In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Second, i created my Magazine cover so i will continue by talking about that task.

The first code and convention that i used was that all text used was in bold, block capitals. The text is all large and stands out, thought the Magazine title stands out above all else. The bold mashead used it to grab the attention of potential consumers to sell the product to, as many as possible. This is something that you always see, on all products, not just magazine covers. The title always gives an insight into what the magazine is about, e.g. Film is a film magazine, FHM (For Him Magazine) is a magazine for men.
This codes and covention is extremelely important and is essential. It envites the consumer to buy the magazine for its theme without even considereing the contents of the issue in particular. My film magazine dubbed "Green Screen" attracts a fairly large (if not all) film loving individuals, as it is not aimed directly at one corner of the film industry. By using a large clear masthead centered at the top of the page my magazine front cover takes its first step into using and develoing the codes and conventions of real media products.

The second code and convention to examine is the House Style used on the article coverlines located around the page. The coverlines are common practice in all magazine front covers. I have yet to come across a magazine cover with no cover lines.
Across the top right corner of the Issue cover is located an aditional selling point, an advertisement for free posters. Many magazines as an aditional selling point offer free goods / memorabila.
Across the bottom of the cover is the strap line. this often contains a list of things that are contained within the magazine that are there in each issue or things that are unique to each issue. I decided upon the first of the two options as this issue already has the awesome article about my film. I have noticed that magazine usually contain 1 special articale and a number of small article or a few slightly over average articles plus a few smaller articles. This is a common code and convention that i could chose one or the other and not both.

The main image on the cover is framed by all of the coverline, taglines and contents. While researching our anscillary tasks our class found that a lot of the front covers featured either the whole of the an individual or a mid-shot (or closer) image of the person. I chose to go with the full body shot but cut out the feet and hands (becuase gorillas walk on all four). i chose to do this because of the lack of feet that the Gorilla suit has. The main image, if not the title, is the first thing the consumer sees and tells the audience what is in the magazine issue. This image tells the potential audience about the content of the film and often just shows a person with somethign that could be argued as new and different. This is why i chose my gorilla, something not often portrayed. The use of a main image, an important character from the film, is another key way in which my magazine front cover uses the codes and conventions of real media texts.


As well as the above mentioned cover lines, title and main image, i included the simple, often missed, things like a price and a barcode. These components are vital in making the magazine front cover look like a real text. By following the codes and conventions i have used, you may not be able to pick my media text out of a line-up as the A2 coursework item, as was my aim. By including all these fine details i have further used and developed the codes and conventions of real media texts.