Monday, 11 December 2017

Stereotypes

Monday 11th December

Write down all the stereotypes you can think for:
Age- Vulnerable Old people, Moody teachers
Race/Ethnicity-Scottish, English, Gypsies, Indians, White and black caribbean, Pakistani.
Disability- Thought as Slow, Abnormal, Unable to communicate, Helpless, Incapable
Sexuality- Male, Female, Homosexual, Heterosexual

Exam style Question: Analyse how media language has been used to construct representation on the colour of Mojo and one other music magazine.

The magazine I'm analysing is a Mojo magazine, the target audience is around 25-45 men.
The masthead is big and bold and contrasts well with the blue background. It would attract the audience because its big, but the only problem is, half of it is covered. Its a masculine font because their is no flicks or ticks.
The colours used connote and link to male stereotypical colours like blue and black. This also links to the main image because he is a male. Yellow is also used to brighten it up to appeal to the readers and people buying the magazine.
I think the layout is quite cramped but this just shows that its packed with information and articles. The coverlines are layed out well around the main image and the free CD it comes with. It has high production values and is quite sophisticated which appeals to the older target audience.
The main image is of a famous singer from the band foo fighters called Dave Grohl. They used a medium she so they could fit the coverlines around him. He has quite a serious facial expression which would appeal to the people buying it as its sophisticated, He is wearing a plain black shirt which links to the genre rock. The only other image on the cover is the Cd and a small picture of someone singing n the top right corner.
All the coverlines include male names and most of them are well known. These interest the reader making them want to buy it. Each coverline reveals something about the story but not much, using people like Elvis would appeal more to the older generation as opposed to the younger one. They all use the same font but just in different sizes, the main coverline about Dave Grohl is the biggest.




The second magazine I'm analysing is a Pop magazine, the target audience is girls around the ages of 12-16.
The masthead is quite small on the left hand side and its say We love Pop. Its set out in a more younger audience appealing way with the speech box going around it and lots of pink. Instead of actually writing the love they used a heart instead. Making it look like almost a text message it connotes that its quite modernised and childish.
The main colours used is white and pink, white girly and bright colours. They link to the genre because pop is normally with girly. I don't think the pink contrasts well with the main image though because Rhianna has red hair so the red and pink clash.
The layout is quite cramped with all the coverlines and pictures. This might appeal to the audience because it shows theres a lot of content in it. I think its low production values as it looks not as sophisticated and expensive as other magazines.
The main image is a medium shot, it shows about half of Rhianna's body. This might appeal to the audience as they can see what she's wearing. Her facial expression is happy which links to the genre pop. There is quite a few minor images like a picture of one direction, the wanted and some outfit ideas. These also help to hook the readers in.
The main coverline is about Rhianna and is in a really big font and the smaller coverlines are arranged around her. They've got quotes and insider information that makes the reader want to read more.







Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Magazine covers analysis homework



Wednesday 6th December 
L/O: On your blog choose two music magazine covers and explain how the cover star has been presented.

This magazine cover represents Katy Perry (The cover star), in a stereotypical female manner. This cover is trying to promote the Blender magazine by sexualising the celebrity. From the angle of where she is standing and the clothes she is wearing you can see that they are using the stereotype 'slut'. This shows women are represented in a degrading way compared to men in order to sell the product, however this is seen as normal that women present themselves explicitly. I think that this magazine in particular is aimed towards men because the way Katy Perry is presented and the way her hand is on her own body in a seductive way. Also the main cover-line about Katy says about kiss and tell which also links to the stereotype 'slut'.









In comparison to the previous Blender magazine, this photo presents a different view of women. This cover is trying to sell the Blender magazine. There is a suggestion of Female power as Taylor Swift cover line says "Radio Ruling" which means she's ruling the radio world. The clothes she is wearing are also not as explicit as Katy Perrys in the one above. The way she's standing suggests a more confident and Powerful person. Its anti stereotypical because it goes against the usual female stereotypes as she is presented as strong and more individual. This is also aimed at men but will also appeal more to women because of the way they have presented her.









This Rolling Stone magazine uses the cover star Justin Beiber to try and promote and sell itself. By using the half dressed famous singer, it automatically appeals to many women. This cover presents Justin stereo typically as a macho man. Like women, people use men to sell products and its seen as the normal. It connotes that is much easier to sell magazines if the cover star isn't dressed appropriately.

















         


Monday, 4 December 2017

Representation

Monday 4th December
LO:To investigate the ways in which the media represents gender.

Stereotypically Male characteristics:

  • Strong
  • Heroic
  • Brave
  • Muscular
  • Confident
  • Leader
  • Tall
  • Colour Blue
Stereotypically Female Characteristics
  • Hardworking
  • Weak
  • Vulnerable
  • Multitask 
  • Long hair
  • Colour Pink
  • Emotional
  • Shorter
  • Caring
Male Stereotypes:
  • Macho Male
  • Geek/Nerd
  • Heterosexual
  • Alpha Male
  • Homosexual
Advert 1:Who is in the picture? 
Seven men

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
Suits

What can you denote?
Men wearing suits walking along a street.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That its a clothing brand and is quite expensive as it looks quite posh. Its at night so it looks like they're going to a party or on night out as opposed to just going to work.

How are men represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Tall, Confident, Serious. The stereotype is alpha male.

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
Men who need a smart expensive suit. I know this because they all look well dressed.

Advert 2:
Who is in the picture?
A man and woman.

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
A Joop aftershave 

What can you denote?
A woman on the mans back pouring the pink aftershave on the guys body.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That all genders are equal "Real men wear pink"

How are men represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Muscular, strong, confident. The stereotype is Macho male.

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
Men that are looking for an aftershave that attracts women.

Advert 3:
Who is in the picture?
A man with his baby son.

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
Ariel washing powder.

What can you denote?
Ariel washing powder.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That ariel washing powder makes your clothes soft and gentle like a baby.

How are men represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Wearing blue, Kind, gentle, Leader. 

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
Parents with babies, its more aimed at males because of the main colours used.

Female stereotypes:
  • Drama Queen
  • Mother
  • Housewife
  • Dumb Blonde
  • Butch/Lipstick Lesbian
  • Sassy Black woman
  • Business Woman
  • Geek/Nerd
  • Slut
Magazine 1:
Who is in the picture?
A guy with four girls around him.

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
The Rolling stones Magazine.

What can you denote?
Man in centre of cover with four ladies hanging off him and looking at him adoringly.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That guys can have as many girls on their arm as they want and its shown as normal and cool.   

How are women represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Blonde,Brunette or Redhead, they're sexualised as they're wearing barely any clothes and they've all got the same figure suggesting that thats how everyone should look. They're on the arm of a famous rockstar so could be shown as a gold digger. The stereotype is Slut.

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
Its aimed at men as it appeals to them because they want to look at the girls.

Advert 2:
Who is in the picture?
Lara Croft

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
Trying to sell the game Tomb Raiders.

What can you denote?
Lara Croft acting like a warrior.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That girls can be strong and heroic aswell.

How are women represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Strong, Confident, heroic. Its counter stereotype because she's going against stereotypes. Despite this, she is still sexualised.

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
Its aimed at men who play computer games.

Advert 3:
Who is in the picture?
Jessica Ennis

What is the advert/magazine cover trying to sell/promote?
Powerade Zero.

What can you denote?
She is doing Press ups to keep fit and healthy.

What are the connotations in the advert?
That if you think drink powerade zero it will boost your energy and fitness levels.

How are women represented? What stereotypes are  used?
Athletic and healthy, kind of goes against stereotypes because she is muscly and strong.

Who do you think the advert is aimed at? How do you know?
People who do sport.


Mojo Cover:
Gender is represented on the Mojo cover by colour, its got a blue background which automatically suggests its a male characteristic. Dave Grohl looks serious which is also a gender stereotype, typically masculine. He has also got facial hair, the longer hair linking to the rock genre. All the artists mentioned on the front cover is male. 

I have leant that gender representation is all stereotypes although some people try to go against stereotypes. Women are often sexualised in adverts and magazines and its seen to be normal, they are often seen to be the weaker and vulnerable as opposed to men being the stronger and more heroic ones.