2 | Evaluation

How does your media product represent a particular social group?

The target audience of my magazine are predominantly female, who are obviously fans of my chosen genre: Alternative-Rock/Indie. My magazine is targeted at a younger audience of around 14-20. An Indie fan tends to have a more unique dress sense: a mixture of both the vintage/retro style with an urban/modern edge. The indie style can also be relatively grungy, as well as, smart. I have focused during the creative process of my magazine not to negatively portray my particular social group, in order to make the magazine particularly more appealing to my target audience. My magazine will cost £2.50 which is relatively expensive however, the content, and style of magazine compensate for the price I feel, the price isn't unreasonable considering that the magazine will be distributed monthly.

Artist representation: 

Firstly I chose a female artist as, the research from my questionnaire showed that the audience were predominantly female. Hence, I thought that my more female audience would feel a sense of familiarity in the fact the artist is female and they would be able to relate to her. As you can see I have used a close-up shot similarly to the other indie magazine present. This is to make the magazine look more personal, and the audience more involved. This is supported by the fact that the artist and the example magazine are giving a direct-address. Again, this makes the magazine more personal, as it makes the artist again, seem more personally involved. It also presents the artist as a strong confident character which is appealing to the audience as it inspires them. You can see the artist in the other magazine has been presented as playful yet adult, I have tried to capture the same portrayal by having my artist smiling. The artists expression is smiling, this makes the artist seem upbeat and happy. My artist, in contrast has only her face in shot, where the other magazine has the artists hands against her face. This makes the artist in Indie magazine look shy, whereas, by only the artists face in shot presents the artist as again confident.

I specifically chose for the artist to not look more, stereotypically seductive as, based on my target audience of teens; I felt it more important that the artist be presented as more confident and inspirational, creating a more positive aspiration for teenagers and young adults. I chose for the artist to be presented as less sexually proactive as it untypical, and would attract the younger audience. It is also more suitible for the audience representation, as it makes the social group targeted itself as less objectively sexual and more inspirational. My target audience is also predominently female hence, it seemed relavent for the artist to be presented as more an inspirational figure, rather than a sexual aspiration for a more male audience. This is supported by the fact the artist isn't wearing seductive clothing, or vibrant makeup.

Indie Fashion:

The conventions of a female Indie fan:

- Long messy/wavy hair

- Baggy over sized clothes

- Jean shirt or a patterned shirt

- Short shorts/skirts

- Show-jewelry

- Dr Martens or big 80's Rock-scene boots

- Minimal, and/or, dark make-up

- Patterned clothes

Clothes:

Indie clothes tend to be over sized and baggy, this is because the style has been altered from the original 80's style of over sized clothing. This presents the Indie genre, as creative and retro, it also plays on the conventions of the 80s style portraying an Indie-fan as also upbeat and careless. It also makes the artist in my magazine seem less as vain; as if she were wearing the baggy clothes for comfort rather than fashion, again strengthening the Indie look as more, careless, yet original and less as mainstream. The baggy clothes can also be called the 'boy-friend' style as they are meant to be supposedly so baggy that you are wearing your boy-friends clothes, this presents the social group as more wild, and confident. The Indie style also tend to wear a lot of Jean. Again, this could be portraying the artist as careless for fashion, as they may simply be wearing the jean for warmth.

It could also be to suit the retro style, with again, an urban edge, this portrays the artist and Indie scene as up-to-date and unique, and again, showing that they do not follow the mainstream. The messy look also makes the Artist and Indie-scene, seem more careless yet, wild and positively upbeat. It also again focus' on the more urban-look again, without being too mainstream, portraying the Indie fan as original and different.  The Indie style also focus' on a more upbeat style of bright colours and pattens and show jewelry. This brings a positive edge to the grungy 80s style. It also makes the signature Dr Marten boots for example, seem less as threatening or oppressive but makes them look more childish in some ways like a child wearing an adults shoes, portraying the Indie scene as more playful, supported by the over-sized cardigan.

Hair:

The Indie-style are known for their long, messy or wavy hair. The length of the hair, in some ways makes them seem childish like a child with long un-cut hair, it also, has obviously taken them some time to grow their hair to that length, however, it also makes them seem committed and/or patient. It could also make them seem more careless, and free, simply allowing their hair to grow naturally without styling it. This is supported by the fact the hair hasn't been forcibly straitened, or curled, it has just been naturally left. The fact that the hair also has the unbrushed look also makes the artist and Indie fans seem more grungy and careless, and again, wild. The hair also being left creates a more natural look, this is a positive portrayal of an Indie fan as it makes them seem again, more careless for the mainstream style but confident and comfortable in a more natural style.

Make up:

Similarly to the hair of an Indie fan the make-up tends to be minimal. This makes the Indie fans and artist seem more confident and again, more natural. However, it is also popular for the artist to wear thick eyeliner, this could simply be strengthening the more natural look or, could be adapting the more 1940's style make-up (thick eyeliner and natural pale shade of foundation), again drawing in on the retro style. It also makes the artist and Indie style more feminine as well as, creating a signature look. The make-up around the eyes also draws the attention to their eyes. It also stresses the fact that although the artist is wearing make up they do not intent to look seductive.