicates that KERRANG! Is celebrating 10 years of YOU ME AT SIX. This fails to address pop music
fans as it is not their type of music.

 The contents page:
Dark colours for the background but white boxes for text provides an easy to read but appealing format. The page is dominated by an image of Crossfaith performing at concert. This appeals to all people
who enjoy concerts. The word context is big, in sans serif to draw importance but also graphics drawn around it to draw attention to the word. The band’s lead is portrayed in an open, eagle spread style
pose with the fans reaching out to the air suggesting a buzz in the air. The editorial uses informal language which relates to the reader and allows the editor to directly address the reader. The page as a
whole does its job effectively, by displaying rock in all of its glory. The fans are dark colours, is night time and the singer is in black. This all appeals to the readers and puts a theme of positive darkness over
the contents page. This helps to scare of pop or rap fans who like bright colours and perhaps a kinder theme to their music.

 The double page spread:
 The image on one side is consuming the whole page. The background on the other page has a grainy white colour with black writing and red tones. The image on the left page of Ash Costello links my eye
to the word “DEVIL” which is written in a serif style to show the contrast against the rest of the formal looking article. The image and article are linked to appeal to goths as is evidenced by Ash with her black
eyes and leaky soul. She is wearing black, in keeping with the theme of the magazine with bright red hair to draw attention to her but again, it is the eyes that draw the most attention and gives the
impression of an antiangel. Her use of direct gaze is compelling with those black, glossy eyes. The text is based upon explaining the inspiration behand Ash’s music. The whole double page spread represents
the gothic type of person. The image alone will scare off anyone who isn’t interested in the gothic type of music. Any other readers will turn away from this immediately.

3. METAL HAMMER ANALYSIS
 The front cover:
 The front cover has heavy purple colours for the main image which contrasted heavily with the other rock magazines on the shelf when I purchased the magazine. This brought
METAL HAMMER to my attention. The main image is a purple devil that links to IRON MAIDEN, the band and main story featured. This indicates that the magazine is trying to
reach out to a rock audience. The image slightly covers the masthead which indicates the magazine is popular enough that people will automatically recognise it. This image also
attaches Black Sabbath to the magazine as the main story. The main cover line “THE LAST DAYS OF BLACK SABBATH” is associated to the image and therefore the main story. The
words are huge and contrast to the white background. They are written in a black colour with “THE LAST DAYS OF” in serif and “BLACK SABBATH” in sans serif. The words
themselves are pretty compelling anyway because they speak of the end of a heavy metal legend.
 The use of a puff on the front is used to reveal an important quote which stands out both metaphorically but also visually.
 This magazine cover very much tailors for its intended target audience which is metal music fans. The fan of pop music is not going to enjoy this magazine. The language is heavily
unregulated and can even be seen as offensive at some parts. So yeah, not good for pop fans.

 The contents page:
 The background is white with black words in a serif font for titles and yet sans serif for the paragraphs. This is easy to read. The words are not contained in a box. The page is
separated by images of popular artists. This will appeal to anyone who is a music lover. The page has at the bottom black boxes advertising. This draws attention as the black
works to contrast the white background.

 The double page spread:
 On the first page, the picture of an old guy dominates the page. People will just skip the page if they don’t recognise him from black Sabbath meaning that this dps is designed to
appeal to a specific target market. The other page is titled, “THE WAYWARD SON” which is directed to the image on the other page. It is in a large, bold and capital font. The first
letter is huge on the first line of text. This is important as draws attention to the main text which fills the whole page in three columns. The page is set to keep readers interested if
they are fanatics of black Sabbath.

4.  I GET THAT THE LAST TWO PAGES WERE JUST BLOCKY AND WRONG
BUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SHOW THAT CODES AND
CONVENTIONS ARE UNIVERSAL BUT CAN CHANGE SUBTLY
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE BRAND IS TRYING TO CONNOTE TO THE
AUDIENCE.

5.  I CHOSE TO BASE MY MAGAZINE OFF OF THE CONVENTIONS OF
THEESE TWO MAGAZINES BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR WITH
REGARDS TO GENRE. KERRANG AND HAMMER ARE BOTH ROCK
MAGAZINES AND THEREFORE FALL WITHIN MY GENRE.