In order to understand what kind of work we need to do, we are evaluating three college magazine front covers, in order to know what we should do and what we shouldn't. To do this, we are using the "L.I.I.A.R" system which works very well within Media. This stands for the Language, Ideology, Imagery, Audience and Representation that the advert has used.
"L.I.I.A.R" - Language, Ideology, Imagery, Audience, Representation.
The first magazine that I am going to analyse is that of East Riding College's.
This magazine cover is definitely very simple and unprofessional and must be a very low budget magazine to produce. It has many things to criticize about it, which I am therefore going to analyze. The first point that I am going to pick at is the language that is used on the cover. Firstly, the masthead that is used on this cover is not very efficient as it does not stand out and is simply just a slightly larger version of the rest of the text. It is not eye catching towards anyone who would want to buy it and is not doing what it is supposed to for the magazine. Secondly, the main image that is on the page is not very well presented as it is a landscape image that is not of a medium close up shot. It is not very clear, and although it may relate to an article within the magazine it does not advertise the magazine well. As it is not a picture that is full scale on the magazine it makes the cover look a lot less professional. Also, since the people in the photo have their backs to the camera, it is then evident that they are not making eye contact with the audience.
The colour scheme on this cover is also very dull as it is simply black and white. This is not very appealing towards the target audience as they would want to look at a colour scheme that was more eye catching than simply black and white. Although it does keep a very good house-style of two main colours, it does not appeal to the audience and is therefore not efficient.
Another aspect that they have on this page, however, is the logo of the college. This is in white against a black background and yet it still does not stand out. They have also included a header on the photo saying what it relates to and which page it is on which is efficient - and the image does relate to the main article.
The imagery used in this cover shows that they are trying to fill a gap in the market - but only within their college and on the lowest budget that they can. I think that the magazine would have been created by students, perhaps in a project within Media. Either this, or it could have been created by a teacher in their spare time. It is different to other college magazines as it has a less professional look and therefore it is apparent that it is free - which is useful for the students.
For ideology since the cover of this magazine is very simple it does not appear to be sending out very many messages. As the main article and photo on the page are about a media trip, it is therefore showing students how much dedication the media classes had put in - sending out a positive message. Two of the headers on the page are "anti-bullying" and "making a positive contribution". This shows that the magazine focuses on improving the attitudes within the college and helping the students that read it. The magazine would not advertise for students to participate in any negative activities as they would not want their students to join in with any bad behavior.
The target audience within this cover is clearly shown as it is aimed at students for their "Student life" and it is aimed specifically towards students at East Riding College. The only thing on the magazine cover telling us that it is aimed at this college is their logo - had they not included this it could be apparent that the magazine was aimed towards any student anywhere in the world. It is very important that they have included the image of the media students in Berlin also, as the target audience could be those students and also anyone who was interested in that trip.
Finally, I believe that through this simple front cover we are given a very positive outlook of the college and the students. This is because, as the students are all grouped together in the photo it shows teamwork and the ability to get along with one another. As they also went to Berlin to do their media studies it also shows how dedicated they are towards their college work. Another aspect is that there is a page within the magazine about Anti-bullying - this then sets a bad example as it shows that there is bullying in the first place, but also shows that they are willing to put a stop to it. All in all, they set a good representation of the students.
This magazine cover is definitely very simple and unprofessional and must be a very low budget magazine to produce. It has many things to criticize about it, which I am therefore going to analyze. The first point that I am going to pick at is the language that is used on the cover. Firstly, the masthead that is used on this cover is not very efficient as it does not stand out and is simply just a slightly larger version of the rest of the text. It is not eye catching towards anyone who would want to buy it and is not doing what it is supposed to for the magazine. Secondly, the main image that is on the page is not very well presented as it is a landscape image that is not of a medium close up shot. It is not very clear, and although it may relate to an article within the magazine it does not advertise the magazine well. As it is not a picture that is full scale on the magazine it makes the cover look a lot less professional. Also, since the people in the photo have their backs to the camera, it is then evident that they are not making eye contact with the audience.
The colour scheme on this cover is also very dull as it is simply black and white. This is not very appealing towards the target audience as they would want to look at a colour scheme that was more eye catching than simply black and white. Although it does keep a very good house-style of two main colours, it does not appeal to the audience and is therefore not efficient.
Another aspect that they have on this page, however, is the logo of the college. This is in white against a black background and yet it still does not stand out. They have also included a header on the photo saying what it relates to and which page it is on which is efficient - and the image does relate to the main article.
The imagery used in this cover shows that they are trying to fill a gap in the market - but only within their college and on the lowest budget that they can. I think that the magazine would have been created by students, perhaps in a project within Media. Either this, or it could have been created by a teacher in their spare time. It is different to other college magazines as it has a less professional look and therefore it is apparent that it is free - which is useful for the students.
For ideology since the cover of this magazine is very simple it does not appear to be sending out very many messages. As the main article and photo on the page are about a media trip, it is therefore showing students how much dedication the media classes had put in - sending out a positive message. Two of the headers on the page are "anti-bullying" and "making a positive contribution". This shows that the magazine focuses on improving the attitudes within the college and helping the students that read it. The magazine would not advertise for students to participate in any negative activities as they would not want their students to join in with any bad behavior.
The target audience within this cover is clearly shown as it is aimed at students for their "Student life" and it is aimed specifically towards students at East Riding College. The only thing on the magazine cover telling us that it is aimed at this college is their logo - had they not included this it could be apparent that the magazine was aimed towards any student anywhere in the world. It is very important that they have included the image of the media students in Berlin also, as the target audience could be those students and also anyone who was interested in that trip.
Finally, I believe that through this simple front cover we are given a very positive outlook of the college and the students. This is because, as the students are all grouped together in the photo it shows teamwork and the ability to get along with one another. As they also went to Berlin to do their media studies it also shows how dedicated they are towards their college work. Another aspect is that there is a page within the magazine about Anti-bullying - this then sets a bad example as it shows that there is bullying in the first place, but also shows that they are willing to put a stop to it. All in all, they set a good representation of the students.
The contents page for this magazine is also not very well presented. This is because it has a very large border around the page which is over lapped by pictures which borders that are different sizes. It is also very simple and unprofessional. The colour green has however been introduced to this page, which is perhaps their attempt to add colour and brightness to the page. They had also not included any page numbers along with the pictures and so you do not know which go to which title.
The magazine cover for the GX magazine, the magazine that is used in the Grimsby Institute, is very different to the first, as it is a lot less simple and appeals to teenagers more.
For example the mast head on this magazine is a lot more eye catching. As they have used white against a blue background it is very visible and is located in the top right corner in a large font size. The font used ties in with the rest of the fonts yet looks different, making it stand out from the page. The main image used in this magazine cover is definitely very different to that of East Riding College's. This is because it is made out as an animation/graphic of a male and female teenager, done in the colour scheme of the entire page. Although this one is also not a medium close up shot, is not a photo of a student making eye contact with the audience and is not a clear image of the subjects face, it would not be efficient for my criteria of a magazine cover. It is, however, better than the one of the last magazine cover as it is a brighter, clearer image that would draw in the attention of teenagers.
The colour scheme in this magazine is much like the scheme that I would like to use. This is because it is a neutral colour of blue throughout the full page and stands out very well. The colour blue is appealing to both genders and is a colour that is often used on social networking sights, making this magazine tie in with the stereotypical student nature. They therefore keep a very good house-style throughout.
The front of the magazine also features things such as graphics and photos that relate to the headings of the articles within the magazine. Although these headings are quite difficult to see initially, they are better than the last as they look more professional and eye catching. They also feature a slogan on this page saying "the word on the street", which is an attempt to appeal to students and the language that they would stereotypically enjoy.
I believe that although this magazine is more professional than the last, this must have also been produced by students or teachers within the college. It fills a gap within the target audience as teenagers at that school would not have a magazine based on the college if it were not for this one. The publishers of this magazine have done well with it as it would be appealing to teenagers and has a more professional look to it.
This front cover, however, seems to portray a less positive outlook on teenage life than the other. Although it would be more appealing to teenagers to read about modelling and the fact that one article's title is "booze, drugs and life", this does not set a very good moral example. Although it may help anybody who wants to get into a modelling career, the initial impressions from modelling are not positive. Using a title like "booze, drugs and life" may also appeal teenagers but this also does not promote positive morals that teenagers should be thinking about.
The target audience for this magazine is very similar to the other, what with it being towards an audience of students from a certain college. It is aimed at any student that attends this college, but is specifically only aimed at that college and would not be useful to anyone who went to other colleges.
The final aspect of the L.I.I.A.R analysis is Representation. I do not believe that the students at the Grimsby Institute are very well represented by first sight of this magazine as it speaks of "booze, drugs and modelling". Modelling is not associated with college work or a positive reputation which therefore does not make the magazine look appropriate. Even more inappropriate if the article titled "booze, drugs and life" which is then not stated whether the story will be for or against this life style. It is showing the stereotypical side of teenagers but in a more negative way, such as most programs and news stories do, which is not how teenagers should be represented - especially by a college magazine.
The magazine cover for the GX magazine, the magazine that is used in the Grimsby Institute, is very different to the first, as it is a lot less simple and appeals to teenagers more.
For example the mast head on this magazine is a lot more eye catching. As they have used white against a blue background it is very visible and is located in the top right corner in a large font size. The font used ties in with the rest of the fonts yet looks different, making it stand out from the page. The main image used in this magazine cover is definitely very different to that of East Riding College's. This is because it is made out as an animation/graphic of a male and female teenager, done in the colour scheme of the entire page. Although this one is also not a medium close up shot, is not a photo of a student making eye contact with the audience and is not a clear image of the subjects face, it would not be efficient for my criteria of a magazine cover. It is, however, better than the one of the last magazine cover as it is a brighter, clearer image that would draw in the attention of teenagers.
The colour scheme in this magazine is much like the scheme that I would like to use. This is because it is a neutral colour of blue throughout the full page and stands out very well. The colour blue is appealing to both genders and is a colour that is often used on social networking sights, making this magazine tie in with the stereotypical student nature. They therefore keep a very good house-style throughout.
The front of the magazine also features things such as graphics and photos that relate to the headings of the articles within the magazine. Although these headings are quite difficult to see initially, they are better than the last as they look more professional and eye catching. They also feature a slogan on this page saying "the word on the street", which is an attempt to appeal to students and the language that they would stereotypically enjoy.
I believe that although this magazine is more professional than the last, this must have also been produced by students or teachers within the college. It fills a gap within the target audience as teenagers at that school would not have a magazine based on the college if it were not for this one. The publishers of this magazine have done well with it as it would be appealing to teenagers and has a more professional look to it.
This front cover, however, seems to portray a less positive outlook on teenage life than the other. Although it would be more appealing to teenagers to read about modelling and the fact that one article's title is "booze, drugs and life", this does not set a very good moral example. Although it may help anybody who wants to get into a modelling career, the initial impressions from modelling are not positive. Using a title like "booze, drugs and life" may also appeal teenagers but this also does not promote positive morals that teenagers should be thinking about.
The target audience for this magazine is very similar to the other, what with it being towards an audience of students from a certain college. It is aimed at any student that attends this college, but is specifically only aimed at that college and would not be useful to anyone who went to other colleges.
The final aspect of the L.I.I.A.R analysis is Representation. I do not believe that the students at the Grimsby Institute are very well represented by first sight of this magazine as it speaks of "booze, drugs and modelling". Modelling is not associated with college work or a positive reputation which therefore does not make the magazine look appropriate. Even more inappropriate if the article titled "booze, drugs and life" which is then not stated whether the story will be for or against this life style. It is showing the stereotypical side of teenagers but in a more negative way, such as most programs and news stories do, which is not how teenagers should be represented - especially by a college magazine.
The contents page for this magazine looks very crowded and professional - it is set out much better than the other magazine's contents pages. It is set out with pictures that have equal borders and yet still are not specific to which article title they are related to. It has their logo at the bottom of the page "The word on the street" which they also have on their cover. The title of their contents page stands out but could have been slightly bigger so that it was more noticeable on the page than it is. However, they have used very professional images.
Another magazine that I am going to analyse is that of Lewisham College's. These are another local college that could be competition.
Firstly, Lewisham's masthead on their front cover is not very distinctive and is not very appealing to the viewer. It is the same font and colour as the rest of the text on the page, only it is slightly larger. It is very plain. It is very similar to the college East Riding's magazine cover in it's simplicity and an unprofessional mannor. Another language techniques used on the page is the photo used. This is not a medium close up either and therefore would not fit the criteria of the magazine that I am making. It is a very professional photo however. It appears to be matched with an article header that says "Meet the faces of Lewisham College", despite the fact that you can hardly see her face at all - meaning that she is not making eye contact with the audience and that it isn't very clear.
The fonts used on the page are not very entertaining and do not draw you to the magazine. They are all the same and simply in black and white which, although it keeps the same house-style throughout, does not necessarily matter. Another thing that they have on their front cover is the logo of the college.I believe that this would have also been produced by either students or teachers at the college that it is for. This is because it is not professional enough to be made by a company and it also does not look as though it has a price. I think that most college magazines would produced by people at the college as not many students would want to buy a magazine that was overly priced. It would fit a gap in the market with it being at a specific college and so it would mean that they did in fact have a magazine specific to them.
I do not believe that there is a very strong field of ideology in this magazine cover as it is so simple that it would be hard to pick things that depict morals or values to the audience. The picture on the magazine could however show a positive attitude as it is a picture of somebody dancing, clearly being active and working towards what they would like. These seem to be the only morals on the page.
The audience of the magazine are teenagers that attend Lewisham College. Much like the other colleges, this college aimed it's magazine at the students at their specific college, so that they can keep it precise and add more details from their college specifically.
All in all I believe that they have represented the college quite well with the picture and headings on the front of the page. The only thing that they have used to represent the target audience well is the picture, however, as the headings are not anything about improving or helping their selves in any way. As the photo is of a girl dancing and working hard, however, we are shown that the students do in fact work well.
The contents page for this magazine seems very business like and it is not very noticeable. The font on the page is very small and there is a lot of it, meaning that college students probably would not want to read it as it looks very boring. After the cover they keep a house-style of a certain few colours, but these do not relate to the cover at all as the colour is black and white.
The contents page for this magazine seems very business like and it is not very noticeable. The font on the page is very small and there is a lot of it, meaning that college students probably would not want to read it as it looks very boring. After the cover they keep a house-style of a certain few colours, but these do not relate to the cover at all as the colour is black and white.
No comments:
Post a Comment