Research- hairstyles which inspire me

I really love this hairstyle, it's so simple yet beautiful. It's not a huge updo but it is still loosely styled, however it does still look very natuaral and slightly messy. This makes for a pop or pop-punk look as it is modern and cool. I believe this hair style goes against what Laura Mulvey says 'that women do things for men' as although it is slightly styled it's messy and not a posh updo so the model is doing it for herself not to impress anyone. 

Researching Different Genres

The main feature of this magazine is clearly the artist, this is created as the convention of putting the artist behind in front of the masthead is used, it really brings the artist right to the front of the magazine. 

Stereotyping is very pronounced in this main image, the artist is wearing a big cowboy hat, which is very country like. The photo is also not shot in a studio it looks like a field although the background is not in focus I can see what looks to be tree with sunlight glistening through them, creating a definite mise-en-scene of country side. This feature also goes against what Richard Dyer says that 'A star is an image, not a person' as the photo is not shot in an artificial environment. Both these signs add up to an indexical sign of a country person. 

The main colours of the magazine are red and black, all cover lines are in these colours, this is effective because it looks very uniform. The fonts are all similar filling the serif house style of the usual masthead. The only different colour is the pug at the top of the page, this also contains a alternate font, this makes it really stand out, especially because of the bright yellow.

I think this magazine will be more aimed at the male gender due to the fact that the artist looks serious and focused on his music, there are no symbolic female colours associated in the front cover either. 

Things I'm Learning

Since I have began studying Media Studies I have learnt many new skill on many different websites and devices. New devices I have been using or using in new ways:

• iMac
• iPhone
• iPad
• Mac book
• Panasonic Lumix Fz62 camera
• Scanner on printer
• Memory card reader

Websites/ new apps I have been using:

• Slide share - I have been using this to post power points on-line, then I have learnt to embed them in order to post the on my blog. 

• I have also been learning how to use Flickr, this is really useful to me because I can get opinions on my best photos and know which would be best to use for certain situations.

• I have used Adobe Elements 11 Photoshop in order to create the front cover of my college magazine, I have learned to used features such as the magic rubber and colour select.

• The website I have learnt the most on is using a blog, I have learnt to; embed a slide share, post a blog, add a photo to a blog. I have also learnt how to change the format of my blog to make it personal to my genre.

• I have not used Prezi much but I am learning to, it will be useful for me because it will be a new and exciting way to incorporate other ways of getting information across and using new technology.

Research Synergy 1 kerrang magazine contents 2 front 8

This Kerrang front cover creates synergy with the contents page in several different ways. Such as the main theme on this front cover is the '51 Greatest Pop-Punk albums ever' and on the contents page this is featured again.


There is a bright yellow that pops on the front cover headline, this is also used on the subheadings used on the contents page. This creates further synergy with the front cover.

Bring Me The Horizon is also featured on the front cover in the corner and then again twice on the contents page. The same artists are mentioned on the front cover and contents page which really brings the cover and contents page together, to look like they are from the same magazine.

There is one contents page on this magazine, it features 18 of the stories on the inside and has 4 images on it. Similar fonts are used in the contents page as are on the front cover they are in different sizes and colours however.

Synergy is very important in magazines as it makes the magazine its styles, I want the cover to link with the rest of the magazine so I know they are from the same magazine. For example I do not want to be reading a Rock magazine by Kerrang and see synergy with the magazine Classical as it does not make sense or relate to the genre.

How this magazine has inspired me

I love how all the featured artists appear to be exploding out from behind the main headline, it adds a really cool rock look. Since I want to create a pop or pop-punk magazine it could be a great effect to further explore

Research Analysis Front cover 7 Taylor Swift - Theorists

This photo of Taylor Swift is very feminine and beautiful, this is a very flattering. Her hair and make up is very done up and typical of a women, the way Taylor is sat is in a very sultry manor as well, therefore this does support Laura Mulvey's beliefs that 'women do things to impress men' very strongly. However Taylor is a very modern artist and Laura Mulvey's opinion is a very old and not up to date at all.

'A star is an image,not a real person', this is a quote from Richard Dyer. This is relevant to this front cover as Taylor's image is shot in a studio. Another big thing I notice is that Taylor's make up and clothes are very different of that that she usually wears, she has a very country style. However this would not suit the cover of this rock magazine so the star has changed her style to fit the criteria of this magazine. Her make up is much heavier than you would usually find on Taylor, this is very typical of a rock chick, not someone who plays country music. Her hair is slightly messy which is another sign of a rock chick. Together all these signs are an indexical sign of a rock chick, therefore she has been represented as a rocker girl.

Stuart Hall has a very modern approach to representation,'things are changing. Representation can't be fixed and should be changed along too'. So maybe this image of Taylor as a rock chick could truly be a part of her, she may just be trying to keep up with the times. This would mean Taylor is going totally against Laura Mulvey's theory that women do things for men, because Taylor would be doing this entirely for herself.

How this Magazine had inspired me

I like how the masthead is behind the artist because it makes the artist really pop on the front cover, looking 3D and even more of the main story than the artist already did.

Research- Make up which Inspires me

When I saw this make up look it made me think of my magazine and inspired me. I like the make up because it's very feminine and sultry, this slight my agrees with Laura Mulvey opinion that 'women do things for men' but I still think it disputes this slightly too because it is slightly dark and dramatic, not like a pretty little girl. I think it looks really beautiful and would look great on my magazine cover.

Research Analysis Kate Bush 3- theorists front cover 6 contents 1

Front cover

Contents page